From Event Attendees to Google Apprentices: Their Journey One Year On

“I used TikTok a lot. I would watch ‘day in the life of a Google Apprentice’ videos and then apply what I learned to every other company I applied to.” Chelsea Chimbembe, Google apprentice

Launching National Apprenticeships Week, early careers platform Apprentice Nation partnered with Google for the second consecutive year to host an exclusive event at Google’s Kings Cross offices. A buzzing crowd of 16–24-year-olds came together to learn about apprenticeship opportunities, gain career insights from industry professionals, and explore the future of AI in the workplace.

Among the attendees were two Google apprentices who had actually been at this very event last year—only this time, they returned as apprentices themselves. We had the chance to speak with them about their journey over the past year, how they secured their roles at Google, and their advice for anyone looking to follow in their footsteps.

How did you find out about the Apprentice Nation x Google event for National Apprenticeship Week last year? What was the experience like for you, and had you heard about Apprentice Nation before?

Laura Dogbey: I found out about the event through a friend. I had been open with my friends and teachers about not wanting to go to university, and I asked them to share any apprenticeship-related opportunities with me. One of my friends spotted the event on LinkedIn and sent it my way—we ended up attending together.

Chelsea Chimbembe: My experience was a bit different. I’m part of the Black Apprentice Network, and someone shared the Eventbrite link in the Aspiring Apprentices chat. I had never come across an apprenticeship event like this one before, so I was really curious. Since it was during National Apprenticeship Week, I thought, “Wow, this is a great opportunity,” and decided to go.

Can you paint us a picture of your current apprenticeship at Google? What does your day-to-day look like?

Chelsea Chimbembe: I’m doing a Level 3 Digital Business apprenticeship. My day typically starts around 8:45 or 9:00 AM—I come in, grab breakfast, and get settled before heading into my first meeting, which is usually around 9:00 or 9:30 AM. The rest of my day depends on the project I’m working on. I spend a lot of time in meetings, sometimes with my immediate team and other times with people I’ve never met before. There’s a mix of project work, collaboration, and occasional activities outside the office. Every day is different, which helps keeps things exciting.

Laura Dogbey: At the start of my apprenticeship, my days were more about settling in—getting to know my team, understanding Google as a company, and figuring out my role. A big part of that involved coffee chats, which is something we do to connect with different people across the company. My calendar was packed with them, and it was a great way to learn.

Now that I’m more established, my routine varies week to week. Like Chelsea, I usually arrive around 8:45 AM, have breakfast, and start my day with meetings. Our team has weekly check-ins to catch up and plan ahead. Beyond that, I seek out projects with other teams—I’m especially interested in the YouTube team, so I reach out to them often, and I’m currently working on something for them. I try to get involved in a bit of everything!

Can you tell me about what the last 12 months looked like for you? You both landed apprenticeships at Google, how did that unfold?

Laura Dogbey: Over the past year, my journey has completely transformed. This time last year, I was retaking my A-levels in Biology, Chemistry, and Psychology after not being able to sit them the year before. It was a tough challenge, but at the same time, I was actively applying for apprenticeships and job opportunities because I knew university wasn’t the right path for me. I wanted to explore options that aligned with my interests. Then, of course, I secured my apprenticeship at Google, started settling in, and now here I am!

Chelsea Chimbembe: My experience was a little different. I was in Year 13, applying for both university and apprenticeships, but deep down, I knew I wanted an apprenticeship. My sixth form was very traditional, and I was the only one in my entire year group to take this route. I applied to several apprenticeships but didn’t hear back from Google until just two weeks before I was supposed to move to university. By the time I finally heard back, I had already paid my university accommodation deposit and was just two weeks away from moving five hours away. I remember being on the phone with my recruiter, telling them I couldn’t wait much longer because I had to make a decision. It was such an exciting but stressful time, especially toward the end. But I’m so grateful that I took a step back, trusted my instincts, and decided not to go to uni—because now, I have this opportunity.

Chelsea Chimbembe: There were a lot of challenges because an apprenticeship wasn’t the traditional route—both at school and in my family. It was hard to explain to my family what an apprenticeship was and how it would benefit me. Then I had to explain it to my siblings too, showing them this was the right path for me.

I was always pretty good at school, but I struggled a lot. I later found out I have ADHD, so I wanted to be in a place where I knew my employer would support me. I didn’t just want any apprenticeship—I wanted to find the right company, one that was a good fit for me. And it also had to be something my mom would approve of. If I had just chosen a random place, she would have told me I had to go to university instead.

So when I told her I was applying to Google, she was like, “Whoa, this is where you need to go. You have to get this job.” To her, it felt like such a high-achieving thing to do. But then came the next challenge—actually getting the job. Everyone knew I was applying, and I was navigating a space where all my friends at school were applying for university, while at home, my family was still trying to understand what an apprenticeship even was.

But in the end, as you can see, I overcame those hurdles—and I’m so grateful for that.

Laura Dogbey: It was the same for me—one of the biggest challenges was explaining to my traditional family that I wanted to do an apprenticeship. They were supportive, but I had to make sure they understood why this was a better choice for me than University.

Another big challenge was that I had to redo my last year of college. I was predicted really high grades, but because I was going through something family-wise, my grades naturally dropped. A lot of the apprenticeships I was looking at required A*s and As, so it was difficult to find one that didn’t need such high grades—grades I wasn’t capable of getting anymore. I wanted an apprenticeship that would see my potential beyond just grades.

That’s why the Google apprenticeship was amazing for me. They only required Level 2 functional skills and GCSEs, and the rest was based on how you performed in the interviews and your experience. That was really important because I didn’t know how to prove, without A-levels, that I was more than capable of doing well in the role.

And of course, the application process itself was a challenge. I applied for so many apprenticeships—literally every apprenticeship on the internet! I even applied to seven different roles at one company and didn’t get any of them. But as I kept doing more interviews, I learned from each experience, took key takeaways, and improved along the way. That really helped when it came to my Google interviews.

Were there any specific people who supported you throughout your journey?

Laura Dogbey: For me, it was really about the support from my family and friends. I kept my application journey relatively private—I didn’t want to get my hopes up and then disappoint everyone if it didn’t work out. I also reached out on LinkedIn and connected with other apprentices to learn what made them stand out on their applications. On top of that, I used resources like TikTok, where people shared their experiences and how they secured an apprenticeship. I took those key takeaways and applied them to my application.

Chelsea Chimbembe: I would say the same—my friends were really supportive, even though none of them were apprentices. They were all at uni, but they knew this was what I really wanted to do and that I’d be really good at it, so I’m really grateful for their help.

I also used TikTok a lot. I would watch “day in the life of a Google Apprentice” videos and then apply what I learned to every other company I applied to.

Another thing that helped was the network I was already a part of. We had all met at an event, and some people had done the same work experience as me, so there were familiar faces. We’d check in with each other every few months—asking how applications were going, if anyone needed interview practice, or just catching up on exams and summer plans. It was nice to be in the same boat as a few people, even if we weren’t together every day.

Laura Dogbey: And to build on that, the thing that helped me the absolute most was Google’s careers website. It had so much preparation for applicants, including a step-by-step guide on the types of questions they might ask, how to answer them, and what they were looking for. I took so many notes from that page—it had tons of helpful resources, and I think that was my saving grace.

If you could give one piece of advice to someone applying for an apprenticeship, what would it be?

Chelsea Chimbembe: I would say never give up. Never stop applying and just find a way to get your foot in the door. It’s definitely a battle, especially mentally, but you’re the only one who can keep yourself in the race. So many people are applying for the same role, and for us, there were only 30 spots in our cohort out of thousands. If you really want it, you have to put in the work and stay motivated. Just keep going, keep applying, and trust that there’s a role for you somewhere. You’ll get it.

Laura Dogbey: Exactly what Chelsea said—stand out by being unique and being yourself. A lot of people think they have to be someone they’re not, but recruiters and companies are looking for people who can add to the company, not just fit in. Do your research on the company and show that you’re taking the initiative. Make it clear that you’re genuinely interested in the role and that this is something you really want. Also, focus on something that you’re passionate about. People can tell when someone has a true passion for something versus just doing a job. So, find something that genuinely interests you and stick with it.

Last question—since we’re a platform that believes in the power of music to drive change, and we’re here with LeoStayTrill at the NAW event, if you could pick one track to represent your life right now, what would it be?

Laura Dogbey: I would say Favor by Laurence Ayo.

Chelsea Chimbembe: Oooh yeah, that’s a good one. If I can’t steal that one then I’d pick Never Would Have Made It by Marvin Sapp. It’s so good and it reminds me to stay strong in everything. In my applications, in my faith, and just on my journey.

Apprentice Nation is a free platform for 16-24 year olds that provides them with the tools to shape your future and develop your career skills. By signing up you will get access to free videos and events featuring UK artists such as Headie One, RAYE, Cat Burns and AJ Tracey.

You can then earn credits to unlock rewards including exclusive mentor sessions.
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