#ScotAppWeek22 Financial Services Apprentice.
Profile #4| Carly Taylor, Standard Life
What are the benefits of doing an apprenticeship for your personal development and your career path? For #ScotAppWeek22 we’ve been speaking to apprentices and former apprentices now making their careers in financial services. This is what Carly had to tell us about her experience.
What is/was your apprenticeship and why did you choose it?
I was an intern at Standard Life through the Edinburgh Guarantee Scheme. I chose this as it was advertised as a job opportunity that was for young people that needed to catch a break. What school you went to and what qualifications you left with were not important at all – what mattered was my willingness to learn, and my drive to achieve. I was lucky enough to be given an internship in the Marketing department as the recruitment process matched my personality and skillset to the role I was best suited to. Turns out Marketing is the perfect place for me!
What made you decide to do an apprenticeship?
When I was I my 6th year of high school and we were all deciding what we were going to do next, I knew that university and college weren’t the right places for me. I wanted to get stuck in somewhere where I felt valued and where I could learn, while doing something I enjoyed. I also knew I needed to start at the beginning somewhere and work my way up and the EGS internship was the perfect place to do this.
What did you enjoy most about your apprenticeship and why?
As soon as I got started at Standard Life, I was given loads of opportunities to get stuck in to different projects. I had the opportunity to get involved in all of the different marketing teams, so I was never in one set team until I knew what I wanted to do. Fortunately, I found a team that worked on something that I was really passionate about, and they had a space for me. Without having the opportunity to explore those options, I don’t know if I ever would’ve found my love for Marketing communications. I also made a great network of really interesting people with backgrounds in lots of different areas of the business. I’ve had the chance to learn from all of these intelligent people, all through my internship.
Describe something that surprised you about your apprenticeship?
I was given six months to explore so many different teams and areas within the business. When I first interviewed for the role, I assumed it would be for a fixed job and I would be placed where there was space. Instead, I was met with so many opportunities from colleagues who were ready to help me learn and find a role that worked for me. I was so surprised by the flexibility and the willingness of the company to allow me to create my own path. I think that’s what really helped me get to where I am today.
Describe something you learned about yourself doing your apprenticeship?
I learned that I will never just be able to sit and do the nine till five and go home. I found such a passion for helping people through my internship. I saw the opportunity I was given which I never thought would have been possible, and I now have a massive drive to help create more opportunities like this for other young people. I always want to get involved in company networks, volunteering and added extras that were never required as part of my role or my internship, because I want to give back to the people who supported me to get to where I am now. I thought that my day job would just be something that would help me pay the bills and have something to do, but it is now so much more than that to me.
If you are in a full-time role now, tell us about your role and what you enjoy about it?
I have just accepted a job offer to work for Cancer Research UK as a Communications Executive. My internship gave me all of the tools and skills that I require to do well in whatever role I do going forward, but I am now ready to get involved at CRUK and use my experience to make a difference.
