The Degree Apprenticeship Journey starts before your CV

Coffee with Yanmi

☕️ A coffee with Yanmi Orebowale last week reminded Dale that a Degree Apprenticeship application journey starts well before sending a CV.

Before starting his Technology Degree Apprenticeship, Dale met with Yanmi and he reflected on the support he’d received at The Duston School through the Apprenticeship Application Coaching Programme I'd delivered.

We'd worked together to prepare for interviews and assessment centres, so Dale asked: “What made the biggest difference?”

His answer?

💪 Learning how to sell his skills in an interview – knowing which strengths to highlight, and sharing examples as 'stories' 📚 to create a genuine human connection.

But what really impressed Dale about Yanmi...and something he'd want to pass on to every young person thinking about Degree Apprenticeships, is that the job application wasn’t his starting point....

Throughout Sixth Form, he made a conscious effort to build his experiences and networks:

👉 Attending Young Professionals events

👉 Becoming a Rate My Apprenticeships ambassador

👉 Engaging with Outer Circle

👉 Contributing to the The Black Apprentice Network (BAN)

He consistently said YES! to opportunities, webinars, and personal development. By the time the interview came, Yanmi didn’t just have answers – he had authentic stories to tell.

The actual job offer was the outcome of two years of positioning himself for success. 👏

Huge well done to Yanmi for his determination – and to all educators helping students see that success is a journey, not a single moment.