Let us not beat about the bush here, you are reading this because you want to hear the actual experience of current apprentices. This blog has been posted to advertise the scheme and get the best of the best signing up to join the fast track, thereby the ranks of the greater civil service. You want the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth- I shall endeavour to give it to you based on my experience- and trust me I would not be writing this if I did not believe in the scheme.
On the scheme you are given a proper job working on a project- not just as an administrator- the roles are vetted to ensure that they meet rigorous criteria set by the cabinet office. You are given job security, a great salary package and internationally recognised qualifications to bump-start your career in Project Management. The best thing, in my opinion, is the tremendous amount of opportunity; I am overwhelmed with the number of possibilities open to me once I finish the apprenticeship scheme. The Fast Stream and departmental development schemes are attractive options, but there are plenty of prospects for interesting and fulfilling work if you decide to forge your own career path upon completion.
Let’s not get ahead of ourselves, there will be many fantastic opportunities whilst an apprentice too; working on the T26 Global Combat Ship Programme I attended the Cut Steel ceremony in Glasgow. Soon after that, I experienced cover work in the Minister of Defence’s outer office seeing how things work at that top level.
When I am not off on these exciting adventures, I am sitting at my desk in an office amongst Commodores, Captains, and Commanders of the Royal Navy as well as experienced civil service personnel. I work on developing documents such as the Through Life Management Plan for the T26 frigate, the Business Agreements between different areas of the navy and the T26 team to establish accountability and run Learning from Experience workshops. In addition, I do play the part of secretariat for several meetings which requires taking minutes - a role that you may have to take on. This is not to be sniffed at however, as it will develop your skills in efficient note-taking and get you to important meetings that you might otherwise not get to; on the front lines of the decision-making process.
There may be days where it does feel like you are a process monkey but stick with me… the civil service is a big organisation and somebody has got to do the processes to make sure it delivers its outputs. There have already been points in the T26 Programme where I have realised the relevance of my work on the success of the Programme.
From what I have observed, there is a lot of diversity in the projects or programmes that apprentices get posted to. I am on a huge ‘Category A’ government programme costing billions of pounds, therefore, I am a very small cog in a big wheel. Alternatively, I have colleagues in the Fast Track that are on small projects with only one or two other people; allowing them to project manage many more areas. Both situations have advantages and disadvantages but either way, simulation events are offered by the learning providers to ensure that you do not miss out on getting full coverage of project management.
So should you join? Will you cope with sitting at a desk or in a meeting room 9-5 and sometimes longer? What about the challenge of being given high levels of responsibility and getting on with it from day one – seeking out the answers from the experts who may be very senior to you? Are you ready for this level of opportunity? Are people and project management skills what you truly want to develop and - without sounding incredibly cliché - what you have a passion for?
I could say yes to all these questions before I started (even though I was never actually asked them) and I can say yes to them now. To close I can honestly say that while I’m sure there are a few lucky people with better jobs and prospects out there in the world; I consider myself to be well up on the list and if you’re still here reading, I know you would too. Go on- apply!
]]>Looking back to April 2015, I had just been informed that I would be being made redundant in August. My mind started to go into a panic. I was married and 26 with a nearly one year old. I had been to university but left in my final year. That is when my mum suggested the Fast Track Apprentice scheme to me.
The Fast Track Apprenticeship has allowed me to gain a transferable qualification, and a stepping foot into the Civil Service where the opportunities are endless whilst allowing me to gain great friends.
I have been a Civil Servant in the DWP for over two years now and in that time I have finished my apprenticeship and changed job roles.
I joined the DWP in September 2015 as a Business Administration Apprentice and was placed into projects, which enabled me to undertake the projects pathway.
At first I was a bit unsure of how I would settle in as I was older than most and not what most people think of when they think of an apprentice. The induction was an eye opener and made me see that there were people from all walks of life and a variety of ages.
Being in projects is fast paced and meant moving from project to project. This enabled me to meet a range of people of various roles which enabled me to learn new skills. I was also able to undertake a range learning opportunities in order to up-skill, which was great.
As a Business Analyst in part of a digital project team I was involved in gathering user needs, analysing the information we had gathered and feeding this information back to key stakeholders during the stakeholder reviews.
Being in projects allowed me to gather a great deal of evidence to put towards my qualification but also allowed me to gain a great deal of experience and knowledge in a field that I had never thought of working in.
Fast forward almost 2 and half years, I am now working as a work coach in my local Job Centre Plus as this career fits around my current family commitments and is now giving me a new challenge. Being a Fast Track apprentice really opened doors for me and I couldn’t recommend it more as a stepping stone into a career within the government.
]]>After studying History, English and Drama at A-Level I thought my career path would definitely lead towards teaching which is what I always wanted to do. I applied for university to study English Language and got into all five of my choices. However, as I got into my second year of Sixth Form and my exams were approaching I wondered if going to university was really for me.
I’d never really considered an apprenticeship but I started worrying about what I’d do if I didn’t do a degree, so I started looking and that’s when I came across the Fast Track. I applied for Project Delivery as I felt that was appropriate for my skills and an ambitious career. After passing the online tests, the assessment day was the next stage of the application. Personally, I really enjoyed it as it was different to anything I’d done and I doubted myself a lot beforehand, so it was extremely good to find out I’d passed and I would be posted into a job.
I live just outside of Blackpool in a little town called Cleveleys and I worried this would limit my opportunities as I wasn’t aware of Civil Service jobs around here. I was pleased to be posted at Peel Park in Blackpool, just a short 25 minute drive from my house. I began working for the Department for Work and Pensions on the Scottish Devolution Programme in January 2017 and I’m still here now.
Within the year I’ve been here I’ve experienced different roles, from starting working on the Programme Management team to moving onto the Best Start Grant project, I have gained skills which allows me to be flexible in the sort of work I do.
The formal learning began in March 2017 and we are preparing to take the APM exam in May 2018 so there’s a lot to do and learn.
My current role is working on the Best Start Grant project where I mainly coordinate the plans and risks for the project I am excited to see what the next few months bring and my career in the Civil Service.
]]>I joined The Department of International Development (DFID) at the end of January 2017 as a Fast Track apprentice on the business scheme.
I made the decision to apply for the Civil Service Fast Track scheme as after having my daughter and working part-time for several years I felt the time was right to kick start my career. As soon as I saw the Fast Track apprenticeship gives the opportunity to learn and gain a recognised level 4 qualification whist working I knew it was the right move for me, so with a little encouragement from family and friends I applied in March 2016.
Coming from working in a small finance department within a family business where I knew everyone by name to working in an organisation the size of DFID was daunting but very exciting, and I quickly settled into my role as an apprentice programme manager in the Evaluation Unit of DFID. My line manager, Danielle, arranged an induction programme which helped me to build my networks and ease some of those first week nerves. It was great to meet the inspiring people I’d be working with, who were knowledgeable and also passionate about their work. Not only did they pass on their hints and tips – “make the most of the flexitime!” –they also helped me find my feet in those early days and quickly feel part of the team.
My role as an apprentice programme manager is challenging and varied, with no two days being the same. I could be meeting up with digital colleagues to get feedback and arrange user testing for a programme website, or I could be liaising with the commercial department about next steps of a procurement process or contract negotiation. I feel lucky to have been given responsibilities and challenging work from the start of my apprenticeship, and also having a team that lets me know that my work is valued, whilst also offering support and advice when needed.
One of the biggest challenges that I have faced so far is being the new face in a well established team. In my first weeks, I felt like everyone was speaking a different language, as DFID use so many acronyms and abbreviations. I thought that I would never be able to understand what everyone was talking about. However, slowly but surely, I began to pick them up and life became a whole lot easier, and now I’m the one using them in meetings.
I’ve found the level of support on offer with the apprenticeship to be fantastic, my Head of Unit volunteered to be my mentor, so it’s great to have someone working at that level taking an interest in my work and how the apprentice is progressing. I also have a weekly one to one session with my line manager where we discuss; how I am getting on, any concerns that I am having and how she is able to support me. She’s also been passing on some positive feedback from my team, members so it’s great to hear I’m on the right track.
That’s the first year of my apprenticeship complete and it has been a really positive experience. It’s been full of great opportunities to develop my skills and capabilities and I’m confident I made the right decision in applying. I was expecting a steep learning curve and I haven’t been disappointed, though I maybe wasn’t expecting to learn a whole new language of acronyms! I’m pleased to say I’m on track to complete my apprenticeship before the end of 2018 and I can’t wait to see what challenges lie ahead for me.
]]>Hi everyone, my name is Gregor Henderson and I have been a Fast Track Apprentice for just over a year now.
My life has completely changed since joining the scheme. I left McLaren High School in 2016 after finishing my Highers in 6th Year. I lived in a small village in Scotland called Doune (where Monty Python, Outlander and Game of Thrones have been filmed) living with my parents and working full time as a supervisor in a small café there while deciding what to do next. I knew University wasn’t for me so I looked for an alternative where I could enjoy both learning and working and the Fast Track Apprenticeship is definitely that. Since joining the apprenticeship I have now moved to Glasgow living in my own flat and now manage a team of 9 Social Fund Telephony agents in the Department for Work and Pensions in Springburn.
Every day is different in my role. My team answers Social Fund enquiries which include budgeting loans, funeral payments and maternity grants for people on benefits. I am tasked with managing performance, attendance and behaviours in my team and keeping everyone happy! At age only 18 when I started in the Department this seemed a daunting task but I have come to love the responsibility and experience the programme has given me so far. My role has also changed while in the Department as I used to be a Team Leader for Job Seekers Allowance enquiries. I also enjoy the environment in my office where everyone is really friendly and supportive of the apprenticeship. The flexible working hour are great as well and allows me to still see my pals at Uni.
I have been given a vast variety of opportunities during this time including attending Senior Management meetings and taking over control of the Fast Track Social Media pages for a day. I am also looking forward to taking part in a jobs fair representing the Fast Track Apprenticeship Scheme at Glasgow Royal Concert Hall on the 21st of March.
I am currently halfway through my Level 4 Business and Administration Diploma and SVQ. These qualifications are achieved through workshops, assignments and my skills coach assessing me in the workplace. The work is challenging and no two tasks are the same. Some of the workshops include communicating effectively and planning and implementing change. This learning is helpful for your role in the Civil Service and would be helpful in any other job you applied for after the scheme. Some of the coursework is also online through a great interactive portal. You also get assigned a skills coach in your apprenticeship so you are never alone with any questions or problems you have with the qualification.
The apprenticeship is a great start to successful career in the Civil Service. After I have completed my apprenticeship I hope to join the Fast Stream Programme and experience different Departments within the Civil Service.
]]>In the last 6 months I have completed my Fast Track apprenticeship, been successful in applying for a new job earning nearly £30,000 a year and have been getting to know my gorgeous baby daughter.
Rewind back to 2005 and things weren’t quite as rosy. I had just found out my parents were separating I’d lost interest in my university studies realising my degree was a bit pointless and I had no idea what to do next. Looking back I had found myself in a strange city with no job, no prospects, and no idea.
Over the next 10 years I tried my hand at a number of different jobs all entry level, always with the idea that I could get in and work my way up. Enthusiasm however quickly died off time and again as the promises of progression and development never materialised and I was left feeling frustrated tired and stuck in a rut. I genuinely thought I would never do anything with my life and I would be ‘stuck’ in dead end jobs for the rest of my working life.
Then just over 2 years ago when I was looking at what to try next as I grew frustrated in my then job, I happened across something called a fast-track apprenticeship with the Civil Service. I had a look at the role, and thought the offer of £18-23k starting sounded too good to be true, I never thought could be possible for an apprenticeship. I went through the application, and was invited to an assessment centre.
The assessment was daunting, it was a three part assessment, part one involved a lot of writing against the clock (something dyslexia means I struggle with) the second part was a group assessment, working with strangers whilst being observed to create and present back a proposal to our examiners. Finally I had an interview which was probably the least stressful part but normally enough to have me break out in a cold sweat.
Clearly despite the nerves and challenges of the day it had gone well as around four weeks later I was informed that I had been successful and would be posted in due course. I was over the moon, and couldn’t wait to start.
Once I began my career, there were the usual nerves, then the awe of the responsibility of the relatively small team I would be in (£70m budget) and finally the feeling that I was a fraud and couldn’t do it. With the support of colleagues and managers I grew into my new role, developing the skills and knowledge to thrive.
That two years later I am ready to graduate, having already gained a promotion and now work on one of the biggest transformation programmes in the country is testament to the support and development opportunities offered by the Fast Track scheme and the civil service as a whole.
Simply put it’s been a life changing opportunity that I feel incredibly lucky to have had. It has undoubtedly been key in me developing greater self-awareness, self-confidence and building a more satisfying and balanced work-life balance.
]]>How did you hear about the Civil Service Fast Track apprenticeship?
After completing my A levels in school, I decided against going to university (the original plan was dentistry) to go straight into employment. I heard about the Civil Service Fast Track Apprenticeship through my parents, as both are former Civil Servants. Having not chosen the option of further education, I wanted to prove to myself that I could successfully obtain a higher qualification.
Did your parents go to university? Was this their expectation for you? How did they feel about you choosing to undertake an apprenticeship?
Neither of my parents went to university, however my brother successfully obtained a master’s degree in London. I think the expectation was that I would follow him and go to university to “unlock my full potential”, although, I felt that wasn’t the right choice for me. I think there is a lot of pressure on school leavers to know their future careers and immediately pursue that path. I am fortunate that my family have always been very supportive and proud of my life choices, and choosing the Fast Track apprenticeship is inclusive of those choices.
What attracted you to the Fast Track apprenticeship?
One of the key things that attracted me to the Fast Track apprenticeship was the salary. Having completed an apprenticeship with a previous employer on a far less wage, I can happily say that I doubled mine by becoming a Fast Track apprentice. I also really liked the option of flexible working and career progression opportunities, so much so that I gave up my John Lewis discount card for good!
How did you find the assessment process? (Written and group exercises, and the one-to-one interview)
The application process involves several steps, similar to the Fast Stream. I found the online tests fairly straightforward, but the time bound tests were challenging. Successful candidates then progressed to the half day assessment centre. I was initially nervous as it was a new experience, distinct to most recruitment processes I had previously completed. The day consisted of a 45 minute interview, group exercise and written assessment.
I had basic knowledge of the competency framework, which I felt helped me during the interview. At the time, I thought I had failed the written assessment as the time limit seemed to be up within minutes. I think this helped me relax for the group assessment, which I actually quite enjoyed! We were asked to give a presentation regarding budgetary spending to improve public services. All of the candidates were really friendly and genuinely wanted each other to do well in the process.
Which scheme did you sign up to?
I originally opted for the Finance scheme, however as my preferred location was Cardiff, I was offered the Business Administration scheme. The Business scheme consists of a Level 4 HNC/Diploma in Business and a NVQ in Business Administration.
Which department are you working in?
I work for HMRC in Cardiff, specifically in Personal Tax Operations that provides services for individual customers’ tax. I have had a number of roles during my two years since joining the department.
What does a typical day look like?
I would say no day is a typical day as it can vary greatly. I may be organising an event/stall to inform colleagues on volunteering opportunities in HMRC. I could be contacting colleagues congratulating them on their success with a recent job application. Other times, I may be meeting with apprenticeship colleagues, discussing any issues or best practice for apprenticeships across HMRC.
Fortunately I have been based with the senior leadership team, so I often get involved with any additional tasks they require me to pick up. It’s the variety that keeps me busy and interested in my work.
What networks has being on the programme opened up to you?
I have had the opportunity to mentor others and receive mentoring from senior members of HMRC. The programme has given me the platform to be involved in interesting projects such as the pilot trial of web chat in the tax credit line of business. I have had the opportunity to co-organise a conference for the Director of my directorate. Additionally, I have been involved in several projects to help improve and better apprenticeships, working with apprentices across various government departments. One of my roles is the volunteering and charity lead for the department, which gives me a niche area of responsibility.
Did you experience any challenges in your role? How did you overcome these?
My first role was a team leader, managing a team of 13 probation telephony staff on tax credits. Some of my team were significantly older than me, which I found quite daunting initially. I always tried to support my team as I wanted to gain their respect and trust, regardless of my age. It was my first experience of management, so I found it especially challenging balancing learning a new role and completing my apprenticeship coursework.
Knowing my support systems and being able to rely on the advice of my experienced colleagues helped me copiously. I ensured I took as many learning opportunities as possible to develop my own knowledge and skillset. It was also important that I understood my limits. After nearly a year, I asked for the opportunity to change roles, as I had gained masses of evidence for my apprenticeship and wanted to prioritise catching up with my coursework.
What do you most enjoy about your role?
I have really enjoyed the variety of my role and the number of opportunities/projects I have been involved in. It has given me lots of experience and confidence, which I now use to help support and develop others. Being an advocate for the apprenticeship is really important to me, as I was one of the first apprentices in my area.
Joining the Civil Service was a huge decision for me, so helping others making that transition through the Fast Track apprenticeship is something I am really passionate about. I try and encompass mentoring/coaching into all of the roles. I feel I am developing myself when supporting the development of others.
What do you think your next step beyond the programme will be?
Having successfully passed the apprenticeship and gained my Level 4 qualification, I am considering whether to complete an Open University course to top up my qualification to a full degree. Currently, I am looking forward to going into a new role and seeing what further opportunities will arise in the near future. The plan is to aim high, so hopefully a promotion will be in the near horizon!
]]>I chose the Civil Service Fast Track as an alternative to university once I’d completed my A-Levels. I knew the Civil Service was very versatile and would offer me a great opportunity to develop personally and professionally. The application process was very testing involving 4 online tests prior to an assessment day based on 3 different activities covering different competencies. After 5 months I found out I had been successful and started my role at the beginning of January and I enjoyed every single day of it. DWP and my district have been very supportive and made such a large transition easier for me.
The Fast Track Business Apprenticeship qualification side involves 2 separate awards, a Level 4 Diploma and a Level 4 NVQ in Business Admin. The diploma is based off 7 assignments completed over 15 months and the NVQ requires you to complete 12-15 work based units and present the evidence to an external skills coach. This runs adjacent to my role, a work coach, and any other projects or shadowing I undertake.
In order to illustrate the diverse nature of the Fast Track, I thought I’d give a sample of what 2
weeks in July have entailed for me as part of my apprenticeship process.
Monday & Tuesday 10th & 11th
Learning the Work Coach role is very important to me as it deepens my knowledge of what goes in WSD and the practices involved in it. By doing this two days a week it gives me a good understanding and allows me to develop my interpersonal skills as well as knowing how to use the systems, the correct procedures and what WSD is all about.
Wednesday 12th
I had set up a meeting in Bush House (London) with the Fast Track team, within CS resourcing, in order to analyse what was good and what could be done better about the Fast Track process from application to graduation. I travelled down on Tuesday night and stayed with family in the area. This meeting was an opportunity to improve the program for existing and future apprentices. I had spent weeks before gathering feedback from my fellow apprentices to voice their opinions also.
The meeting went really well and was a great chance to discuss the Fast Track in a formal
setting. Accompanied by my line manager and district lead we contributed to support the Fast
Track in improvement from a different angle they don’t get to see from.
Thursday 13th
As part of my apprenticeship I was encouraged to seek a mentor, so I spent a day at Caxton House with my DWP mentor. Seeing the DWP main office was so enlightening, it really motivated me to want to progress. Everyone was very welcoming, my day consisted of spending some one on one time with my mentor, having a grand tour of the building and spending some time with different teams in the Finance department. My mentor shared some good practice with me on my own telekit, helping me on my digital upskills task and finish group.
Friday 14th
I had another appointment with my second mentor who works in the National Savings and Investment (NS&I) department. I thought it was important to get a Civil Service perspective from someone outside the DWP. I had a great morning learning about the communication side of proceedings in NS&I. I had been receiving coaching sessions from my mentor to prepare for the meeting two days previous. We talked through how it went from my perspective and discussed my next strategy.
In the afternoon I returned to Bush House to aid in an exercise whereby I reviewed the soon to be published Fast Stream website. I imparted some feedback from first viewing going through the documented scheme information and application process. This was a chance to represent the Fast Track in refining a process some of us may be going through very shortly if we chose to.
Monday & Tuesday 17th and 18th
I was back in the office after a busy end to the previous week. I had lots of emails to catch up on whilst delivering my work coaching role, seeing my weekly customers face to face. Normally I spend an hour of each day updating the office twitter page for the week, putting on any upcoming events, job fairs and vacancies we have. Social media managing isn’t part of being an apprentice but it’s a project I took on to fulfil parts of my qualification.
Wednesday & Thursday 19th and 20th
These two days are spent doing numerous things; If there was any outstanding tasks from the day before that needed doing in my work coach role they needed to be completed, I had to feedback from my meeting with the Fast Track team to other apprentices that I’d interacted with and the main part of my day is spent working on my case study to present my evidence for my NVQ qualification.
I had to write a case study about two specific units that linked together, this involved a large piece of writing but then linking evidence that covers the assessment criteria. For example I did some twitter training in my office for other work coaches, this covered the assessment criteria for Unit 404-3.3 ‘Provide training and support in the use of information systems to users and stakeholders’, and the evidence I collected was signatures of the work coaches confirming that I had coached them to an appropriate level. Each unit can have 10-20 assessment criteria which need completing but can overlap.
Friday 20th
This day is allocated to do work on my assignments for the diploma side of my qualification. Every 7-8 weeks I attend 2-day long classroom based sessions, provided by an external learning provider that should give me all knowledge and resources in order to complete the assignment based on one of the topics. There are 7 topics in total ranging from different aspects of business.
Each assignment is different and normally made up of a mix of tasks based on the topic. On this study day I was writing reports on ‘Understanding Organisations’, looks at different types of sectors and analysing the differences between them. I learn a lot from doing these assignments, especially as they are tailored for a public sector point of view.
This isn’t a typical 2 weeks for me but paints the picture of the kind of things you can expect as a Fast Track Apprentice. I am very grateful to be part of the scheme and would recommend it to anyone. The best piece of advice I could give anyone who is on the scheme it; go out there and find opportunities yourself.
]]>The Civil Service Fast Track Apprenticeship campaign is currently underway. Many of you will have already registered on the website and in the process of completing an online application.
Completing the online tests can be a daunting task. So I would like to share some of my top tips on how to progress your registration into an application.
Practice - there is an old adage, ‘fail to prepare, prepare to fail’. Firstly, I would like to recommend completing the practice tests beforehand. This is a great way to become familiar and accustomed with the type of questions that you will be asked. This will also help build your confidence when you complete the real test.
Don’t leave it too late – do not procrastinate and leave it to the last minute. Try to ensure that you have plenty of time to complete the application. You ideally need to allocate ample time in your schedule so that you do not miss the deadline.
Move away from distractions – it is easy to start browsing on your smartphone, check your social media and start talking to friends or family. These can all become a hindrance when you need to concentrate and focus on the answers that you are submitting.
Find a calm environment – this follows on from my previous tip. Some of the questions are timed and require you to answer swiftly. The time element is challenging and you may begin to pause or fluster. Give yourself the best chance of success by going to a quiet place to cut out any background noise. Avoid having the television or radio on whilst doing the tests.
Do your best – whilst submitting my application, I did not finish the maths test. I was very upset and remember calling my mum to discuss how I felt this would go against me. However, I was surprised to learn that I had progressed to the next stage. This demonstrated the online tests try to assess how you answer each question and examine your thought process.
Lastly, I would recommend that you do not hold back. I had many reservations about whether the Civil Service Fast Track was right for me. My reluctance stemmed from my fear of a lack of knowledge in my scheme area, which made me hesitant to apply and complete the tests. But I am happy that I persevered.
Now I am working as a Private Secretary to the Director of Finance Transformation in the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) in Sheffield. My days are so varied, and I love the challenge of working with our Senior Leaders to help towards the successful delivery of our programme.
I would urge all those that have registered to continue with your application and to start your online tests as soon as you can. Do not hold back. You have chance to gain a rewarding career.
Remember that applications close at 12PM (noon) 4 April 2018 so make sure to get your application in before time runs out.
]]>If you’re anything like me you may not know what career you want to pursue or if you do you may not know how to get there. University was never something I wanted to do and I knew this from a young age. Due to the fact I did not want to go to university I felt very lost as I felt university is the only way I could get a career. Thankfully I was wrong because something great came my way …. The fast track apprentice scheme. The more I read about it the more it sounded too good to be true. You mean to tell me I get paid an amazing wage while gaining more qualifications and not only that the fact apprentices keep their job role after the apprenticeship had finished really sealed the deal for me. Immediately I applied and my application managed to get me through to the interview stage. I remember thinking to myself the night before the interview this will be the most important interview I had to date so I couldn’t afford to go in to this interview unprepared. Some may say the interview process is nerve but personally I found it empowering because an organisation as big as the Civil Service had gave me a chance to prove myself and that’s exactly what I did.
A couple months went by and I remember checking my emails on my phone at work whilst on my break. When looking at my emails I usually just check the first line to determine weather its worth reading or not however this email said “CONGRATULATIONS “ I then have clicked the email to see more of the content…. I DID IT I GOT THE JOB! These were the exact words I screamed in the cafeteria. Prior to this I had only experienced tears of happiness once and this was when I past my driving test however this feeling was amazing I not only got a job that I can gain qualifications in but I’ve gained a potential career.
December 12th 2016 was when I started working for the DWP as a work coach. Bare in mind before I started working for the department I knew the bare minimal about the Civil Service let alone its structures and all the departments within the Civil Service but that’s why this apprenticeship is great because no matter how much or how little you know there’s vast amount of training courses available to all new starters- so whatever you don’t know about your department or job role you soon will!
I work alongside great people who really took me under their wing as I am currently the youngest at the office however I did not see this as a disadvantage I actually saw it as an advantage because I was able to learn from people who have been in their job role for over 30 years I was able to see first hand what it truly means to be an excellent work coach and I know this knowledge will help me in the future.
The qualification aspect of the apprenticeship not only allows you to meet other apprentices but it also lets you find out about the other apprentices jobs roles and departments which allows you to think about what departments you may want to move to once you have completed your apprenticeship. That’s one of the best thing about the Civil Service so many departments and so many opportunities to build up your competencies to better yourself.
My job has allowed me to get involved in things that I am very passionate about. Last year October I organised a food day at my work place to celebrate black history month, this event was a great success and is one of my main highlights since I have been working for the department.
To anyone who reading this who wants to apply to the fast track scheme I personally can say this apprenticeship has changed my life already -at the age of 20 I kick started my career thanks to this amazing opportunity and you could too!
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