GetMyFirstJob Ambassador
Hello, I Am Rosa
An apprenticeship is the best way to learn on the job training and gain a qualification at the end of it. You’re being paid to learn. An apprenticeship teaches you not just the academics of the role, but how to be professional, how to answer an email, how to talk to a customer on the phone. It teaches you real workplace skills that a degree will not always teach. If I was to go back in time I would do the same journey, as it has made me who I am today and I have learnt from my real-life experiences.
Tell us more about your experience
What is your job title?
HR Advisor
What has your journey looked like post-apprenticeship?
I qualified for the Level 5 CIPD in February and was offered a full time position within BMW which I am very excited about, my new role starts on the 1st March 2024.
Have you done any additional qualifications since your apprenticeship ended?
The level 5 CIPD Consultant/partnership apprenticeship I have just completed was more the final qualifications I needed for now that suited the next step in my career, previous to this apprenticeship I had completed a Level 2 apprenticeship in Business admin, then the Level 3 Business apprenticeship. Following from that I was in permanent positions, I then took part in evening college attaining my CIPD Level 3 to start my career off in HR. I then transitioned into perm positions within HR until I was ready to complete the CIPD level 5, I wanted to do this as an apprenticeship because it gave me the opportunity to work in a job that was at a CIPD level 5 level. I will be completing another course within BMW which is a data analytics course level 3 (more to upskill in my role as I complete reporting dashboards as part of role). I will look to complete the Level 7 CIPD when the time is appropriate.
What advice would you give to someone doing an apprenticeship in the same industry as you?
My advice would be, do not be afraid of a challenge, put yourself into all the opportunities that are given to you. Be a sponge and take in all the knowledge, every person will process things slightly differently, learn each persons perspective then you can create your own way of doing things. Be brave, the company wants you there, they are investing in you, if you want to push yourself; for example you want to improve on your presenting skills, ask for those opportunities. Take each moment as it comes, have patience with yourself, give yourself time to relax from your college/university work, make sure you have a work life balance that provides you the time to focus. Within my industry it is important to know what is going on, if your business provides updates go to them and learn from them, ask other teams what they are up to, network as much as you can but be your authentic self because that’s all a company wants. Remember an apprenticeship doesn’t mean you’re stuck in that one place, it is just the start, you can move industry, job, career, a step towards an apprenticeship isn’t the end it is just the beginning.