A New Chapter: How Martha Jumped Into an HR Career via the Army's Apprenticeship

I was encouraged to consider a role working as a Civil Servant for the Army by family who were existing employees and often talked about the benefits you receive as a Civil Servant and the difference you can make. 

At this time, I was looking into a change of career field into HR but found that a lot of employers wanted you to have a HR qualification to be considered for a role. When I saw that the Army offered the opportunity to complete a Level 5 HR apprenticeship (and to achieve Associate Membership to the CIPD) alongside working in a HR role and that no previous HR experience was needed, I jumped at it! 

I am now 6 months into my Level 5 HR apprenticeship and am really enjoying it. I receive one day per week for off-the-job learning time to focus on my apprenticeship which has been extremely valuable. I am encouraged to do independent learning set by my apprenticeship provider but always have support available from a Skills Coach should I need further help with anything and have regular meetings set up with them to ensure I stay on track. As part of my apprenticeship, I also do workplace-based projects, and my line manager is fantastic at supporting me to ensure I have access to everything I need to complete the projects and requirements for the apprenticeship.

If you are considering a career within the MOD I would say, go for it! There are so many different opportunities and roles available, some of which you would never think would be jobs you’d find as a Civil Servant. Not all jobs require existing experience, and I'd definitely recommend the apprenticeship route if you're looking at exploring a different field. It’s the best of both worlds in terms of learning and earning!