Humans are social creatures. We need social interactions to keep us functioning and healthy. What nobody tells you is the potential isolation that can be caused by undertaking your apprenticeship, and this happens for a couple of reasons.
First of all, this is the most obvious one, all of your mates have moved out and have gone to university across the country. This means you can no longer just pop them a message and meet them 10 minutes later. Meeting up with your mates is now way more difficult. This means you are automatically plunged into a time of increased isolation.
Another reason for this increase in isolation is that when your mates are trying to organise a meet-up, chances are you are going to be working or studying. You will feel like you are growing further and further away from your friends as you are stuck behind your computer whilst all of your friends are out together.
These two reasons combined lead to a time of uncertainty as you struggle to maintain friendships and relationships. But fear not, that is why I am writing this article, to help to maintain your relationships and limit the stress put on you. These are my top tips.
Building relationships with experienced professionals in your field can help you gain valuable insights into the industry, such as best practices, trends, and challenges. Also, strong relationships with mentors and colleagues can provide you with the feedback and support you need to grow and develop in your apprenticeship.
Another benefit is building relationships with a diverse group of professionals. It can help you expand your network, opening up new career growth and development opportunities. You can also improve your communication skills when conversing with colleagues and mentors. They can help you improve your communication skills, including listening, giving and receiving feedback, and conflict resolution.
We recommend you build relationships with peers and colleagues to improve the sense of community and support during your apprenticeship. It will help you feel more connected and engaged in your work.
By opening up to your friends and explaining to them your working arrangements, it will be easier for you to organise your social life and make sure you maintain the relationships that are important to you. Just as their daily routine has changed after going to university, so has yours. You all need to take this into consideration if you want to maintain those close relationships.
For most of you, your apprenticeship will be the first time stepping into the real corporate world. This can be incredibly daunting for a young person, dealing with colleagues who are older and more experienced than you, being afraid to make mistakes or ask questions, and juggling your work-life balance.
This can lead to complex emotions that are unhealthy to deal with alone. Ensure you know who you can talk to both at work and outside of work to allow you to deal with these emotions.
In my experience, the best people to talk to about your apprenticeship are other apprentices. You can talk about the ups and downs you face in your apprenticeship. Networking can be done in a number of ways, but by far, the most valuable is through Linkedin. Network, Chat, and confide in other apprentices to help you through the complex emotions you may feel as an apprentice.
There is nobody who understands your workload better than your manager. Having a good working relationship with them is vital to both a successful relationship and ensuring you are not overworked.
If you can also try to develop a good personal relationship with your manager, this will allow you to confide in them when you are having issues both in and out of work. These personal relationships within the workplace are super important and really valuable.
In conclusion, building strong relationships is a crucial component of a successful apprenticeship. Developing connections with mentors, peers, and colleagues can help you learn new skills, gain feedback and support, and make progress in your career.
By investing in your relationships and actively seeking out opportunities to learn from others, you can maximize your potential as an apprentice and set yourself up for long-term success in your chosen field.
Those were my top tips relating to relationships in your apprenticeship. I hope that you gained some value from this.
Receiving feedback and support from mentors and colleagues can help you grow and develop in your apprenticeship. This feedback can help you identify areas for improvement and develop the skills you need to succeed in your field.
Developing your communication skills can help you build stronger relationships with colleagues and mentors, making it easier to give and receive feedback, resolve conflicts, and collaborate effectively. These skills can help you succeed in your apprenticeship and in your career.
Building relationships with experienced professionals can help you gain valuable insights into the industry, such as best practices, trends, and challenges. These insights can help you grow and develop in your apprenticeship, providing you with the guidance and support you need to succeed.
