During my 18 months as an apprentice, I gained an understanding of the PR and marketing industry and how to successfully combine my apprenticeship tasks with my working life.
I completed my apprenticeship whilst working at a PR agency and was able to apply my apprenticeship knowledge to a range of B2B and B2C clients in a wide variety of industries, from rail and quarrying to historic houses and festivals.
These are my top five tips for your apprenticeship:
1. Don’t be afraid to ask questions
There will always be times when asking a question will feel daunting, especially if it is in a meeting or a team catch-up. However, without asking the question you will never get the answer or help you need.
No question is too silly, obvious or obscure. Your colleagues are there to help you progress through your career. Asking a question can lead to a change of perspective that can help in the progression of a task.
2. Plan and prioritise your workload
When doing an apprenticeship, you have to juggle your time between coursework and actual work. I was writing multiple essays alongside my day-to-day work, so planning ahead was important.
Plan your workload at the beginning of the week and you will make your job a whole lot easier. Allocating time to different tasks and prioritising them by importance and deadlines allows you to stay on top of all of your work.
3. Be proactive in your approach
Don’t wait for things to be handed to you. If you have finished a task early, take the spare time and use it to your advantage. Spend time on your coursework or learn a new skill.
I would use my spare time to enhance my skills in the various Adobe Creative Cloud platforms, so when a client task required Photoshop or Premiere Pro, I knew what I was doing and felt confident whilst applying my skills.
4. Take every opportunity that is presented to you
Throughout my apprenticeship, I was presented with opportunities to attend events, meetings and press calls. By taking part, I was able to better understand the team that I was working with, develop relationships with key clients, and gain an insight into how decisions are made throughout a project.
5. Perseverance is key
There will be times when the apprenticeship feels never ending and will push you to your limit. When you are struggling, ask for help from your colleagues. They may be able to give you a new perspective or a deeper understanding of a topic.
Reaching the end of your apprenticeship is so rewarding and you are able to put all of the learning to good use.
Extra tip: Always offer to make tea!
Whilst working at Redbrick, I have come to realise that the way to everyone’s heart is by making the tea round, even if you are not a hot drink lover. Don’t worry about getting it wrong sometimes, even those who’ve been here for years add the wrong milk or use the wrong mug!
The PRCA delivers the Higher PR & Communications Assistant Standard, with the structured support of the Level 4 Diploma in PR. Both are nationally recognised. Flexible in structure, employers can tailor the Diploma using optional units to suit the needs of the business. Learners are placed in the workplace and complete on-the-job training and assessment. Click here to find out more about the PR Apprenticeship programme.