Hello, my name is Nathan Humphreys and I am 19 years old. I recently completed my Level 3 Business Administrator with City and Guilds, employed by University College London in June 2024. Since completing my apprenticeship, I have taken on a new position as Systems Administrator as Now Student Living, whilst also working towards a Level 4 Project Management Diploma.
Secondary School Experience
When I was in secondary school, I knew very early on by the age of 13 that the traditional go to school, go to college, go to university route was not for me. Unfortunately, when I was in school, the apprenticeship route was not valued by others and my wanting to have an apprenticeship would often be laughed at by other students. Even when speaking to careers advisors, the only apprenticeships that they would suggest would be linked to college, with a minimum wage salary and not exploring the endless amount of opportunities that are out there.
I had many difficult challenges whilst being in secondary school, mainly linked around my autism. As a result, this led to disciplinary action taken against me which included detentions, isolations, exclusions and being manage-moved to an alternative education provision temporarily. I had also removed myself from the school environment for 2 years, when I was in year 7, and when I was ready to attend school COVID-19 hit which meant lessons took place remotely further provided additional difficulties to school.
Apprenticeship Applications
As soon as I had turned 16, I was applying to any job that I was suitable for, however being 16 and still in school didn’t leave many options open for a first job. I was endlessly applying, and after 2 months I had got my first job in retail. Working was my main focus, even whilst I was still in school, for me it gave me something tangible in reward for my hard work, whereas in school I saw this as only working towards a grade. Despite having multiple difficulties with schooling, I had managed to receive a pass on all the GCSE subjects I chose.
I still remember the day I received my GCSE results, I had my heart set on a Data Scientist, Software Developer or Cyber Security apprenticeship which was the only field I was interested in for the first 2 months of applying for apprenticeships, as this had been a dream job since I started secondary school. I had received a 4 (Grade C) in GCSE Computer Science and, with the apprenticeship market being so competitive, I didn’t feel that I was able to compete with other candidates and didn’t even receive an interview despite hundreds of applications. At this point, I took a moment to reflect on what it was I was really chasing, and what my strengths and weaknesses were. Following my reflection, I decided to be more diligent with my applications and the apprenticeships I was applying for.
I had received a few interviews, either remotely or in-person, but nothing had come from them. Personally, even though I didn’t progress through the interview stage, it was still a great experience as it gave me practice for future interviews and what worked and what didn’t. I found a Business Administrator apprenticeship with University College London on the Government’s apprenticeship webpage, that I applied to, completed an assessment and received an interview. Following the interview, I received an offer for the position which I accepted and handed my notice into my retail job.
Don’t get me wrong, my apprenticeship journey definitely had its ups and downs, but all-in-all it was an amazing experience that has equipped me with the knowledge, skills and behaviours to further develop my professional career. Classroom based learning was extremely difficult for me and therefore having the chance to study independently with a tutor was beneficial to show-off what I was capable of, whereas school didn’t enable this. Since completing my apprenticeship, I’ve realised that as stressful as my apprenticeship journey was, it provided me with purpose, which is why I have since enrolled onto a Level 4 Project Management course in December 2024.
My top preparations tips:
- Research the organisation or department you are applying for – this shows the employer that you’ve done your due diligence and demonstrate your interest in the company
- Reach out to a current employee/apprentice - by researching you will gain an insight of what the day-to-day role involves and if it would be a good fit for you
- Make sure you have an updated CV – use this opportunity to show off your skills and experience!
My top interview tips:
- Use the STAR technique when answering an interview question – STAR stands for Situation, Task, Action, Result which helps you demonstrate your skills and experience
- Ask a question that makes the interviewer remember the question – for example a question may be ‘How would you define/measure success in this role?’
My top tips once you’ve got the job:
- Ask questions – make the most of the experience and expertise around you, show your willingness to learn and be curious!
- Ask for reasonable adjustments (if needed) - I believe this is crucial once you’ve got the job to work with your employer to make work suit you best
- Start setting SMART objectives – SMART stands for, Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-Bound, you’re more likely to achieve your objective when you make them SMART
On top of all of these tips, networking is a crucial skill that should be implemented as soon as possible. Building a network is a great asset for your professional development, you may receive opportunities you wouldn’t have heard of just by working on your network. I wish I started building my network earlier in my career, however there is no time better than the present, feel free to reach out to me on LinkedIn or follow my journey here.