My year as the UK’s first ever Graduate Apprentice!
By Darvinder Kang
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Why I applied in the first place.
Like many finalists, the end of my university career was upon me and I had some big choices to make. I was unsure whether to move straight into a graduate position or continue at university undertaking a master degree.
Like most students I didn’t really know whether my true professional home would be in a large corporate, small developing business or in one of the big public sector organisations. How could you know? It was almost impossible to find out.
Then I saw an advertisement requesting applicants for the Graduate Apprentice.
A programme that offered, three four month paid placements in three diverse sectors.
So I applied, it sounded a very exciting idea and should I be chosen I knew it would be a unique and valuable experience that would provide me with not only a fantastic opportunity but look good on the CV too.
So I went for it. And I got it. Am I glad? You bet!
What did I get up to?
Upon becoming the Graduate Apprentice, I had by far the best working experience that a graduate, just starting out on their professional career, could ever hope for. Having graduated from university only a short time before beginning the programme, I could never have imagined that becoming the Graduate Apprentice would enable me to:
- Gain invaluable exposure to the professional services sector with a leading “Big 4” firm like Deloitte in Birmingham, working on a number of IT audit engagements with leading FTSE 100 clients.
- Gain experience working in the public sector within one of the UK’s leading hospitals, at the Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust in a finance project team overseeing the very first acquisition of another hospital in the history of the NHS.
- Gain an opportunity to sample life within one of Birmingham’s most innovative and exciting creative SMEs, 3form. Here I worked specifically on developing a business proposal for a unique and innovative internet concept and project managed a series of web based engagements.
What did I learned?
That life is too short and we should go out there and achieve whatever we have in mind and not to have regrets!
The diversity of the Graduate Apprentice programme has allowed me to experience working life in all kinds of environments; from a high profile private multi-national, through to the public sector and a fledgling SME. Not only will this help me stand out from other graduates in terms of my CV, but more importantly, I feel I now know more about how businesses, whether large or small, operate and the different kinds of people/cultures/objectives that we are likely to encounter within them.
I also now understand the importance of personal development and networking, but most of all, I have learned that hard work always pays off in one way or another. There is no doubt that the Graduate Apprentice has given me a clearer indication as to the kind of career path that I may wish to take in the future.
The benefits of being the Graduate Apprentice.
No week is ever the same! The work is so varied and exciting. One minute you are working with a leading FTSE 100 client company undertaking controls testing as part of an audit engagement and the next you are working in a project team on one of the hot business topics of the moment – mergers and acquisitions within the NHS.
Within two weeks of leaving my placement at the NHS, I was sitting in front of the marketing director of the Vivienne Westwood fashion chain in London pitching a new internet sales idea with my colleagues at 3form. As you can imagine, the diary and work varies each and every week.
The profile I have gained amongst potential employers during my year has been fantastic. As part of my year as the Graduate Apprentice I took part in a range of events and talks. I gave a presentation at PwC in Birmingham as part of a higher education and diversity seminar. It was my first formal presentation ever in front of 70 people - daunting but exciting at the same time!
Furthermore, the countless networking events via Birmingham Future are invaluable. My involvement with Birmingham Future’s Graduates into Employment Committee has also enabled me to give something back to the programme and its organisers.
This can be reflected by my involvement with the recent Future-pro event where I took part in a range of speed networking sessions meeting graduates from all of the West Midlands Universities.
Mentoring via Graduate Advantage has been a great way for me to reflect on my experience and identify areas to improve my key skills set via additional training. Similarly, being mentored by an independent mentor away from any involvement with the programme has proved very useful.
Lastly, the profile you gain from being the Graduate Apprentice cannot be underestimated not least the media aspect of the placement. I have had articles published about my experiences during the year as well as an interview on Biz TV (and got to keep a dvd!)
The Graduate Apprentice has been a fantastic opportunity for me, one I have embraced with open arms. Go for it- if you’re chosen I know you won’t regret it.