Name: Kristie Warrior
Job Title: Project Administrator
Company / employer: DiVA (Diversity in Visual Arts)
Apprenticeship / training: Apprenticeship
Twitter: @DiVA_Creative
What's a typical day like for you?
No day is the ever the same. I could be organising and planning an event on the other side of London or processing applications for a job around the corner. Any day in the office is always fun, busy and interesting.
What has been the most memorable day of your Apprenticeship so far?
I was asked to give the opening speech at an upcoming employer event I was organising. It was my first event for the company. I thought “oh yeah this will be no problem”. My manager asked me to run through what I was going to say. It was then I realized I didn’t really have a clue what I had let myself in for. I sat and rehearsed my speech for hours the night before the event but I still had not nailed it come the next morning! I was so nervous I was going to mess up but luckily it went okay!
Why did you decide to become an apprentice?
I wanted to be an apprentice because financially it was not ideal for me to attend college full time but I really wanted qualifications as well as a job. I found myself deciding between part time work and part time college or an Apprenticeship. I evaluated them both before deciding that an Apprenticeship offered the best of both worlds.
What are the best things about being an apprentice?
I would say having a full time job as well as getting student benefits would be the best thing. In addition I enjoy the different feeling between having loads of big responsibilities at work and then going to college at the end of the week to learn.
What are the best things about working in the industry you work in?
I work really closely with many inspiring people who have worked in many different areas of the Creative Industry and to hear about different peoples experiences gives me an insight into different career opportunities that could work for me in the future.
What's the most surprising thing you've learnt during your Apprenticeship?
How your application is actually received by an employer. So many people fall at the first hurdle because of simple mistakes. I think the video ‘How to apply’ is a good help to anyone applying for an Apprenticeship.
What would you say to someone thinking about applying for an Apprenticeship?
Definitely do it! Even if you want to go university, build up your UCAS points through doing different Apprenticeships before you get your degree because experience is worth so much more than just grades.
What do you think are the biggest myths about Apprenticeships?
“Apprenticeships are slave labour and they don’t pay well.” It completely depends on the company you chose to take an Apprenticeship with. I am an apprentice and I get way more than the minimum Apprenticeship wage! We do the same amount of work as any other employees in the company however they don’t get the added benefit of going to college too.
What do you expect to be doing in ten years time?
I expect to be making a difference in people’s lives. I really want to work with troubled youths and less fortunate people, helping them make something of their lives.
Are you happy you chose an Apprenticeship instead of considering university?
At the end of the day, if I didn’t take an Apprenticeship I would never have been able to go to Uni anyway because I would not have been able to afford to go to college to get the UCAS points!
What advice would you give someone leaving school or college now?
Take an Apprenticeship! Find something that is interesting and go for it. Don’t worry about whether you have a plan for your career right now, just take the experience as it comes. Visit apprenticeships.org.uk to do your research and apply online.
Check out these videos to find out more about Apprenticeships in creative industries and professional services
