They return with their tail between their legs...

Ok...not quite...but almost.

I've been invited back to my secondary school/ sixthform for their careers day to talk about careers in Marketing/PR/Journalism... at least that's the category they've given me. The fact that I didn't go to university and now have a job at one of the biggest media companies in the world less than two years after finishing my A Levels seems to have been skimmed over... I'll make sure that I make that loud and clear to the students during my presentation.

I really hope they give me another session to talk to the pupils about alternatives to uni.  In an ideal world, I'd be able to address everyone, including those who already had their hearts set on university. Not just because I endured 24+ months of speeches, presentations, preparation days etc about university when I had no intention of going and I have a desire for revenge...but because all young people should know their options, they shouldn't just expect a degree through university. And if nothing else, so that they're made aware that their friends don't go to university, won't end up at the job centre every week for the rest of their lives. Those people then won't have to fight of nasty comments or defend their decision endlessly.

Not only am I looking forward to sharing this wonderful idea that you can and most certainly will get places without university with my younger fellow Bexley Grammar pupils, I can also PROVE that very statement to my teachers and senior staff who pushed me to university and shut down any other ideas that I had.

Well, whilst they're still being teachers, I am a qualified marketer, I have the most wonderful job at the Guardian and I enjoy my career every single day. So there!

27th November 2014: My final day as an apprentice.

Wow.
One year and one month, two employers, one apprentice provider, 26 units, 6 study weeks, 3 apprentice advisors, a bit of aggro, a lot of fun and a lot of hard work.
I've done it.

As of tomorrow, I'll no longer be an apprentice; I will be a Digital Marketing Assistant at the Guardian News and Media.

Up until writing this post, right now, I didn't realise how proud I am of myself for finishing it. I feel an immense sense of accomplishment. It was hard work for lots of reasons.

When I think about myself just over a year ago, the difference to now is astounding. I stood at the beginning of a long road, a road made longer and very dark by depression and anxiety (I know this isn't the forum to discuss that but it's important to mention at this stage.) The days before I started my apprenticeship, there was no reason to get out of bed, I had massive void in my life and I was desperate to fill it but because of the way I felt, it was almost impossible to make a start. But I did one day.

I'm so proud that I've done it after having been told like many other 18 year-olds "you won't get anywhere without a degree." Well I am getting places, so there!

I'm under no illusion, this is still the beginning, its baby steps- I'm only an assiatant for goodness sake, but I'm 19 and in the same position lots of people will be in when they're in their early 20s.

No apprenticeship is something to be put down, not matter what industry, what level or what employer.

It's a lot of practical work as well as written. It takes time, a good effort, determination and a positive attitude.

Ri x

Results day 2014

Well done to everyone on their results!
Its finally over and done with so celebrate that you've survived two of the toughest academic years of your life- you've finished!
I hope you got what you expected of your results or you were pleasantly suprised, its probably time to get drunk/ go to a party/go to a family meal/ see your friends/ get drunk.
Maybe you didn't get what you were hoping for and now its probably time to get drunk/ go to a party/go to a family meal/see your friends/get drunk.
Either way, you're future hasn't really changed that much, your distant future anyway. Maybe you'll go back and do some resits, maybe you'll go in to clearing, maybe you get your second or third choice of uni, maybe you go on your gap year, maybe you go in to clearing, maybe you get a job, maybe an apprenticeship, maybe you go to college. What ever it is this day will in no way harm your future. Trust me.
Every year there are more and more options to help you do what you want to do.

A year on from my results day and I am not the same person. I was quite disappointed with my results but I knew they weren't the be-all and end-all (I promise they're not) and look at me now. One results day and a bit of hard work later and I work at

Don't compare yourself to your friends or siblings or cousins or look at how other people in the country did-it won't change your results. Of course, if you decide to do some resits you can think about where you went wrong but don't do it today, don't even do it this weekend. If you're going to have to drastically change your plans for September, do it. Just not today.

Now is the time to celebrate before you take the next step! (That third bottle of wine probably isn't a good idea)

Stun your way to the top

USo we have a thing at the Guardian (where I work, yes you should be Jel its amazing) called "Good to great" which, from what I gather aims to promote the fantastic work people have done.
How I see it is everyone who works at the Guardian does well (i.e is "good") but some of those people push it so far so that they go above and beyond an average employee (i.e the "great") so what I'm wondering is how do you get there? As always your suggestions are encouraged.
It works very well for me as an apprentice (someone who's contract is fixed to an end period) who wants to stay in my role *-*-*-*-*....4 3va....*-*-*-*-*
But it doesn't just go for apprenticeships, but internships and degrees and school and employment, even if you know you won't be kept on in your internship for example, how do you prove to a different employer that you've made the most of the experience? How can you demonstrate you've gone above and beyond? How do you do it?

1. Scare yourself. Launch yourself from your comfort zone. Present to 100 people. Yes you may turn red and trip over your words but you'll get through it.
2. Be proactive. Do something that you know needs to get done without waiting to be told.
3. Experiment. Try to do it. Have a go at building an email, creating a report or sending an invoice on your own. It's the best way to understand processes.
4. Make mistakes. No one on this Earth is perfect. Things go pear shaped, they don't work out, you make an incorrect move. Do it. That's life, if it always went to plan then there would be no point to anything. No one learned from a success. Now is the time to get away with it.
5. Try your best. Give it 100% everyday. Show you love it. Be involved. Prove your company needs you.

Ri x

Appreciating what you've achieved.

It is so easy to take things in life for granted: you're family, your friends, your health, your home, your job.
It's easy because things become routine. We get up everyday, say good morning to those (if anyone) in our homes, we get dressed in those nice clothes we can afford to buy, have breakfast with the food we are fortunate enough to eat, and go the work or school place which we are able to have.
It isn't until we see someone who lacks one or more of these things we have that we take a moment to sympathise with them, then reflect inward and appreciate that we have it.
Everything is so invaluable in that moment because we realise everything is so fragile and that we're lucky.
Not lucky in the sense that we've not worked for these things and earned them, but in the sense that we are able to have them when other people simply can't have them.

I was walking around work (THE GUARDIAN) yesterday, helping a college measure poster sizes for an upcoming event when I was suddenly overwhelmed by the fact that I work at the Guardian-how amazing is that?!
Of course I beam when I tell people and when friends and family ask me how its going I tell them "it's the best thing that's ever happened to me" but to stop and think that I have this beautiful opportunity is incredible.

It also occured to me to write this post having had a conversation with the other Guardian apprentices about our future if any at the company. It goes without saying that none of us want to leave-ever. But we felt a sense of pannic, how can we guarantee our places here? How? Someone please tell me! (Seriously if you have any fool-proof methods please let me know, a potion, a dance, a magic goat anything)

I also felt the need to write it as a few days ago, it was the anniversary of something. The details I won't go into, it's almost futile. But what happened caused me to be practically thrust into clinical depression. All I can say is I was headed a lot further down then how I was this time last year. Feeling (around September/October time) that I was in the absolute depths I never thought that I'd be able to survive another interview, let alone get up every single day and go to work.

So I suppose this post isn't just about appreciating what you have. It's about celebrating what you've achieved, even the little things (when ever I need to justify buying something I still use the excuse that I need to treat myself for getting into sixth form!)
I find that British people have the amazing ability to downplay, put down and find fault in nearly all of their achievements.

Take some time everyday to celebrate what it is you've done.
Ok so you don't know your exam results yet, but you got through them!
Ok so you don't have the best job yet, but you've got one.
Maybe you don't have a job but you're putting in a bloody good effort to get one.

Try hard and achieve. Appreciate your achievements and then celebrate them!

Ri

Apprenticeships: The Vital Statistics!(2012/2013)

Hi all,

I'm on a study week for my course at the moment and as part of that, I've compiled a (pretty shocking attempt at an) infographic on apprenticeships.
All this info is based on data from apprenticeship starts from 2012/2013.

All my sources are accredited to the following sites where you can also find out other stats if you're really bored.
https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/fe-data-library-apprenticeships--2

http://apprenticeships.org.uk/news-media/latest-news/article398.aspx

www.parliament.uk/briefing-papers/SN06113.pdf

Social Media and Employment

Social networking becomes ever more important as the years go on when it comes to employment and careers.

Dependent upon how you use them, social networking sites can help you a great deal in your professional life.
Of course, they can also work against you if you aren't careful.

Firstly, they can help you get a job. LinkedIn in particular is a great platform for making professional connections. It acts as an online CV so if it looks polished and is kept up-to-date, you could see job offers coming in!

Potential employees' social networking sites are often looked at by companies in the recruitment process. Even though that tweet about what a twonk your old boss was got you five retweets, and you Facebook profile photo which shows you smoking a joint got 30 likes, it won't look good to a company. Clean up your profiles!

Once you've got a job of course, social media is great for it's primary purpose (who knew?!) i.e socialising. Use it to build a better relationship with collegues. But keep it professional and make sure you've said more than just "hello" to them before requesting their friendship on Facebook.

If you've got an interview, check out the company's social media pages, see what's been going on in the last six months. Since they're easy to edit, networking sites (if managed properly) are kept up-to-date. If the company doesn't have any kind of social media presence (or uses just one or two sites) it's worth considering why that might be.

Make connections for the future with LinkedIn. Connect with people in places of authority and who can potentially employ you.

LinkedIn also allows it's members to endorse, reccomend and commend each other. Good relationship with your A Level IT Teacher? Connect with them! They're likely to write on your profile just how great you were at sixthform/college which will go a long way with employers.

Twitter is dangerous- be mindful. If you use Twitter a lot, as I do, you're liable to tweet things you'll regret in the future when you're angry, upset or excited. You needn't use Twitter for your professional life if you'd prefer it for personal use, but keep it PG, PC or just P (protected so that no one can see your tweets or follow you without your permission)

If you've got any others, tweet @DoItUrWayBlog, comment below or email doityourwayblog@gmail.com

"It doesn't matter what your course is, university gives you transferable skills for the work place"

"It doesn't matter what your course is, university gives you transferable skills for the work place"

A line I've heard so much it makes me want to take my long, dark, non-student hair and shove it in to my ears just so I don't have to hear it any more.

Of course uni gives you "transferable skills" like being organised and time-keeping, not forgetting determination and of course a good work ethic.

If this is a viable statement to put on your cv or recite in an interview then in my next interview, it's ok for me to say that "I have gained good skills in the work place from owning a cat" surely?!
Owning a cat means you learn to be patient, you become compassionate, ethical and caring. You also have to be commited.
Or what about having to dress yourself everyday? That gives you transferable skills doesn't it?!

So what I am trying to get at is whilst there is some truth in that arguement, you can also replace the word "university" with pretty much anything. With this in mind, some people could be lead to think that because of this, it's in fact utter rubbish.

Of course, I am Switzerland. Well, thats not true because I am bias towards alternatives to university. 

Shall I tell you what will give "transferable skills for the work place," well in fact ACTUAL WORK PLACE SKILLS?

Well ladies and gentlemen, instead of three years "learning" at university, three years in an apprenticeship or interning will give you MUCH better skills which will benefit you in a career.

Growing up at uni? I'm not so sure. Spend 3 years anywhere and you will grow up (new concept just invented by NASA called time and the ageing process) but university? I think the rate of growing up is liable to become stangnent or slow at least.

Spend three years between being 18 and 21 in employment around actual adults and your maturity levels will soar!

Three years of drinking, avoiding lectures, student loans and living with mostly people your own age. Now compare that with three years of 9-5 work, being around 16-67 year olds all day, commuting, acting as an adult in the work place, being responsible and earning your own money (not that borrowed from tax payers and often never paid back) and you'll see who gets most work place skills and maturity.

Ri x

I've done it- YOU definitely CAN do it

Dear all,

I am living, breathing (blogging) proof that you do not need university to do well in life.
Everything has come up trumps for me, and if you work hard, stay focused and have a goal (as I keep banging on about) you can too!
I'm so happy and proud of myself that I want to scream and shout about it! But I am a writer and a digital marketeer, so I'll blog about it, and hopefully inspire and encourage other people.
So turn back six months to October when I was feeling very down and defeated having applied for an inordinate number of things which for what ever reason didn't work out. To name a few a journalism apprenticeship at The Independent, a marketing internship, 103942 admin roles, 1948421 internships, a digital journalism apprenticeship (which was to cost ME £5000)  and a digital media college course at Lambeth College (I also did a few bits for notgoingtouni.com)
I was at a loss and was applying for things I knew very well I didn't want to do.
Then, by a stroke of luck I came accross Arch Apprenticeships. (If you want a career in digital/IT/admin/business/PR check them out. Now. In fact stop reading this a check them out. Seriously. Now)
It was 12am on a Tuesday night and I sat and applied for every digital marketing apprenticeship role they had (all 32 of them)
The next day I had a phone interview and I was then invited to an assessment day. Following the assessment day I attended a week's induction to digital marketing. At the end of the course I had three interviews set up for the following week.
I only went to one of the interviews, it was for the company (their name shall remain anon) I really wanted. I got it.
If you read my next post, you'll find out what went on between then and now, and I'll give some info about Arch but fast forward to the present day, I- me- Rianna Viggiano, I now work at THE GUARDIAN. (#toopresteigeforyou) Let's have a moment of silence for how beautiful that sounds.
Digital Marketing for  Guardian Soulmates. Almost two months I've been there now and I've loved every second of it. My contract will terminate in February 2015 but I've already had two job offers for when I finish via LinkedIn (if you don't have an account, get one now)
This is why I am so elated! I want to tell everyone that looked down on me for not opting to go to uni, all my teachers, friends, everyone!
YOU DO NOT NEED TO GO TO UNIVERSITY TO GET A GREAT, FULFILLING CAREER!!!!!!
Of course, it is very early days and it's only the beginning, but I have a very good feeling that this will start off the rest of my wonderful life!

Ri x

Got a question, suggestion or comment? Leave it in the box below or email me using yourcareeryourway@gmail.com

Do it your way

Hi again everyone!

Sorry for the massive delay in posts, I've had a hell of a lot going on in the last few months.

Since my last post, I've started a new job- at The Guardian (swoon!) By far the best thing that has happened in my life so far! But more on that at a later stage.

Once again, I've decided to had a redesign of the blog, I was never 100% sure on "Chance for Choice" so I've decided that I'd really love to go with "Do it your way." Unfortunately, this subdomain seems to be taken, with no active site (I'll see what I can do around this) I also looked at "I did it my way" (Taken from Matt Monroe's "My Way") but this name is also taken, so any suggestions which are close to these, please do share! 
The title of the blog is, and will remain Do It Your Way but for now the domain will be yourcareeryourway.blogspot.com, which is a nice little tagline I think.

Now I'm starting to settle in to my new job, I'm really hoping to be posting a lot more often and really getting the blog up and running, please do share any posts you like. Your feedback is really important to me to, anything you think I can improve, something you'd like me to write about, questions, help or anything you want me to research for you around other options to university, please leave a quick comment, or email me at doityourwayblog@gmail.com

Follow on twitter too @IDidItMyWayBlog

I'll be back with more soon,
Keep focussed! 

Chance for Choice- Formerly known as Uni-not going

It's time for big things to happen.

I've started my career (visit www.thedigitalmarketingapprenticeship.wordpress.com) and now I'm settled, I'm ready to go full steam ahead with helping people.

So I thought for a long time about how I might go about taking this platform to the next step. 

First came the new name. Previously uni-notgoing was stepping on the toes of web-giant "notgoingtouni.com" and didn't fuly encompass the purpose of the bog. I want the bog to be more about not going to university, it needs to include university (as I have done in some posts) as well as YOUR other options. So, I came up with Chance for Choice (Please let me know what you think of the name) which hopefully doesn't exclude anyone. "Chance" first denoting that  the possibilities in everyone's lives, that you're not just limited to one route through life. "Choice" is an obvious one; YOUR life is about YOU and YOUR career is also about YOU- YOUR CHOICE.

Next, it seemed only fitting that as I am studying a digital marketing qualification, I use social media to promote my blog, with its own Facebook and Twitter pages (look out for links)

Finally, as part of the re-branding, I need a logo for Chance for Choice-again please let me know what you think: opinions, tweaks, criticisms,suggestions etc.

So here it is. Comment, Like, Follow and email me at riannaviggiano@googlemail.com for anything you'd like me to cover, any suggestions, if you have anything you'd like to see on here or any other ways I could help, I am grateful of anything.

I hope to be posting at least once a week with tips, comment features, news and opportunities. 

My Story: New Beginnings

I've started a digital marketing apprenticeship with Agilisys Arch, there will be more to follow, but if you want to know how I'm getting on each day, follow my new blog:
http://thedigitalmarketingapprenticeship.wordpress.com/

"I wish I had gone to Uni"

Your friends have left, your boyfriend has left, your girlfriend has left, people are being tagged in pictures on facebook of freshers' week left, right and centre. Everyone you know and love is off 200 miles away meeting new people, being introduced to their future spouse, getting drunk, partying and using lots of condoms and you're at home with your pet syrian hamster wondering "what on earth was I thinking when I decided not to go to university?!"
I'm here to tell you that that feeling is normal, and I guarantee 90% of people who actively decided not to go to uni feel the same. I certainly do.
All my friends have gone to uni in different corners of the country having the time of their life and I'm at home in London, struggling.
Having spoken to my friends, I can tell you that they are missing home and their family and me. Obviously.
If you really feel as though you've made a massive mistake by not going, you can always apply for next year.
Whilst I wish I was meeting new people, making new friends and partying every night, I know I have made the right decision for me.
I decided not to go to uni for a reason. The reasons haven't changed.

Words From The Wise aka Mike Duce

Spending a hundred million grand on tuition fees? Live life without a degree! - Lower Than Atlantis via I'm Not Bulemic

Gap Years- Enrich Yourself!

Planning a gap year? Taking a gap year unexpectedly? Either way, you need to find a way to spend your time wisely, and do something useful.

Firstly, understand why it is that you're taking this gap year. It will be a different reason for everyone, it may be a combination of reasons, but you will need to justify your gap year in some way, whether its a break before higher education, or whether its a break before employment. Will it be to take a break from education? Is it because you need more time to decide what course to do? Do you want to travel? Do you need to improve your grades? Do you need to do things to support you application to university? Do you need more time to decide whether or not university is the best next-step for you?

After you've worked out the reason you'll be taking a gap year, it will be easier to work out what it is you'll be doing in your gap year.

Will it be to take a break from education? 
-If you simply want a break after leaving sixthform or college before going to university, you will need to provide a reason for this in your personal statement. You will need to tell your university how your gap year  enriched you- how has it made you a better student? This might mean that you decide to get a part time job related to your undergraduate course, you get some work experience or you go travelling (not including travelling around the country sampling various freshers' weeks!)

Is it because you need more time to decide what course to do?
- Deciding what course to do can be very difficult, a lot of people I knew changed their minds 2 or 3 times before finally settling on a course. But it is a very important decision and you need to form it properly. In your gap year visit as many university open days as possible to find out how their courses differ from each other- visit even unis which you might not be interested in, you might change your mind. Prepare every question you can think of to ask about the courses, and when you get to the open day bombard the course tutor, and any students you can find with the questions, even if they seem silly or you think you know the answer, you may be surprised by a response completely different to what you had pre-empted.
Find out what careers the courses you are interested can lead to. As I keep stressing- university a bridge to get you to an end destination, do not forget to look beyond it!
Once you've found out about possible careers, try to get some work experience in that area so you can see if you would really be suited to it; that will make choosing a course much easier

 Do you want to travel?
- Travelling is a very popular thing to do, either after sixthform or after university. On applications, university often like students who have travelled for a period of time, and can show that it was an enriching experience for them. HOWEVER you have a very long summer before university, many young people do travelling in the two or three months they have straight after college or sixthform, find out about "inter-railing" as an alternative to 6 or 9 months away. On the other hand, a lot or companies run projects in third-world countries for young people to travel and give back to local communities, building schools or libraries for example. These companies often offer a support network and greater structure to your time away, instead of an independent experience, universities will be very impressed to know that you spent 9 months in India building a primary school.
Maybe you just want to travel for a change or scenery? To get away from the norm, or even to "find yourself" as corny as it sounds, but it is something which some people need to do. Again, as long as you can justify what you did whilst you were away go for it! Write a blog whilst you are away like my friend Raquel, who is volunteering in Thailand, to prove what you did.

 Do you need to improve your grades? 
-If you need to improve your grades because you didn't do as well as you hoped you would, and or you didn't get in to your chosen (or any) university, it can be hard to pick yourself back up, but you need to. Talk to your school or college and ask if you can repeat a year or resit some modules. It's a massive knock to your confidence, not to mention your ego when you have to sit in a class room or an exam hall with people a year younger than you, but will it matter when you get to the best uni you can be at? No.
If you can't go back to your school or college, as around at other schools or colleges to resit some exams

Do you need to do things to support you application to university? 
-If you know that by the end of the year you might not get the top grades, or the grades you need to get on to your uni course, defer your entry and find out what else you can do to support your application. Want to study veterinary science? Volunteer at a Vet's surgery or an animal shelter. Want to study journalism? Apply for a magazine internship.
Failing this, try to find other, 1 year college-based courses (which often come with a fee) which you can take in order to support your uni application and you can add to not only your personal statement, but your CV too (for that all-important career.) A lot of these courses will also boost your UCAS points as well.

Do you need more time to decide whether or not university is the best next-step for you?
-Thinking about maybe applying net year, or maybe go in to work now? Get a job. You will only know if you're ready for work and you've had enough of education if you have a job. You can apply for university when-ever

Whatever it is you decide to do in your gap year, make it worth while, make it something which will make you a more desirable student and a more enriched person. Don't spend a year at home watching re-runs of Friends on Comedy Central- don't do it.

Words of advice from my friend Anthony for those of you choosing A Level subjects

anthony (@tonyeloquenza) tweeted at 0:04 PM on Thu, Aug 22, 2013: word of advice...select you a-levels wisely. on what you actually have an interest in. don't let your grades distort what you actually want. (https://twitter.com/tonyeloquenza/status/370501663335153664) Get the official Twitter app at https://twitter.com/download

Pass by University On The Way To Success

Pass by University On The Way To Success

September 2012 marked the beginning of the first educational year in which University tuition fees rose to a maximum of £9,000.  Whilst the average annual fee was £8,507 for 2012/2013, the Office for Fair Access predicts that 2013/2014 applicants are more likely to be paying £9,000 as 3 in 4 universities are set to charge the top figure.

The increase in tuition fees undoubtedly changed the plans of some school leavers as the total number of students who applied to study at University during the first year of the higher fees was almost 10% less than in the previous year.

How can it be that we live in a society lacking skilled professionals, yet we hinder the process of anyone gaining the necessary qualifications? Students are encouraged to go to University to better their chances of getting employment in their dream job, so why should attaining our dreams come at the cost of well over £27,000? Well now, it doesn’t have to.

Although it seems alien to some eighteen year-olds, there are alternatives to University which can still pave the way to a dream career. Whilst professions such as dentistry or medicine will require a degree, there is a plethora of other careers which do not, including accountancy, retail management and some law positions.  Choosing training for a specific career instead of University is an option relieving young people of the prospect of debt from extortionate tuition fees and student loans and shows dedication to a certain field of work.

In response to the increasing number of young people who are choosing not to go to University, many employers have started to provide apprenticeship schemes offering on-the-job training in over 1000 professions, in everything from plumbing to sales; an opportunity some employers see as just as beneficial as an undergraduate degree.

Lewis Taylor, aged 19, said: “I've started my job now instead of going uni. I've found it amazing so far-much better than I expected. It's giving me qualifications so I’m training and getting paid, which is a massive bonus. And I'm getting work experience, so in my opinion not going to university is the best decision I have ever made!”

University has traditionally been used as a bridge to get to an ultimate goal. However, today a significant amount of students admit to going to University without even a final career in mind. In such a way, young people choosing work or an apprenticeship after school instead of University could be three years superior on the career ladder to those of the same age who continued into higher education, as employers stress the need of a strong foundation of work experience in a specific field in contrast with class-based learning on a general subject.