Young People's Blog Series - How to get the best out of being an apprentice

Hi, I’m Bayley and I am an apprentice in the Museum’s Young People Team. I wanted to share some key tips to remember whilst being an apprentice. Especially from the skills and knowledge I have gathered from working at London Transport Museum. Take a look! 

Believe in yourself 

Sometimes in an apprenticeship, it is very easy to get stressed and let things get on top of you. What you must remember is that you are in this position because the people around you believe you’re capable of doing the job and completing the qualification. So, believe in yourself and be confident. Speak to you manager or someone you trust in your workplace to try and tackle your worries. 

Don’t be afraid to ask questions 

As young people, we’re very afraid to ask questions in many situations. Over my time of being an apprentice I learnt that I am there to learn from my employer and that I’m not expected to know everything straight away. However small or big the answer is, it’s always worth clearing up. 

Set goals and monitor your progress  

Setting goals along your programme is key! This allows you to incorporate different opportunities within your time spent in the apprenticeship and keep track of each accomplishment. I’d recommend setting SMART targets as it is the best way to break down a goal. SMART stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Timely.

Network – Make yourself known 

I know speaking to new people is quite a scary thing, but it is so important as an apprentice! Networking allows you to build new relationships and open great doors for progression. Try to get in contact with people in roles you’re interested in or ask your manager to help you work out ways to do so. 

Set-up a mentor  

Having a mentor provides you with a chance to gain great advice, meet new people and have another prospective from outside your workplace. There are many organisations that offer mentorships or schemes like them. Also, you could choose someone in your workplace to be your mentor. For example, the Young People Team at London Transport Museum teamed up with Arts Emergency to provide mentors to the young people on our programmes. 

Conclusion 

I hope these tips have been useful and help you complete your apprenticeships. There are many more tips out there that can help benefit you throughout your journey and can continue being used on your next steps. Just always remember that all knowledge is good knowledge. It will always be useful one day!