Why Wait?

“The future belongs to those who prepare for it today.” – Malcolm X

This quote speaks to me as a call to action, the future is ours to shape, so why wait?

I’ve always moved fast, knowing what I want and where I want to be. Uncertainty never sat well with me, and with the tech industry never slowing down, cybersecurity moves even faster with new threats emerging daily and vulnerabilities exploited. I wanted to be there!

That’s why I chose an apprenticeship, the fastest way to embed myself in the industry, gain practical experience, and start making an impact from day one. 

The Turning Point

For a long time, university felt like the only option. It was what everyone talked about: degrees, student loans, and three-year plans that supposedly led to a good career. But the more I thought about it, the more I questioned it:

• I didn’t want to sit through years of theory before getting hands-on experience.
• I didn’t want to wait until graduation to start making an impact.
• I wanted to learn by doing, solving real challenges and working alongside industry experts.

 I wasn’t the only one questioning the traditional route. A huge shoutout to my family, careers advisors, and my mum, whose encouragement fuelled my curiosity further. The more I explored, the more it clicked, this was the perfect mix of learning, working and getting rewarded to build my future.

Setbacks to Successes:

"I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won’t work." – Thomas Edison

 Rejection, uncertainty, and constant learning shaped my journey. The process of getting an apprenticeship wasn’t straightforward. Some challenges tested my patience, others my confidence, but each one taught me something:

1. Overcoming Rejections – Learning the Game

I didn’t land this apprenticeship on my first try. Far from it. Some companies never responded. Others rejected me outright after assessments.

At first, rejection felt personal until I changed my mindset and treated the hiring process like a game.

• Every rejection was data. Why didn’t I progress? What was missing in my answers? What threw me off?
• Each failure gave me new insights. I started analysing patterns – what interviewers focused on, which questions kept coming up, and how different companies structured their assessments.
• I began tailoring my approach on the spot. Instead of sticking to one rigid interview strategy, I adapted in real time. I experimented with responses, tested different ways to engage, and learned how to read the room.

The lesson? The hiring process isn’t just about proving you’re the best. It’s about learning the game and adapting faster than everyone else.

2. How Do I Stand Out?

Standing out is one of the hardest challenges, especially for school leavers with little to no experience. Employers always talk about wanting skills, but how do you build skills so early on?

Here’s what I learned: you don’t wait for experience, you create it!

• Summer jobs, networking platforms, and LinkedIn are game changers. Programs like ‘Springpod’ and ‘Bright Network’ give industry exposure, but direct outreach is more valuable. Even if professionals don’t reply, nothing is lost. When they do, build rapport, don’t ask for work experience upfront. Seek advice, apply it and show results. When the time feels right, then ask for an opportunity.
• Personal projects make a bigger impact than you think. Companies hiring apprentices don’t expect a CV full of experience, they want to see initiative. One example? I built a budgeting app as a way to learn development. Later, in a group assessment, we had to design an app concept. I used my project as a foundation to help the group, which helped me stand out.

3. Imposter Syndrome?

Stepping into an environment filled with experienced professionals, it’s easy to question whether you belong.

The reality? I did and still do. But no one expects you to be an expert on day one and you’ll never know everything. What matters most is:

• Being coachable – Asking questions, absorbing knowledge, and being open to feedback.
• Being proactive – Taking on tasks outside your comfort zone to accelerate your learning.
• Willingness to learn – It’s not enough to say you’re eager; you have to prove it.

Imposter syndrome doesn’t mean you don’t belong, it means you’re growing! The key is to lean into the discomfort and use it as fuel to advance.

The Key to Standing Out

A common misconception? Landing an apprenticeship is just about having skills. The truth? How you showcase them matters more. Here’s how:

1.   Build Rapport:

Most candidates jump straight into answering questions. But here’s the truth, I’ve seen it too many times:

‘People hire people they like!’

Before the interview begins, engage in small talk. Ask your interviewer about their role, how their day is going, something interesting about the company, or even comment on something in their background (if remote).

2.   Use Storytelling:

Saying “I’m good at problem-solving…” is fine, but so is everyone else. Instead of just stating skills, tell a story that proves them using a structured approach like ‘The Hero’s

Journey’ or ‘Sparklines Technique’:

The Hero’s Journey Approach:

Based on writer Joseph Campbell’s ‘Hero’s Journey’, this structure is widely used in films and stories because it resonates on a deeper level. It follows:

1.   The Challenge: A problem you faced.

2.   The Struggle: The effort, failures and lessons learned.

3.   The Resolution: How you overcame it.

4.   The Lesson: How it shaped your skills and mindset.

The Sparklines Technique:

American writer Nancy Duarte, in her book ‘Resonate’, explains ‘Sparklines’ as a storytelling structure that moves in a wave-like flow, shifting between what is and what could be. The best communicators and speeches contrast a problem with a better vision of the future, making their message compelling and inspiring.

1.   The Ordinary World (What Is): Describe the current challenge.

2.   The Ideal World (What Could Be): Show the better outcome you aimed for.

3.   The Shift (How You Made It Happen): Bridge the gap between the two.

Sparklines Example:

"Our team was stuck with slow, outdated security testing methods which were… (what is). I saw the potential for automation to speed things up by… (what could be). After researching and proposing a new workflow which was…, we reduced testing time by 40%, strengthening our security process… (the shift). That experience showed me the power of innovation and adaptability since…"

The takeaway? Stories resonate, facts inform!

3.   Engage Throughout:

Most candidates wait until the last five minutes to ask questions. Big mistake.

• Treat the interview like a conversation. Ask thoughtful questions throughout—about the company’s security challenges, new projects, or tech stack. Ask things you can’t just find on Google.
• Engaging early shows you’re personable, confident and curious, qualities that interviewers remember.

4.   Be Authentic:

Many candidates try to say what they think interviewers want to hear. The problem? Interviewers see right through it. Combine scripted answers with awkward eye movements (scanning left to right while reading), and you’ve set yourself up for failure. Instead of memorising answers, use bullet points with keywords. Each word should trigger a story or example you can naturally expand on.

Final Thought

"People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." – Maya Angelou

Preparation Wins

Success in the hiring process isn’t just about showing up, it’s about showing up prepared:

• Know the Job Requirements Inside Out – Identify key skills and find real-life examples where you’ve demonstrated them. Even tailor your cover letter to align with the requirements.
• Research the Company Like an Insider – Go beyond the basics. Understand their values, recent projects, and industry challenges – especially something you personally align with. Referencing this shows you’ve done your homework.
• Practice, But Don’t Memorise – Have key points or even single-word bullet points in your head that trigger your response. But avoid sounding robotic. The best answers are practiced, not scripted. Keep it natural!
• Prepare for Online Assessments – Many companies use psychometric or technical tests. Practice on platforms like ‘AssessmentDay’, ‘SHL’ or ‘JobTestPrep’. In group assessments, focus on delegation, sharing ideas, time management, and ensuring everyone is involved, even drawing in quieter participants can make you stand out.
• Understand Your CV – Interviewers will refer back to it, so make sure you know it inside out. Your CV is your framework for answering questions, it holds your experiences, skills and traits. If it’s on your CV, be ready to talk about it.

Being prepared isn’t just about what you know, it’s about how well you can showcase it.

Summary – Be Proactive, Be Different!

The biggest lesson I’ve learned? Success isn’t about waiting, it’s about taking action.

Don’t wait, you should’ve already started:

• Building projects on your own.
• Reaching out to professionals on LinkedIn.
• Learning a skill that no one told you to learn.
• Asking yourself daily: What more can I do?

That’s how you stand out. That’s how you grow. That’s how you succeed. Remember, we fail over and over again, that’s what makes us successful!

Zakeer Suleyman

If you have any questions or just want to chat, feel free to connect! (https://www.linkedin.com/in/zakeersuleyman/)