We recently spoke with Isabel Clark, Athona’s Sales Support Apprentice for our Nursing team to see how she’s been getting on in her role and with her apprenticeship. Joining Athona only 7 months ago, Izzy has seen great success in her role and here Izzy shares with us her favourite aspect of her apprenticeship, a highlight of her role, what advice she would give to others looking to start an apprenticeship and much more!
Find out Izzy’s answers and more about her career journey so far, below.
When did you join Athona and what were you doing beforehand?
I joined Athona 7 months ago now in February 2023 and the time has absolutely flown by! Before joining Athona as an apprentice, I had just finished my GCSEs at school and joined college to study sports studies. Alongside my college course, I was working as an events assistant whilst also working in a beauty shop. During my time at college, I originally wanted to become a chiropractor but after just 3 months, I knew I wanted a change in career. I decided to go out into the world and kick start my career whilst earning and learning.
What made you choose an apprenticeship scheme in recruitment?
The question for me was… ‘how do I do this?’. I did my research on apprenticeships and decided that this was the way I could gain experience and a qualification, all whilst earning money. At this point, I was still unsure what I wanted to do an apprenticeship in until I spoke with my auntie who works as an Internal Recruiter for a healthcare company. She explained to me what recruitment involved and how she thought it could be a good fit for me since I enjoy speaking to and building relationships with people. Since recruitment is heavily built on relationships between your candidates and helping them find their desired role, I knew I would get a buzz from this and that it would be the right career choice for me.
How have you found your apprenticeship so far and what are you enjoying most about it?
I am currently undergoing the Level 2 Resourcer Apprenticeship through RM Training and I am thoroughly enjoying it so far. This is a 13 month course with only one assessment at the end, which I was very pleased about since coursework was always my strong suit as opposed to exams. Being a heavily coursework based apprenticeship, I am taking in relevant knowledge which is in turn helping me with my day to day role. I strongly believe this course will be extremely beneficial to me for my future career in recruitment.
How did you hear about the apprenticeship?
I discovered my apprenticeship through online searching where I then came across RM training and saw they offered a Level 2 Resourcer course. After reaching out to them, I was then introduced to Athona where I was invited for an interview, before eventually being offered the Resourcer Apprentice role.
What has been a highlight of your role so far?
The highlight of my role has definitely been building strong relationships with candidates and the fast paced movement within recruitment. Being able to have a conversation with my candidates and building genuine relationships with them, all whilst helping to place them in their ideal role is definitely a satisfying and rewarding feeling for me. I also love that every day is different and there is never a dull moment; this is definitely due to the positive office environment and the relationships I have built with both my team and candidates. There is never a day where I’m not crying with laughter at some point with my colleagues on the nursing team!
What have you learnt most about since undergoing an apprenticeship at Athona?
Coming into this apprenticeship completely blind to the world of recruitment, having never even been in an office environment before was a daunting experience, but after the support I received from my apprenticeship tutor and the nursing team, I soon settled in and continue to learn new things every day! Since being at Athona, I have learnt the whole recruitment process and realised a lot goes into placing someone into the right role. From learning new sales techniques to pitching things to candidates, as well as learning all of the nursing terminology, there’s always something new to explore.
What advice would you give to others looking to start an apprenticeship?
My advice for anyone looking to get into an apprenticeship is to just go for it! Ignore the people who tell you that you need A – Levels to go far in life and do what you know will benefit you the most. Getting a qualification whilst gaining experience in a specific career, all whilst earning money is definitely going to do anything but hold you back in life. Find a career you can see yourself in and then do your research to find apprenticeship providers and companies willing to take on apprentices. Although it is a big jump from school, I can promise you it is a jump you won’t regret!
Getting into a new role and kickstarting your career in a new industry can sometimes be a daunting and overwhelming feeling. At Athona, we offer a range of apprenticeships for both our sales and support teams and provide constant guidance and support, all whilst giving you the opportunity to earn whilst you learn – just like Izzy!
If this sounds like the path for you and want to find out about any potential opportunities we may have, get in touch with our Internal Recruiter, or check out our current vacancies on our website.
T: 01277 217 777
