Keep on top of your workload
As an apprentice, you’ll not only be working full-time, but you’ll also be in education. Thus, you’ll need to make sure you keep on top of all your different responsibilities. One thing that helps is to write everything down: your daily and weekly goals, tasks you want to complete before you log off for the day, anything you don’t want to forget. By seeing everything you have to do, this makes it easier to remember everything and keep on top of things.
However, you’re not superhuman, and it’s okay if you feel overwhelmed. You can always reach out to a trusted coworker if you feel overwhelmed, or someone in your life you value. Which leads us onto . . .
Have a good work-life balance
It’s a good idea to have a plan in place to prevent burnout, so you can take action quickly when you’re feeling overwhelmed. Think about what helps you relax (your favourite TV show, exercise, being creative), and make sure to schedule some time in for that before or after your workday. Try to come up with a good morning and evening routine: whether it’s having a bath, making a delicious dinner or reading before bed, think about what helps you sleep and what makes you excited to get up in the morning.
If you need a mood boost: many apprentices or employees find it helpful to reflect on how the week went. Congratulate yourself for what went well (you could even make a list of your wins!) and come up with a plan to avoid repeating the same mistakes. Don’t turn this into being afraid to make mistakes: through mistakes we learn to gather wisdom.
Get to know everyone
Networking is such a valuable skill, and your apprenticeship is a great place to start trying it out. Get to know the other employees: even if they don’t work in the same department, it’s a good idea to know their name and what they do. It’s nice to have people to chat to, and you never know how their expertise could help you one day. Try to attend networking events that your company organises: these could be socials, talks or presentations. This is a great way to meet and get to know other people in a more relaxed environment.
If there’s an employee at your company whose work you admire, why not ask if you can go for coffee with them? At worst, they say no. At best, they provide you with invaluable tips on succeeding in the industry.