5 Tips to Start YOUR Apprenticeship Successfully | by Mary Iles

“We are delighted to share that you have been accepted for a Multiverse Apprenticeship…” What now? How can I be successful? Where do I turn for help? Who shall I share this with? 

Throughout the process of applying and interviewing for a role, job or apprenticeship, we all have the best intentions, goals and drive; but once we actually have to start, it can be hard to know how to set ourselves up for success. 

Started an apprenticeship recently? Here are my tips for starting with a BANG!

1. Know Your Why

I would be lying if I said I always cared about excel formulas, data reports or endless zoom meetings. What I am passionate about is levelling the playing field in higher education and helping people step into their potential. My role as a coach is the vehicle through which I can live out my ‘why’ and align my job to my values and passions.

Knowing your intrinsic motivation will continue to be a unique driver for your apprenticeship. Whether it is laying the foundations for your career, making your family proud or helping you live out a certain value, your ‘why’ will help you leap out of your comfort zone and ensure you continue in the face of inevitable challenges. 

[Pause and reflect]

What is it specifically about you that has led you to this apprenticeship?
Who did you tell when you got accepted to the programme?
What will you remind yourself of when you face a challenging situation?
Think ahead to 6 months' time, what do you want to look back and see?

Consider sharing your reflections in your first session with your MV Coach. 

2. Embrace the Importance of Communication

With so many methods of communication to choose from in a hybrid world, it can be challenging to communicate well consistently. At the start of your journey, let’s start with the basics. 

If you slouch, look uninterested or continue to check your phone, people may assume you don’t want to communicate. Body language continues to be considered an unspoken method of communication so don’t switch off even if you aren’t explicitly talking!

As you progress through the first few months of your apprenticeship, learn when it is valuable to contribute your ideas. This will show your team what you have to offer but also the self-awareness of when you can bring value to a discussion. If there is not an appropriate opportunity to do so in team or client meetings, share your key takeaways or learnings with your managers and/or colleagues afterwards. Communicating upwards in this way will increase your visibility and demonstrate proactive communication.

[Pause and read]

Learn from Eelinn Vanquaethem, a London-based Digital Marketing apprentice, and Andrew Cascino, a New York-based Data Fellowship apprentice as they share their best tips and tricks for communicating well. 

3. Identify your own barriers

Preempting your barriers to success will be game-changing as you begin this exciting journey. Each of us is unique and we will face different barriers throughout our careers. Here are a few I have worked with apprentices on and our top tips to combat these.

Are you a procrastinator? Break down tasks into manageable chunks. Consider a small reward like a lush coffee to celebrate when multiple tasks are completed.

Do you feel overwhelmed at work? Write a list of all the tasks rushing around in your head. Highlight 3 that must be completed. Then group the remaining tasks to help you schedule these. 

Do you struggle to be organised and on time? Consider organising your calendar, using colours to categorise tasks, and blocking out time for OTJ, Assignments, and coaching as well as work projects. 

Are you a perfectionist? Consider the purpose, audience, and time scale of the task. Work with your colleagues to understand ‘what good looks like’. Take time to be kind to yourself, acknowledge the progress you have made, and accept that not everything can be perfect 100% of the time. 

Are you a worrier? Create a ‘Happy doc’ where you save positive feedback you receive in the first few months of your apprenticeship. On days where imposter syndrome creeps in, give yourself a pick up through your ‘Happy doc’! 
 

4. Widen your network

Manjit Bansal, a Project Management Apprentice wrote an article titled, ‘What does networking really mean?’. She broke down networking to be “simply starting a one-on-one conversation with someone you don’t already know.” 

Networking does not need to be fancy dinners or scrolling LinkedIn late at night. Instead, it can create relationships for mutual benefit, with a foundation of support and kindness.

[Pause and reflect]

Who can you reach out to in your cohort to introduce yourself and find out about their role at work? This could be an opportunity to share ideas, support one another or simply get to know another apprentice. Don’t delay- use the MV Community Messaging function to reach out to others today! 

5. Mindset matters!

This is going to be an exciting, interesting, and challenging journey. Carol Dweck explains that your mindset 100% matters when in a learning environment. One part of her theories explores the ‘Power of… Yet!’ when approaching a challenge. Have you not solved the problem or not solved the problem yet? In our instant world, it is easy to give up when we can’t solve a problem immediately. I want to propose you enter the workplace with persistence, resilience, and an awareness of your mindset. 

[Pause and research]

Carol Dweck: A Summary of Growth and Fixed Mindset [7 min read]

As you progress through the first few months of this apprenticeship, consider what steps you can follow today to set yourself up for success. We are 100% excited for you and are 100% committed to setting you up for a successful, interesting, and rewarding journey ahead. 

Mary Iles is a Digital Business Coach at Multiverse.