Maximising your time as a Degree Apprentice

Twenty-one chapters, each on a specific topic, and all free. Most episodes are about 6-7 minutes: it's literally me chatting away, trying to download my view. In all, about 3h 08m.

Watch the whole playlist on YouTube · Playlist on TikTok

Start here

2 chapters · 14 min

• Chapter 1: Introduction (9 min)
  Why I made this course: closing the gap between how seniors and apprentices see the opportunity.
• Chapter 2: Background & Context (5 min)
  Where my advice comes from.

Take charge of your apprenticeship

4 chapters · 36 min

• Chapter 3: Tracking your success (7 min)
  Keep a weekly record of your achievements, so you're never short of CV bullet points.
• Chapter 4: Creating your skills roadmap (10 min)
  Look at roles you might want in three or four years and map the skills you need.
• Chapter 5: Learning and development (10 min)
  What your employer's learning and development team can offer you.
• Chapter 6: Deliver, deliver, deliver (9 min)
  Build a reputation for delivering, and never leave people surprised.

Know your company, and keep your CV ready

2 chapters · 17 min

• Chapter 7: Develop your commercial awareness (10 min)
  Understand how your company really makes money.
• Chapter 8: Update your CV (7 min)
  Why you should always have an up-to-date CV.

Mentors and your network inside the company

7 chapters · 1h 18m

• Chapter 9: The importance of career check-ins (12 min)
  Why regular check-ins and a good mentor matter, and the one question to ask.
• Chapter 10: The importance of internal networking (18 min)
  How to get time with senior executives, starting with their assistants.
• Chapter 11: The role of executive assistants (9 min)
  Why executive assistants are so influential, and how to build the relationship.
• Chapter 12: Internal networking - Human Resources (14 min)
  Getting to know HR before you need them.
• Chapter 13: Internal networking - Your peers (9 min)
  Why your peers, the apprentices and graduates ahead of you, matter.
• Chapter 14: Internal networking - Everybody else (9 min)
  Why it pays to talk to everyone, not just the senior people.
• Chapter 15: Internal networking - Internal social networks (7 min)
  Using Workplace, Yammer and similar tools to meet people across the company.

Reaching beyond your team

4 chapters · 27 min

• Chapter 16: External networking (6 min)
  Why internal networking comes first, and how to build outside contacts too.
• Chapter 17: Building your profile on LinkedIn (12 min)
  Getting your profile and your posting habits right.
• Chapter 18: Developing your experience (6 min)
  Volunteering, projects and initiatives that build your experience.
• Chapter 19: Professional bodies (3 min)
  How institutes and associations can help with events and networking.

What's next

2 chapters · 16 min

• Chapter 20: Plan for what's next (12 min)
  Planning for life after the apprenticeship, starting now.
• Chapter 21: Closing and thank you (4 min)
  A recap, and a reminder that it's only my perspective.

About this course

For anyone interested in the context behind this course, here is the introductory overview. You don't need to read it, though: You can skip straight to the first video on the playlist below.

I've spent a lot of time talking with Degree Apprentices in recent years, especially in TikTok Lives and 1:1 mentor sessions. I quickly realised there was quite a disconnect between the expectations of the individual Degree Apprentice ("DA") and their stakeholders (i.e. Parents, University Professors/Lecturers and Work Colleagues/Line Managers).

It's no surprise, especially if you look at things logically. Most DAs are coming straight out of high school or college, typically having completed A-Levels, BTEC or similar qualifications. They've had limited access to the work environment so trying to project forward and understand what and how to use the opportunity of being a DA is naturally somewhat challenging.

It looks easy to me.

It looks easy to your parents.

It's a no-brainer for us all – whether we're line managers, bosses, work colleagues or University staff.

All of us have had dozens of years - if not decades - to appreciate the opportunity and potential of what the Degree Apprenticeship programme offers to those entering the workforce. The key benefits are the most obvious - the degree is 'free', you get paid a salary and you get 4-years of work experience baked in.

What's not to like?

But all too often, I keep meeting DAs who are lost and frustrated. Many of them think they've made a ridiculous choice, especially when they're comparing themselves to normal students enjoying '10+ hours' of lectures every week and essentially swanning around having a fun time.

I feel that understanding what you've got access to, as a DA, is really, really important. It doesn't matter what company you're working with. It doesn't matter what the degree topic is, either. Or the job you're nominally doing. The basic opportunities and potential are right there in front of you.

Recognising it, though. That's the science bit.

As I say, this is no-brainer to the rest of us. We instinctively know (after years of experience!!) that you've got access to phenomenal networking, learning and personal development opportunities. That you're able to make career-long connections to help drive your prospects. That you're getting brilliant, brilliant experience that accelerates your career, compared to the average student popping out of University.

What do we mean? Well, after a lot of conversations with DAs, I've been able to pinpoint several areas that you might consider knowledge-gaps. Things that you will learn – you absolutely will – but the key here, is to try and accelerate your awareness of what's before you, so that you can begin unlocking the possibilities now, rather than when you're in your 20s, 30s or 40s!

I sat down and wrote out 20+ chapters or episodes. They're all here, and they're all free. Each episode deals with a specific topic – for example, 'the importance of internal networking' with colleagues. Most episodes are about 6-7 minutes and it's literally me chatting away trying to download my view.

This doesn't mean I'm correct. These are perspectives that, I think (broadly) your parents, line managers and lecturers will subscribe to as well. Everything I'm suggesting is just that – a suggestion – for you to evaluate as to whether it's right or relevant for you. My service here is to try and help you in your career. Nothing I've set out is guaranteed to succeed. My recommendation is to take everything I've said with a pinch of salt and then formulate your own approach based on your own context.

The fundamental offering here from me is to give you insight into what I think would be helpful. So good luck and every success. If you've got any questions, please find me on TikTok (@highlander928), get me in a 1:1, come to one of my TikTok Lives or join my Discord server.

If you got some value from this, buy me a coffee!