After a long and determined journey, I’m proud to be joining Unilever as a Level 6 Chartered Management Degree Apprentice. Unilever is one of the largest FMCG (fast-moving consumer goods) companies in the world, and landing this opportunity wasn’t easy. 

I applied for over 20 apprenticeships across different industries, got through to several final interviews and was lucky enough to receive a few offers. My school gave me some basic support, but honestly, a lot of it was trial and error.

That’s why I’ve decided to write this — to share what I learned during the application process and hopefully make things a bit easier for anyone going through it now. If you’re applying: keep going. You’ve got this!

Choosing a Degree Apprenticeship

For me, a degree apprenticeship just made sense. In a world where getting a qualification and gaining relevant experience is tougher than ever, doing both at the same time felt like the smartest move. The idea of earning a degree, while building three years of real-world understanding is something you just don’t get from the traditional university route.

I’ve never been hugely drawn to the typical university lifestyle — the clubbing, partying, all of that. For some, that’s a big part of the appeal, but I’ve always felt more at home in a professional environment, so the corporate world suits me well.

My main interest has always been in business and management, but I kept an open mind during the application process. I even made it to final-stage interviews in completely different sectors, like consultancy at EY. My mindset was simple: Why wait to start doing what I’m passionate about? A degree apprenticeship offers a fast-track route into a meaningful role — and that’s exactly what I was looking for.

The Application Game Plan That Got Me the Offer

I applied to over 20 apprenticeships and this is the method I recommend to try and help you avoid some of the trial-and-error mistakes I went through.  

1. Start with a Strong CV & Cover Letter

Your CV is your first impression. Make sure it’s error-free and looks professional. Importantly, one CV doesn't fit all. Each role and company are different; you should adapt your CV accordingly — I ended up with around 25 different versions. Tailor relevant experience and show why you’re a good fit for that specific role at that specific company.

Many apprenticeships also require a cover letter. This is your chance to show genuine passion and explain why you're right for the role. Keep it professional and focused - don’t underestimate those “basic” application questions either. Questions like “Why this role?” or “Why our company?” are often make-or-break. Do your research and link your answers to the company’s goals and values. (This will come up a lot — remember it.)

2. Aptitude & Situational Judgement Tests

Most companies set online tests. These vary from Maths and Logic to situational judgement scenarios. Unfortunately, there's no secret hack for these, it’s about practice and patience. For situational judgement tests especially, you can expect to answer 50–100 questions by choosing what you would do in different workplace scenarios. They take time, but they’re part of the process — stay focused and remember: the offer letter makes it all worth it.

3. Video Interviews – Make Them Count

Hopefully you’re now at the video interview stage. If not, their loss, rejections happen to everyone. Leverage them by asking for feedback, reflecting and then applying those lessons next time. Rejection is frustrating, but it’s also your biggest teacher.

When it comes to video interviews, LinkedIn became my secret weapon. I reached out to numerous current apprentices in the roles I was applying for to ask for tips or insight. Many wont reply, but those who do make all the difference. It helped me understand what companies really look for, straight from those who’d succeeded on the path I was on.

Next, research the company’s values — seriously. I can’t stress this enough. Unilever’s core values include integrity, respect, and sustainability which strongly align with me, so I emphasised this symmetry with my own beliefs. Be honest — if you fake it, it shows. Find companies that match your values and then make that connection obvious in your answers.

When answering questions, always use real-life examples — even if it's just part-time work or extracurriculars like DofE. Most video interviews give multiple attempts: use them. Practise makes perfect and I promise talking to a screen gets less awkward the more you do it.

4. Assessment Centres & Final Interviews

If you’ve made it this far — huge congrats! You’ve likely beaten hundreds (if not thousands) of applicants. But now’s not the time to ease off.

First, treat any pre-work seriously. Rushed or half-hearted work can hurt your chances before the interview even starts. Employers can tell when you’ve prepared properly.

Much of the advice for video interviews still applies here:

• Reach out to current apprentices again and ask what their assessment day was like.
• Find out what to expect: schedule, tasks, group exercises. It makes the day feel far less intimidating.

On the day, focus on the basics: posture, punctuality, energy, eye contact, and how you speak to others. Be friendly, professional, and engaged — some of the people you meet may end up being your colleagues or managers.

As aforementioned always relate your answers to the company’s values and back them up with real examples, then ask questions at the end! It shows genuine interest and makes the conversation more engaging. I even cracked a few jokes during the last interview of the day. This makes it more informal and conversational; they aren’t looking for a robot!

5. The Group Task (Important!)

Here’s my one golden rule: they can’t credit you for what you don’t say. Contribute — but don’t dominate. There’s a fine balance between being involved and being overbearing (and I’ll be honest; upon hearing feedback I spoke a little too much in mine!). Share your ideas, include others, and show you can work as part of a team.

6. Final points

If you made it to the final stage that’s already a huge achievement. But if your unsuccessful don’t give up. Email the company, ask for feedback and take time to understand what went wrong. Then use that knowledge to come back stronger next time (which there undoubtedly will be).

So, to wrap up:

• Tailor your CV and cover letter.
• Research company values and integrate them into everything.
• Use LinkedIn to reach out to apprentices.
• Practise video interviews with friends, family, or even yourself.
• Ask for feedback and leverage it to improve.

Rejection is part of the process, keep going — the right role will come.

My biggest regret

I made one big mistake: I didn’t track where I was in each application. Every morning, I was digging through emails, trying to remember which company I’d applied to, who’d invited me to tests, who was waiting on a video interview… total chaos.

The fix? A simple spreadsheet.

List each company, the role, the stage you’re at, key deadlines, and any actions you still owe (tests, video interview, assessment centre prep). Colour-code it if you like. Once I eventually did this (about three months in), everything became manageable — especially while juggling A-levels. For example, my Head of Sixth Form told me reduce my apprenticeship focus and concentrate on schoolwork, a clear spreadsheet would have undoubtedly made this juggle easier.

Don’t overcomplicate it. One clear tracker can save hours, missed deadlines, and stress.

Want to talk apprenticeships? I’m all ears

LinkedIn: Gus Cohen

https://www.linkedin.com/in/gus-cohen-7415b32a6/