Dom is a Financial Apprentice at the Fusion People Head Office. Find out more about his Apprenticeship experience and how this route has helped him.
What inspired you to choose an apprenticeship over other career paths, and how has it shaped your journey so far?
The opportunity to gain real life practical experience and skills whilst also gaining professional qualifications in an area that interest me was a real motivator for choosing the apprenticeship route. Another bonus to an apprenticeship is the ability to earn an income without incurring debts through other routes.
The apprenticeship has helped me to build confidence, whilst also allowing me to improve my organisational skills. This has been done through balancing workloads at work and through studies. Both studying and practicing my learning through the job has given me a strong knowledge of accounting which will further improve as I work my way through the apprenticeship. As my apprenticeship allows me to work through Payroll, Credit Control and Management accounts I have been able to develop my interpersonal skills as I have worked closely with the staff in these departments.
Can you share a moment during your apprenticeship that made you feel particularly proud?
Completing my level 2 in bookkeeping with a distinction. I initially had doubts that I was capable of achieving a distinction but thanks to the support from my managers and other members of staff, their encouragement allowed me to believe that I was capable, which in the end I proved to myself.
What’s one surprising thing you’ve learned about your industry or yourself during your apprenticeship?
The one thing that surprised me most is the variety of different roles and responsibilities, each with their own requirements of skills and knowledge. This allows constant growth as new knowledge is constantly needed combined with the variety of challenges allows every day to be different. Facing these challenges is rewarding.
How has your apprenticeship helped you grow professionally and personally?
The apprenticeship has allowed me to gain knowledge through my studies whilst also allowing me to practice this knowledge in a real life setting. Working and studying at the same time has also allowed me to prioritise work loads and helped with my organisational skills. It has also allowed me to already gain an industry recognised qualification which will further help with my professional development and growth. Through working with different departments I have been able to improve my confidence and interpersonal skills whilst also forming close bonds with my colleagues. The completion of my level 2 also helped to build my confidence which will further develop my professional journey.
What advice would you give to someone considering an apprenticeship as their next step?
Initially I would recommend that you first research the type of apprenticeship that is on offer. Some apprenticeships have day release to college whilst others may have online lessons, and depending on how you learn best a face to face teaching may be better suited rather than an online lesson. It is also important to consider what qualifications you will achieve during the apprenticeship as different levels of qualifications may lead to different job openings. It is also important to plan when you are studying and when you are working as this will help balance the work/study time. I would also recommend that during quiet times at work you should also be utilised with studying or organising future days/times.