60 Second Interview: Business Apprentice

Ali Moore is doing a business apprenticeship, learning on the job - and in her spare time she's training to be an on-call firefighter. She shares a couple of crucial tips for making the most of your apprenticeship. 

Name: Ali Moore

Company: Adestra

Industry: Marketing

What is your job? Admin assistant (on business apprenticeship) 

How long have you been doing this job? 2 years

Education

A-levels: Politics, history and psychology

1. What was your very first job?

My very first job was as a temporary catering assistant for a week whilst on school holidays. After that I worked as a waitress at local country pub for several years when I finished school, and tried to decide where I wanted to go next!

2. What did you want to do when you were at school?

When I was younger I went through various stages of wanting to be a chef, a footballer, and then a teacher.

Now I’m an apprentice receptionist and admin assistant at work, and training to be a retained (ie on-call) firefighter in my spare time!

Check this out: how to become a firefighter

3. How did you find out about the industry?

I found out about the role through a friend of mine who already worked in the industry.

4. How did you get to where you are today?

I currently work at email marketing services company Adestra as a receptionist and admin assistant, as part of a business apprenticeship under the mentorship of Qube Learning, a leading training provider.

Learn more: What are business apprenticeships?

Prior to this role, I worked in retail and hospitality for several years which got me used to working with a huge variety of people and having to work in highly stressful situations at times.

5. What is a typical day like?

A typical day is diverse. The role involves a lot of answering emails, taking phone calls and letting in visitors. It always requires a lot of unplanned requests from staff, like urgent travel arrangements and any events the business has coming up.

6. What’s the best thing about your job?

Getting to work with so many people and learning on my apprenticeship. In my role I get to be in contact with every single department within the business, even if it is just saying good morning and asking how they are. I also get to build relationships with our suppliers outside the business, like hotel providers and delivery staff.

7. What is the most challenging thing about your job?

Prioritising. There is a lot of things going on at work, people arrive at the office constantly, so it’s important to know which jobs are most important. The arrival of a guest at the company takes president over any other jobs I have to deal with. I then rate the rest of my tasks based on their priority level, so I know what needs to be done next.

8. What advice do you have for people who want to do what you do?

Always have a notepad and pen on you, or a Post-it notes app on your computer. They’re so handy for everything you need to remember and can be quickly referenced back to.

If you enjoy routine, keep doing it, and in the long run your perseverance will pay off. Finally, make sure you put yourself forward for every opportunity that comes your way, like an apprenticeship! Your enthusiasm will go a long way and mean your role is more diverse and can help carve out a positive career for you.

9. What things do you wish you’d known before starting your career?

No two days will look the same. Despite the reputation the role is very varied as generally you’ll be the go-to person when there are any problems. People will come to you when problems arise and it’s important to remain approachable and positive so people know that you can help in future difficulties.

10. Where would you like to be in 5 years?

I’d like to have finished my apprenticeship and progressed further into the HR field. I’d also like to have passed all my training to become a on-call firefighter at my local fire station.

Read next: 7 things you should know about apprenticeships

Main image via Pexels