Is your brain in panic mode about what to do after college?
When it comes towards the end of college life, you’re hit with the daunting choice of what to do next. It’s scary to think about the future but it’s very exciting at the same time.
The brain goes into panic mode! If other people could hear it, it would sound a bit like this:
“Should I go to University? What about the University experience? It’s supposed to be the best time of your life. What about the financial side to it?”
“Should I take a gap year? Maybe give myself time to think and do something productive with myself.”
“Should I do an apprenticeship? I can get straight into work and get paid while I learn and maybe a job at the end of it, but then I won’t get the University experience?”
“Should I dive straight into full time employment? I can get started and get paid good money, and I just want to leave education.”
“… Or should I crawl up into a ball and give up because the choice is too hard?”
Well, for me an apprenticeship was the only option. Of course I applied for University as well but that was just a precaution. University was my backup, but sometimes people think that University is the only option.
I can happily tell you that it’s not.
I think an apprenticeship is one of the best ways to kick-start your career while allowing you choose the right one. Granted, finding the right one for you can be hard but once you do, it’ll be well worth it.
I’m lucky enough to be working at the JW Lees brewery in Middleton and learning on the job. A personal ‘pinch yourself’ moment was interviewing celebrity chef, Marco Pierre White, who has his own beer brewed here.
I’m enjoying every single day and the feedback from my manager has been brilliant – he even said that I’ve helped revolutionise the company’s social media channels.
Many people think once you’ve decided what you want to do after college, that’s it, that’s my future decided until I retire… Which is a long way away may I add, there’s plenty of time.
When you start an apprenticeship it doesn’t mean you’re tied down to that one profession, that one company. If you decide it’s not right for you, you still have the experience – which is invaluable – and you’ve made links with people. After all, it’s like they say: it’s not what you know, it’s who you know.
It just so happened that I came across this apprenticeship, but I’m glad I did. My experience so far has been brilliant and I’d recommend The Juice Academy to anyone thinking about an apprenticeship.
