Ekansh Sharma, 23
Former digital and technology solutions degree apprentice at Accenture
I received an offer for my first choice university, but decided that higher education wasn’t the right path. It was a risk, but almost four years on I can say it’s one that paid off.
Ekansh Sharma: ‘I didn’t expect to be working on real projects straight away’. Photograph: Dan Wilton/Guardian
I applied for my degree apprenticeship through the Accenture website. A telephone interview, and then a half-day assessment centre where we had to develop a technology solution and pitch it, followed by an online application. If I could go back and give myself some advice it would be to spend more time developing commercial awareness, because you should be able to show an understanding of not just the role, but the company and industry itself in the application process.
I didn’t expect to be working on real projects straight away, but I was taught coding skills and went on to help build a software platform for a client within a month of joining. This gave me a sense of pride and made me feel like a valued member of the team with my own responsibilities.
I stayed on at Accenture after completing my apprenticeship, and I’m now a global project management officer for an engineering client, managing around 45 small projects. Because I was given hands-on experience right from the start, I have confidence in my role that I may not have had otherwise. Without my apprenticeship, my career would not be progressing at the same rate as it currently is.
Georgia Terry, 21
Former digital marketing apprentice at the Retail Motor Industry Federation
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My apprenticeship was my first ever office job, and ahead of starting I worried about a lot. I thought I might just be there to make tea or photocopy. As it turned out, I had my own responsibilities like running social media accounts and creating content. I was helping to make decisions, and I felt like a valuable part of the team. If I’d known it would be this way before I started I might not have been so nervous.
As great as it was to be given real responsibility, working full-time while studying for my qualifications was hard work – at times it felt very overwhelming. Some days I would have to complete coursework on my lunch hour, and when that wasn’t possible it only added extra time pressure. Knowing how to juggle these different demands before starting my apprenticeship would have spared me some stress, I’m sure.
That being said, these unexpected challenges helped me develop beyond anything I was expecting. An apprenticeship is there to train you to become qualified. But I also grew in confidence, I became better organised and managed my time more effectively. I didn’t expect my apprenticeship to be as rewarding for my personal growth as it turned out to be.
