WHILE recruiting staff for emerging talent programmes at the company, Rubinder, 28, realised that there was no good reason why she couldn’t apply herself.
“The company wanted to encourage new people into software engineering apprenticeships,” says Rubinder, who lives in London.
“It was such a great programme, and it occurred to me that I could actually take up the opportunity too.
“Maths was never my strong suit, but when I realised I could gain qualifications without losing out financially, it seemed like a no-brainer – plus the chance to learn new skills really appealed to me.”
At first Rubinder, as well as her friends and family, had doubts about whether such a drastic change was a good idea.
“I was having conversations outside of work about the fact that I already had a stable job, and I hadn’t studied since university,” she explains.
“I was also quite anxious at the thought of taking a sidestep in my career, but I knew an opportunity like this might not come up for me again, so I decided to grab it.”
Starting an apprenticeship in software engineering, Rubinder found the programme had the structure and flexibility to suit her lifestyle.
“The apprenticeship lasted at least 18 months, but you could take as long as you needed to complete it,” Rubinder explains.
“My time was divided between developing technical skills, such as learning programming language, and working hands-on within a team.
“I chose to do compressed hours, working 35 hours across four days, which gave me a great work-life balance.”
Despite her reservations about taking on a completely new challenge, Rubinder found that she hit the ground running.
“I was completely new to software engineering but I had a great support network around me, including an in-work mentor,” she says.
“The team also valued the new perspectives and skills I brought to the role through my HR experience, including time management and organisational skills.”
After completing her apprenticeship in 2021, Rubinder started a new role as a cloud service engineer.
And now, thanks to her success, she’s keen to encourage other people to consider grabbing the opportunities offered by Skills for Life.
“Despite that little voice asking ‘Why change now?’, I wanted to prove to myself that I could do it,” she says.
“Thanks to the apprenticeship, I’ve gained so much confidence, as well as a new career. It’s given me a real boost.”
LEARN THE WAY YOU WANT
From paid apprenticeships to free courses designed to firm up your key skills, there’s something for every adult learner with Skills for Life
Apprenticeships
These courses offer the chance to learn and gain experience on the job while getting paid, whether you want to progress in your current industry or try something new.
Essential Skills
These courses will help you gain the literacy, numeracy and digital skills you need for work and everyday life, and are recognised by employers.
If you’re aged 19 and over and do not have a GCSE in English or maths at grade C/4 or above (or the equivalent), you can study and take GCSEs or Functional Skills qualifications for free.
Free Courses for Jobs
These free and flexible A-level equivalent qualifications can help you to boost your wages, improve your job prospects and gain skills that employers need. Courses run from a few weeks to a year or more and can set you on the path to a better job in a wide range of sectors.
Skills Bootcamps
These free, flexible courses of up to 16 weeks teach digital, engineering, construction or green skills, and you’ll be offered a job interview once you complete the course.
Unlock your potential by visiting the Skills for Life website at skillsforlife.campaign.gov.uk or call the National Careers Service on 0800 100 900
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