apprenticeship guide for school leavers

DECEMBER 2014NO 1

All aboutfunding

ESCALLA.ME/APPS

Girls who can

code

Meet our apprentices:

u The perfect CV: Step-by-step tutorials & templatesu How to get your first big break in Information Technology

FUTURETAKE CHARGE OF YOUR

WHO’SGONNA PAY

FOR THISCAN YOUR HOBBY KICKSTART A CAREER?

TECH APPRENTICESHIPS

1 IN 2 VACANCIES IN THE UK ARE TECH-RELATED

www.escalla.me/apprenticeships?utm_source=Apprenticeship&utm_medium=Guide&utm_campaign=app-guide

How to get your first break in IT

page 3Meet our apprentices

page 8How to write the perfect CV intro in a day

page 9Girls in tech

page 10The Do’s and Don’ts of job interviews

page 11Apprenticeships in the NHS

page 12The real cost of higher education

page 13QUIZ: How tech-savvy are you?

You’re probably about to embark on your final year of school.

Soon, many of your friends will start filling out UCAS applications and comparing university rankings.

But is university the right choice for you?

If you’re considering a career in the tech industry, chances are you’re better off doing an Advanced Apprenticeship instead.

Technology is all about progress and innovation, and many of the things you’d learn on an IT course at university could be outdated by the time you graduate.

What’s more, by doing an apprenticeship you would gain practical work experience while training - and get paid for it, too!

The most important thing is that you evaluate all of your options carefully.

97% of our apprentices

continue as full-time employees

after finishing their

12-month training

And that’s exactly what this guide is for.

We’ve compiled lots of useful information that will hopefully give you a better idea what a tech apprenticeship could be like.

Because we know it’s a stressful time in your life right now, we’ve thrown in some free CV and job interview advice too!

escalla

apprenticeships

CONTENTS

PS. This is only the start! You can find much more resources to kickstart your future on our website:

escalla.me/apps


HOW TO GET YOUR FIRST BREAK IN IT... and what to expect afterwards

IS IT THE RIGHT THING FOR ME?

Not everyone starts their IT career in highly technical roles but a good understanding and passion for technology is essential.

That’s how I started out: at the age of ten I built my first website, and as a teen I was obsessed with gaming. In high school, I used an A-level IT assignment to build a database system for my school.

Bit by bit, the things I was experimenting with in my free time turned into projects with a real purpose.

Some 20 years later I still work closely with technology and still love every new tech and gadget that comes into my life (my newest obsession being smart watches!)

GETTING YOUR FIRST BREAK

The problem with getting a job in tech is that most employers expect you to have some kind of experience. Makes sense - but where and how to get that experience?

No matter what you do with your education, the best use of your summer holidays will always be to offer yourself as a free tech/IT intern to local companies. That early experience will make finding a job later on much easier.

AFTER YOUR TRAINING: ENTRY LEVEL JOBS

Most people going into IT at a young age will start working in one of two main areas: building technology or supporting technology.

Building technology Supporting technology - Junior Developer - Tech Support - Software Tester - Network engineer

Entry level salaries typically range between £16k and £18k. However, as with anything, there are always exceptions and depending on your talents and/or experience you could always earn more.

EARNING BEYOND ENTRY LEVEL

As a teen, I was transfixed on how much I could earn in a given job… My main motivation being that I didn’t want to limit myself to a career where I would not be able to progress.

The truthful answer to the question “How much will I earn?” that should be in career guides like this one is: £16k-£100k+ for any career.

What I’m trying to say here is, if you’re driven and keen to succeed, there’s nothing to stop you earning up to and into 6 figures. But to get there, you need to work hard and keep learning.

PROGRESSION ROLES: 2 - 5 YEARS EXPERIENCE

There are some really awesome jobs coming out of the IT industry. Once you have some basic experience under your belt, the world is your oyster.

Example roles

IT manager: Running the IT for an organisation Junior Project manager: Co-ordinating technical projects Junior Product manager: Working with developers to decide what is build in a software/hardware product Junior Analyst: Working to understand business needs and develop IT solutions

Have a question about IT jobs? Get all the answers here:

ESCALLA.ME/APPS

Have some geeky tendencies and enjoy technology? Then read on...

If you had told me that I could get paid to work in tech as a teenager, I almost wouldn’t have believed you. My assumption was that because I wasn’t an elite engineer/developer that tech wasn’t a viable career option for me.

I also thought it would be an almost impossible career to get into. That’s something I believed until I was around 24 and started working in a tech company with my cousin.


MEET OUR

APPRENTICESIt’s all well and good reading about what apprenticeships are like... But the truth is, you’ll never really know until you start one.

The next best thing - we thought - would be to get some of our previous apprentices to share their experiences with you.

Luckily, they were more than happy to do so! On the following pages you can read all about their first days at work, the biggest challenges they’ve overcome and the skills they acquired along the way.

Hopefully this will give you a better idea of what the 12-month apprenticeship journey is really like...

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Chris WildeApprentice from 10 June 2013 - 25 August 2014

Biggest challenge Up NextAchieved

“Two weeks into my apprenticeship at PMD, I was asked to re-build the company website.

I had never built a website before, and there was nobody I could ask for help.

It was a massive challenge, but 2-3 months down the line the website went live.”

- Level 3 Certificate in ICT Systems and Principles for Advanced Apprentices

- Level 3 Diploma in ICT Professional Competence

- Level 2 Functional Skills in Application of Number, Communication and ICT

- Microsoft Technology Associate award

- Knowledge of six programming languages

- Further Microsoft qualification

- Continuing full-time employment

“Chris did a fantastic job at making our website more fun and child-friendly. We’ve gotten great responses about it from our customers.”

Neville RobsonPlayground Markings Direct

Average working day

Chris always knew he wanted to approach his dream of an IT career in a practical way. So much so that he started his apprenticeship the day before his final A-level exam!

Integrating into his new role was easy for Chris, who started working for clients within less than a week.

His favourite part of the apprenticeship is coding, and the fact that he is able to combine work and pleasure by learning new programming languages and technical skills on the job.

Google campaigns (incl. SEO/AdWords)

Website upkeep

HTML emails

Website Creation

Learning (programming)

Google AdWords Hardware Apple product repairs Email marketing

HTML SQL Java CSS iQuery PHP DesignFTP

Re-design of PMD website HTML email (excerpt) HTML email (excerpt)

escalla

Jordan RolfeApprentice from September 2012- September 2013


“I was really thrown in the deep end on my first day at work.

My boss gave me until 3pm to set up 10 PCs, put on the relevant software and box them up ready to be shipped.

It was really exciting. I’d never been put under that kind of pressure before but I managed to finish the job on time!”





- Trained next generation of apprentices


- Working as a support team leader

“Jordan is a fantastic member of our team. We are looking to leverage the skills he has acquired and coach him to become a support team lead.”

Julie VignaSafetynet Solutions Ltd.

Average working day

Jordan decided to pursue an IT apprenticeship because of the the practical approach to learning. Turns out he is a real problem-solving expert when it comes to software and hardware issues.

“If you can fix it with your general knowledge and by asking the right diagnostic questions on the phone, then you know you’re doing something right,” he says about his favourite part on the job.

After completing his own apprenticeship, Jordan even took on the responsibility of training the next generation of apprentices at Safetynet Solutions, where he now works as a full-time employee.

External customer support

Internal product support

Hardware builds and setup

Software Hardware Server management Customer service

Troubleshooting Microsoft Office support Problem solving

So, what do you think?

Maybe working in IT could be up your street?

You don’t already need to be a tech wizard to get involved. What’s much more important is an interest in computers and a lot of motivation to learn.

We can (and we will) teach you the rest!escalla.me/apps

Give us a call if you’d like to find out more:0800 072 9844




escalla

Charlie FletcherApprentice from 1 May 2013 - 1 May 2014


“Working on the support desk, you often have to deal with several customer requests at the same time.

It’s important to stay calm and focused without rushing yourself.

That way the job gets done on time and the customer is satisfied.”





- Continuing Full-time employment


“What stands out about Charlie is his ability as an all-round talent.He has quickly become a vital part of our team.”

Ian Carroll MBS IT Ltd.

Average working day

Before he started his apprenticeship, Charlie had no idea he would develop a skill that would make him invaluable to his employer.

“There is a huge demand for Apple product repairs, and Charlie quickly became our main man for the job,” says his boss at MBS IT.

The 22-year old, who has since been taken on as a full-time technician, says the apprenticeship not only helped him develop his technical skills, but also build up confidence and self-esteem.

Apple product repairsiPad, iPhone,...

First-line phone supportHTML emails

Laptop/PC repairs

Admin work

Software Hardware Server management Customer service

Troubleshooting Networking Apple Product repairs Security

HOW TO WRITE THE PERFECT CV IN A DAY

PART 1: THE INTRODUCTION

Your personal profile on your CV is one of the best places that you can differentiate yourself from the crowd if you’re just getting into work. It is also one of the first things an employer will read.

That’s why it’s absolutely vital that you make the intro as interesting and relevant as you can.

FORMULA[Headline: Your professional goals] +[Summary: Key interests, experience & skills]

WHAT IT DOES

- Helps you stand out from the crowd- Gives the employer an insight into your personality

Think of it this way:If you only had 1 minute to introduce yourself, what would you say?

RULES 1. Your headline should not be more than 2 lines at size 10pt text 2. Your summary should not be more than 3-4 lines at size 10pt text 3. Everything you mention must be relevant to the role you’re applying for 4. Keep it short and concise. Give details that make you stand out from other applicants 5. Include evidence for your abilities: don’t mention something if you can’t prove it

HELPFUL HINTS

Customise your intro for each application Break up the text into small paragraphs, this makes it easier to read. Use keywords that can be picked up in keyword searches or recognized at a brief glance

STRICT EXAMPLE“My aim is to further my knowledge of technology by working in first-line customer support for software and hardware repairs. I am a highly motivated college student with a keen interest in computers and servers.

For as long as I can remember, I’ve always wanted to know how electronic gadgets work, and I’ve always been the go-to person for repairs and advice for family & friends. In my role as computer club president at my school, I’ve organised taster sessions in HTML and CSS coding and set up a lunch-time drop-in centre for students who have problems with laptops or mobiles.”

FOR EVEN MORE CV TIPS, TEMPLATE DOWNLOADS AND INTERVIEW ADVICE:

www.escalla.me/apps


What started out as an innocent interest in playing World of Warcraft has since turned into a career for tech savvy Sophie Astles from Winsford.

Sophie,17, always loved computer games. But as she grew older, she becamw more and more interested in computing - and started teaching herself how to code in her free time.

“I studied computing at school but we didn’t really learn much. Our IT teacher was never around, which made it difficult for us to improve,” she says about her time at college.

To make sure she wasn’t falling behind on her coursework, Sophie started learning several programming languages in her free time.

“I started out with Visual Basics, that’s the one I’m most experienced in. I also experimented with JavaScript, HTML and a bit of Ruby.

“My little sister’s name is Ruby so I thought it’d be fun,” she adds, laughing.

At age 16, Sophie had already been accepted to several colleges in her area when she changed her mind and decided to apply for an apprenticeship instead.

“I wanted to learn more about tech and I felt like it was much easier to do that in practice,” she explains.

“There is so much to remember in IT, but it becomes a lot easier when you can try things out as you learn.”

Girls in TechBeing the only girl - and the

youngest apprentice -in her entire training cohort didn’t faze Sophie much.

“There were a few boys in my class who seemed to be surprised that girls can be good at IT, but it didn’t bother me.

“Of course it would be cool if more girls were doing tech apprenticeships, but there’s no point in doing it if you’re not really that interested. It’s hard to learn everything in IT, so if you don’t have a genuine interest in technology you might struggle,” Sophie admits.

What’s her best argument for working in tech?

“It sounds like a cliché but IT is the future. New things are developed every day so it’s a very exciting industry to work in.”

“The best thing about it is that you never stop learning.”

Entering the working worldUnlike most young apprentices,

Sophie wasn’t nervous at all about starting to work for her employer, The Miles Consultancy.

She started in the Customer Service

department, but with time Sophie’s responsibilities increased and she started working with the data team to manage accounts and create client reports.

“It’s my favourite part of the job,” she exclaims. “Creating reports can be difficult, but I’d much rather take on a challenge than do the same boring thing every day.”

Sophie was taken on as a full-time employee as soon as she finished her apprenticeship and currently manages eight client accounts with thousands of daily users.

Why apprenticeships?Striking a balance between ‘taught

learning’ and ‘on-the-job’ training has enabled Sophie to develop her skills and abilities during the apprenticeship and beyond.

The 17-year old says she also learned a lot on a personal level: “I was only 16 when I started work... I didn’t talk to anybody for about two days because I was so shy!”

“Now I’m a lot more confident. I speak to clients on a daily basis and work with two different departments within TMC!”

Sophie says she is always trying to convince her friends to do apprenticeships.

“Experience seems to be what most employers are looking for these days. And you’re still getting the qualifications and earning something for yourself,” Sophie explains.

She adds: “I think nowadays a lot of people my age are put off going to university by the huge amount of debt you’d be in by the time you graduate.”

“At The Miles Consultancy we’ve now got three apprentices who are even younger than me! It’s definitely becoming more popular.”

“The great thing about tech

is that you never stop learning”

Sophie’s story...

THE DO’S AND DON’TS OF JOB INTERVIEWS

Look the interviewer in the eyes and smile when you introduce yourselfDO

Practice a firm handshake: it symbolises confidence

Ask for clarification if you didn’t understand something that you were asked

Turn off your phone before you enter the room. And no, silent or vibration mode is not the same thing as turned off!

Accept a drink. You’ll need a sip of water to clear your throat at some point.

Ask questions to show you’re paying attention and interested in the position.

Take notes of important information your interviewer shares with you.

Dress professional but comfortable. Girls: never wear heels you can’t walk in for a long time

Practice open body language. Crossed arms and legs can give the impression that you’ve got something to hide.

Do your research in advance. The more you can show you know already about the company, the better.

DON’TLie about anything. It will come out!

Talk negatively about your previous employer or colleagues - it reflects back badly on you

Make inappropriate jokes. Just because you and your mates enjoy dark humour doesn’t mean it’s appropriate for work

Ask about the wage straight away. Wait until you’re offered the job to enquire about this.

Forget to follow up after your interview!

FIND OUT MORE: escalla.me/apps

Panic - if you don’t know the answer, repeat the question to buy yourself extra time.

Do refer to previous projects that the company was involved in and say what impressed you about them.


Have you considered working with the NHS?

What’s the first thing that pops into your mind when you hear the term “NHS”?Most people think of the words ‘health’ or ‘hospital’... But only very few people think about information management and IT!

But especially with the challenge set to be paperless by 2018, IT has never been more at the forefront of the NHS. It is forecasted that NHS Trusts will spend 13% more on IT in 2014 – 2015 than the1.69billion they spent in 2012-2013.

Interested?

Typical positions offered:

Your tasks may include...

IT Support Officer

Maintenance of hardware and software used by staff, first-line support

Health Informatics Cadet Apprentice

Ensuring all patient data is correct and up to date

What requirements do I need to meet to apply for this position?

Strong knowledge of IT, English and Maths

Problem-solving abilities

Willingness to learn and build on existing skills

Good communication skills and patience

Experience with Microsoft Office applications

4 A*-C GCSE’s (incl. English & Maths and preferably IT)

There are different ways to find out more about apprenticeships with the NHS...

1. Step into the NHS 2. National Apprenticeship Service

3. NHS Careers 4. Get in touch!

Jackie Smith Informatics Development Manager, Health and Social Care Information Centre:

“Organisations within the NHS have been recruiting apprentices more and more in the past few years.

Apprentices are a great investment for the NHS because they are loyal and quick to learn.

The NHS is a strong believer in developing and growing your own work force.

When we developed the Health Informatics Career Framework (HICF), it was clear there were gaps at entry level which prompted development of the Level 2 qualifications, closely followed by development of the HI Apprenticeship Framework.

We later developed the Level 3 Diploma and enhanced the apprenticeship framework which now contains both level 2 and level 3.

Of our latest cohort in the North West, every single apprentice found full-time employment with the NHS upon finishing his/her training.

Most apprentices continue to pursue further qualifications, and many end up achieving degrees - minus the debt!”

Your first stop for information around apprenticeships with the NHS: watch videos of current apprentices, read case studies and use the interactive ‘map your career’ tool. >> www.stepintothenhs.nhs.uk

Government database of apprenticeship vacancies throughout the UK. Most NHS apprenticeships will be listed here.>> http://www.apprenticeships.org.uk

Information service for careers in the NHS, links to NHS Jobs, an online database of all NHS vacancies.>> http://www.nhscareers.nhs.uk

Don’t forget these are just examples of roles that could be offered! Every individual position will be slightly different...

The reason we’re here is to help you kickstart your future. Our website is jam-packed with information and free downloads...

www.escalla.me/apps


THE REAL COST OF HIGHER EDUCATION

TUITION FEES

£25,062NONE covered by your employer!

1-YEAR APPRENTICESHIP 3-YEAR UNI DEGREE

BOOKS & EQUIPMENT

ACCOMMODATION

SPEND £0

EARN £5,616+ ALLOWANCE

AVERAGE COST:

£30,399 OF DEBT

£3,210NONE covered by us!

£15,732NONE*

DID YOU KNOW...Former apprentices are earning more than university graduates, according to a recent study by the Office for National Statistics:

“27% of university graduates between April and June 2013 were paid an hourly wage lower than the average wage of former apprentices”

Non-graduates who had completed an apprenticeship were shown to be earning an average of £11.10 per hour after their apprenticeship.

Another survey, conducted by website TotalJobs.com, revealed that 2 in 5 graduates were still unemployed six months after leaving university.

That doesn’t sound so great, especially considering the hefty debt they will have accumulated...

We’re proud to say that 97% of our apprentices continue working as full-time employees after they finish their 12-month apprenticeship (which, as you can see, didn’t cost them anything!)

*We’ll do our very best to find you an apprenticeship in your area so you can continue living at home

We all rely on some form of technology in our daily lives. But do you actually know what it is you’re using and how it works? Take the quiz and find out how tech-savvy you really are!

1. What is an emoji?

A. A new Korean smartphone app that recommends online content based on a “mood” you previously selected.

B. A bright red edible berry widely cultivated in China, supposed to contain high levels of certain vitamins.

C. A small digital image or icon used to express an idea or emotion in electronic communication, originally invented in Japan.

2. What is the definition of ‘hashtag’?

A. The official name for the # symbol on your keyboard.

B. A symbol (#) used to label keywords on social media.

C. A simple preparation in which potato pieces are pan-fried after being shredded.

4. What is the World Wide Web?

A. It’s another name for the Internet.

B. A system of interlinked hypertext documents that are accessed via the Internet.

C. A description for international online communities linked together by an overarching network.

3. What does “SEO” stand for?

A. Search Engine Optimization

B. Social Engagement Optimization

C. Search Engine Organization

5. “Phishing” describes the act of…

A. Using a scam to collect personal information from unsuspecting internet users, for example through fraud emails.

B. Systematically searching the internet for specific information, as opposed to “browsing”, which describes the more leisurely approach of surfing the internet for entertainment.

C. Creating several online dating profiles to maximize the chance of finding one’s perfect match.

6. What does “hardware” mean?

A. More advance technology, used by programmers and IT specialists.

B. The physical parts of a computer and related devices.

C. Hardware is the basic set of software that comes already installed on your computer when you buy it.

7. What is a “MAC Address”?

A. The individual serial number that each Apple iMac or Macbook can be identified by.

B. A code made up of numbers separated by three dots that identifies a particular computer on the Internet.

C. A hardware identification number that uniquely identifies each device on a network.

CORRECT ANSWERS: 1. C 2. B 3. A 4. B 5. A 6. B 7. B

If you’re considering turning your hobby into a career, we’ve got loads of resources for you:

Didn’t do so great? Don’t worry! We can teach you all you need to know about IT, what’s much more important is that you’ve got a strong interes in computing and a willingness to learn!

escalla.me/apps

TAKE THE QUIZ:

How tech savvy are you?

...And, how did you do?


What are you waiting for?

We’re adding new vacancies to our apprenticeship database on a daily basis.

One of them has got your name on it, why not take a look?escalla.me/apps

Or give us a call, we’re happy to help:0800 072 9844




apprenticeship guide for school leavers

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