I work within the People Team as a Resourcing Administrator and whilst my career at Burges Salmon is still fresh, an apprenticeship with my previous employer was the catalyst to developing 4 years’ experience in HR, which has allowed me to get where I am today.
University or apprenticeship?
When I finished my GCSEs, I knew that I wanted to get an apprenticeship so that I could learn whilst getting the important work experience at the same time. After lots of applications to various different apprenticeship programs, I was unsuccessful but didn’t lose hope and motivation! A year into my A-levels, I started to think perhaps following the ‘traditional route’ of A- levels and University was going to be the option I was left with. It was until I received a “congratulations!” email into my inbox inviting me to an assessment centre that the next step in my journey had officially begun. Following an assessment centre and interviews, I was successful in being offered an HR (Level 3) apprenticeship with a company in their Bristol office.
The apprenticeship
My apprenticeship experience was second to none. I was able to learn the job role, whilst studying towards my CIPD Level 3 qualification and gain all the relevant office working environment experience that I didn’t feel I could have gained, just via the classroom.
Being an apprentice, I was able to rotate around different teams getting lots of exposure to the wider business and further expanding my knowledge.
After my two-year apprenticeship, I moved into a permanent role within the company’s on boarding team; helping onboard new joiners into the organisation. After nearly three and half years, I decided it was time for a new challenge - I think it’s really important to put yourself out of your comfort zone, learn new skills and gain different working perspectives.
Making the leap to Burges Salmon
I have always aspired to work at Burges Salmon, so when I found out I was successful in being offered a Resourcing Administrator position at the Firm, I was over the moon. Having the apprenticeship and onboarding experience behind me, gave me the practical experience, knowledge and transferable skills to apply to Burges Salmon.
Whilst I didn’t complete my apprenticeship with Burges Salmon, I believe that apprenticeship schemes open so many doors to careers for those finishing college/ sixth form, without the need to attend university.
Resilience and determination will get you to where you want to be, and if you want something, you won’t give up until you get it.
I hope this helps anyone who is thinking about going down the apprenticeship route, it really changed my working life. I couldn’t recommend apprenticeships scheme enough.
For more information about our apprenticeship programmes, please visit our careers pages.
This article was written by Lucy Flook.