How to get the most out of your apprenticeship

But, the more you put in, the more you get out once your programme is over. These handy tips will help you to get the best out of your apprenticeship.

Start as you mean to go on

With such a wide range of apprenticeships to choose from, the pressure to make the right decision can feel overwhelming. But, picking the right one will keep you focussed, meaning you’ll be less likely to drop out.

When considering which apprenticeship to do, think about your hobbies and interests, as well as what subjects you liked and disliked at school.

If you hated maths, then an engineering apprenticeship won’t be for you. But if you loved English and have a passion for social media, a digital marketing apprenticeship could be a good match for your skills.

Still struggling to decide? Our team will be able to give you some guidance, so don’t be afraid to get in touch.

Get involved

When you’re working in a team environment, there will be plenty of opportunities to put forward your ideas – so don’t be shy!

Whether it’s contributing to an important project or suggesting a more efficient way of working, your team and line manager will appreciate your input. Plus, seeing your suggestions come to life is such a rewarding experience.

Ask questions

Being inquisitive shows you’re taking an active interest in the role and the company, and that you’re keen to learn and develop as a person – all qualities which will make you stand out in the eyes of your line manager.

Set yourself targets

Setting goals can help you keep tabs on your performance – so you know how well you’re doing at all times.

Your targets could be directly linked to your job (such as answering a minimum of 30 calls a day), or they could be more personal objectives like making daily to-do lists, or improving your time management skills.

Keeping an eye on your performance against your targets will help you to be as productive and as efficient as possible in your role.

Catch up with your manager regularly

Just like setting targets, arranging regular meetings with your manager will help you to identify areas that are going well and things you could improve on – after all, nobody is perfect!

Your manager is there to guide you and support you, so always ask for help if there are elements of your apprenticeship that you’re struggling with.

If sitting down in a boardroom seems a little too daunting, you could always suggest a more informal catch-up over a coffee, or discuss your progress over lunch.

Network

When it comes to moving up the career ladder, ‘who you know’ can be just as important as ‘what you know’.

Talk to as many people as you can around the business, and get to know as much as you can about their role. There may be elements of their job that interests you, so they could help to boost your skills further down the line.

It’s also important to make contacts away from your employer. Consider attending free networking events, or introduce yourself to relevant connections on LinkedIn. After all, you never know who could be hiring you in the future.