CIMA® apprenticeships are excellent opportunities to learn new things, build your CV and make connections. An apprenticeship, or ‘work placement’, can be a whirlwind experience, so it’s important to make the most of it by going in with a plan, documenting the experience, being intentional about networking and standing out from the crowd.
Set goals and regularly review your progress.
During your apprenticeship, you’ll likely measure your progress against key performance indicators, or KPIs. These business targets can be useful benchmarks for your growth, but you may also want to outline a few personal goals at the beginning of your placement year. Personal goals could include collaborating with people outside the finance function, improving your presentation skills or learning to use data analytics software.
You can grow in areas you’re most passionate about with apprenticeships. Write down your top priorities for your apprenticeship and revisit them at the end of each month to see your progress.
At the end of your apprenticeship, you will be able to look back in awe at your transformation.
Keep a log of important details.
Undertaking an apprenticeship can feel overwhelming, and it’s easy to forget to document the experience. Every week, or even every day, you will learn something new. Write these things down. You probably think you’ll remember, but it’s impossible to fit everything in your brain.
Keep a log or journal of new processes and skills as you learn them, kernels of wisdom offered by managers and colleagues, and accomplishments you’ve achieved. Be sure to include any mistakes you’ve made and what you learned from them, as these are often the most valuable experiences. A detailed account of your apprenticeship can be a resource for years.
Make as many connections as possible.
One of the best aspects of work placement is all the new people you’ll meet. Be sure to make time for chats and networking with colleagues, managers and other people you meet around the office. These connections could turn into friends, collaborators or clients.
A strong and expansive network will increase your chances of landing your dream job.
Connect with people on LinkedIn to stay in touch after your apprenticeship has ended.
Make yourself seen.
It might be tempting to blend in with the crowd and avoid making any waves, but an apprenticeship is a great time to exude confidence and stand out from the crowd.
Work to understand the company’s processes, request to shadow managers you admire and seek opportunities to propose ideas to problem-solve. Your supervisor will no doubt be impressed with your energy, enthusiasm and positive attitude. Making a good and memorable impression can lead to a permanent position or, at the very least, a bank of future references.
This blog post was adapted from a post written in association with Milkround.
