Hear from one of our star apprentices about how getting trained with Apprentice Nation is helping to shape her career.
Tell us a bit about yourself and what you’re up to at the moment?
My name is Millie and I’m currently a WhiteHat apprentice at Morgan Stanley within the Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) HR Solutions team. Alongside my job, I am studying for a Level 3 Business Associate qualification with WhiteHat.
What attracted you to do an apprenticeship?
Wow! For me there are so many reasons to do an apprenticeship instead of going to University. One major factor is learning while earning and gaining on-the-job experience. I feel like that is invaluable for my future employability, as employers look for candidates with both experience and the appropriate qualifications. I can definitely say that I have learned so much in the short time I have been here so far, from shadowing the experts within my team to applying my learning in practical situations.
What’s the best thing you’ve learned on Apprentice Nation?
The most useful Short Set I have attended is definitely ‘Setting You up for Success’. It’s all about interpersonal skills, dealing with difficult situations and healthy work relationships. When I was watching the personality types appear on the screen, I was instantly applying them to my colleagues. The tips and advice were so accurate on how to interact with different types of people. Now, before any meeting that I lead or contribute to, I think about what actions to take to get the best possible responses from my colleagues, and get my point across successfully. I’d definitely recommend this course to anyone who gets nervous before meetings like me, as this will help you to prepare!
What’s your top tip for people looking to land an apprenticeship through WhiteHat?
Be open-minded, enthusiastic and don’t doubt yourself! WhiteHat are incredible at matching you and your skills to an apprenticeship that they believe you will excel in, but they can’t do all the work for you.
- Be open-minded: I had no idea what a Solutions role in HR was, and now I love it!
- Enthusiasm is infectious: If a potential employer sees how much you value their company and how excited you are to work with them, they’ll be more likely to hire you.
- Lastly, don’t doubt yourself: Showcase all your achievements with confidence. I know it may be cliché, but believe in your ability, because WhiteHat definitely do, otherwise they wouldn’t put you forward for the opportunity.
What was your dream job when you were five years old?
I was adamant I would become a singer! I used to love singing to the radio in the car with my sister, and even around the house, putting on mini performances to my family. Gradually, as I got older, I realised I can no longer sing – or I was tone deaf and rubbish in the first place, and just didn’t notice!
WhiteHat is a tech startup on a mission to create a diverse group of future leaders. They are doing this by building an outstanding alternative to university through apprenticeships.