By Rosie Daly
Being an apprentice sounds daunting, the title itself can feel like it has a huge arrow pointing at you, saying ‘unexperienced’. Although it may be true in most cases, if you have never worked a full time job. You can feel completely unprepared for the world of 9-5 working. But the joy of being an apprentice is, you have the opportunity to learn, experiment and make mistakes. As an apprentice, you aren’t expected to know everything. Work experience is useful, but personal experience is even better. You bring value in different ways. No one cares if you aren’t amazing at spreadsheets right from the start, you get the opportunity to learn how to do them even better. There are countless ways to add to the value you already bring as an apprentice;
1. Online Courses
There are countless (free) online courses available at your fingertips, in endless industries. Some are short and others require more work, but they are a fantastic way to learn more about the industry in which you are working. They are also a great thing to add onto your CV. So, whether you are a current apprentice, or an aspiring one, these online courses give you a good foundation of knowledge to use in your role, or an interview.
2. Give everything a go
Nothing makes a good impression more than someone who is willing to try any task given to them. It shows drive, passion and enthusiasm to try something you have never done before. It is also a great tactic to figure out what aspects of a role you are good at, and where you need some support. Which is always available, with someone willing to guide you. Getting involved broadens your personal and work skills, and a great bonus is working with people outside of your team. Employers look for all round employees, it adds value as an apprentice.
3. Be honest
The whole purpose of being an apprentice is you are working and learning simultaneously. You are new to the company, new to work and therefore new to all different softwares, processes and rules. There is no shame in asking someone to clarify something, or asking a question or just simply asking for more help. It shows that you want to learn and develop your skills to be a better worker – which is admirable. So, never be afraid to ask for that extra support.
4. Be strict, but kind to yourself
You are allowed to make mistakes and learn from them, you’re only human. But, as an apprentice, you must balance work and study duties. It’s crucial you practice good time management as it’s easy to let things slip down your to-do list, so set time aside in your day for your tasks. Prioritisation is a key skill in every job, so honing the skill now will help you in the future. It also shows your team that you are capable of managing yourself and your time wisely, a valuable skill. But, of course don’t be too hard on yourself and remind yourself, that you are learning!
5. Find your niche – its valuable
Similar to ‘giving everything a go’, this gives you the opportunity to find something you are good at. It’s always a benefit to have a stand out skill, and a bonus if you enjoy it. Keep experimenting until you find yours -that is the joy of being an apprentice! Value is something you bring worth something, it’s important especially if you would like to stay at your company after being an apprentice.
6. Share Opinions
It is likely you’ll be one of the youngest people at the company as an apprentice, which can make some people feel like they don’t have a right to speak up and share ideas and opinions – you have value. When, its actually the opposite! As an apprentice, you have the ability to experience things with fresh eyes. Therefore, are more likely to see if something wouldn’t be as effective or have ideas for how to modernise for example. Especially in an industry like Digital Marketing, where young people are typically the target audience as they are the largest group of online users. This can be a huge advantage as you can input whether you’d engage with the content and how to improve it for a higher success rate. Not having the formal qualification doesn’t mean you don’t have the qualification to add your ideas. Share your thoughts, they deserve to be heard!
7. Master the art of communication
Communication is key, in everything. It is important you figure out a way that you work best and share that with your line manager and team. It’s a journey, figuring out how you work effectively – it isn’t as easy as it sounds! When you are so used to working and learning one way, its difficult to try something new. Experimentation is important, different people work best in different ways so, talk to team members and see what works for them. Effectiveness is the goal, to make your life easier and allow you to perform to the best of your ability.
8. Just enjoy it
Not everybody has the luxury of being able to work and study at the same time, gaining valuable experience as well as a qualification. Apprenticeships are becoming more and more popular, as more companies are broadening their horizons. Bask in the joys of trying new things, being creative and developing yourself – that is the most valuable thing.
Being valuable doesn’t mean you are the best at everything, the most liked or the most successful. Value is determined by how hard you work, how much you want to better yourself and the willingness to just try, despite the fear of failing. Seize the opportunity given to you by being an apprentice and embrace everything that comes along with it. Learn, grow and enjoy it.
