Hi, I’m Jamie, a 25 year old from Birmingham, currently working as a HR Apprentice at the BBC in the Employee Relations team. If you had told me 5 years ago that I’d be working at the BBC in HR, I would have laughed.

My journey has not been linear. It wasn’t straightforward and it certainly wasn’t perfect. For a long time, I doubted whether I would get to where I truly wanted to be, and that’s exactly why I wanted to share my journey and experiences with you. If you’re someone who’s still trying to land an apprenticeship or unsure what to do next, I hope what I’m about to share helps you realise that you’re not alone.

Going Back to the Start (Age 16)

Like most 16 year olds, I didn’t really have a clue what I wanted to do. At Barr Beacon School, where I spent my teen years, I was advised to go into accounting. It seemed like a safe and secure option, which often feels like the right choice when you’re unsure about your future.

So I did exactly that.

After finishing my GCSEs, I went to Walsall College and studied accounting, taking the advice I’d been given as I thought it was the sensible option. Despite completing the course, I quickly realised that accounting wasn’t the career path I wanted.

Trying Different Paths (and Getting It Wrong... which is part of it!)

I’ve always had a creative side; when I was younger, I even dreamed of becoming a rollercoaster designer! But I was quickly told to keep things ‘real’, so that idea got pushed aside.

After finishing my accounting course, I decided to explore something more creative and enrolled on a graphic design course at my college.

That didn’t last long.

I dropped out and instead secured a place at Birmingham City University to study a HND in Business and Management. I thought studying general business would give me a broader foundation and help me figure out what I wanted to do.

After that, I even enrolled on a top-up year to turn it into a full degree, I dropped out again. That was a big moment for me because it made me realise something important, I don’t learn well from being stuck in a classroom, listening for hours at a time.

Learning Outside the Classroom

While all of this was happening, I was also working.

From the age of 18 into my early 20s, I worked across a range of retail roles. It wasn’t easy; late nights, weekends, long shifts etc. but it taught me more than I realised at the time.

After finishing uni, I stayed in retail for a while and was promoted to supervisor. I then worked in a science lab for 6 months as a customer service advisor, before returning to retail, where I was promoted to supervisor again.

It was during that second promotion that something really clicked.

I realised I genuinely enjoyed working with people, supporting colleagues, handling challenges and being someone others could rely on. That was the first time I started seriously thinking about a career focused on people.

That’s where my interest in HR began.

Doubting Myself

Almost as soon as I started thinking about HR, the doubt kicked in. I hadn’t studied HR, I’d dropped out of uni and my only working experience was in retail. I convinced myself I’d made things harder for myself, that I’d somehow missed my chance.

At the time, HR apprenticeships felt rare. I was always under the assumption that they were aimed at people just leaving school, not someone in their early 20s trying to change direction. Looking back, it was my own mindset that held me back the most.

Wanting Something More

While retail gave me valuable experience and taught me things a corporate role never could, I knew deep down it was only a stepping stone. The late nights and unsociable hours made me realise I wanted something more stable, something I could build a long-term career in. So I told myself to just “go for it.” I spent hours applying for every HR apprenticeship I could find within a 30-mile radius.

Rejection After Rejection (after rejection)

I won’t sugarcoat it, this was the hardest part of my journey.

Application after application, rejection after rejection, often without any feedback. It’s draining and it starts to affect how you see yourself.

You begin to ask yourself the questions:

·        Am I not good enough?

·        Did I take the wrong path?

·        Am I too late to be doing this?

There were definitely moments where I thought about giving up. But I didn’t, I refused. Even without feedback, I kept going. I had a vision, and I was determined to get there.

The Application That Changed Everything

One day, I came across a HR Apprentice role at the BBC on social media and honestly, I laughed. I remember thinking, “There is absolutely no way I’m getting into the BBC.” It felt completely out of reach, like I didn’t belong in that space.

I had nothing to lose, so I applied anyway.

The Moment Everything Paid Off

I applied in September 2024 and from the moment I pressed “submit,” the process began. It wasn’t quick. There were multiple stages, each one nerve-wracking in its own way. But step by step, I kept progressing.

Then came 19th May 2025. I was out walking my dog when I got the call, that’s when I heard the words: “We want to offer you the position.” After everything; the rejection, the doubt, the uncertainty, that moment made it all worth it and I often think back to that moment of my life because I can recall it so vividly.

Getting There… and Still Doubting Myself

I started at the BBC in September 2025 and was placed in the Employee Relations team, where I am today. Very quickly did things start to click; the work I’d be doing, supporting people, dealing with real situations and above all, making a difference. It all connects directly back to what I first discovered in my retail roles.

But if I’m being honest, getting there didn’t mean everything suddenly felt easy. After years of rejection and self-doubt, I struggled with imposter syndrome. I questioned whether I really deserved to be there, whether I was good enough, and whether someone would eventually “find me out.”

Over time, that way of thinking changed. Through the support around me and the experience I’ve gained, my confidence has grown massively. My apprenticeship hasn’t just developed me professionally; it’s helped me grow as a person too. Now I can confidently say that Employee Relations is the career path I want to build in.

My advice to you

If you’re reading this and you haven’t landed an apprenticeship yet, here’s what I want you to know:

·        You’re Not Behind – There’s no perfect timeline. I didn’t figure things out at 16 or even 23.

·        It’s OK to Change Direction – Accounting, graphic design, business… I tried different paths before finding the right one. None of it was wasted time, just part of the bigger picture that came later.

·        Your Experience Matters – Retail wasn’t just a job. It gave me leadership skills, people skills and real-life experience that helped me get into HR.

·        Rejection Is Part of It – You only need one “yes.” All the rejections before that won’t matter when you get your opportunity, trust me.

·        Apply Anyway – Even if it feels out of reach, even if you think you won’t get it. If I hadn’t applied to the BBC, I wouldn’t be here now.

·        It’s Normal to Doubt Yourself – Even when you get there. Imposter syndrome is real, but it doesn’t mean you don’t belong.

Final Thoughts

If there’s one thing my journey has taught me; it’s that your path doesn’t need to be perfect, it just needs to keep moving. I went from being a 16 year old who didn’t know what he wanted to do, to a 25-year-old working at the BBC in a role I genuinely care about and love every second of.

And if I can do it; even after changing direction, dropping out and facing constant rejection, so can you.

So keep going!

Because the opportunity that changes everything might be the one you nearly didn’t apply for.

Jamie Lahert

HR Apprentice | Aspiring Employee Relations Specialist | Interested in HR Strategy & wellbeing

You can find out more and connect with Jamie on LinkedIn.