As a marketing apprentice based at Big Reputation, my day-to-day looks somewhat unique.
Working with the agency gives me the perfect balance of structure and changeability. Week by week, I know what tasks I need to complete by each deadline for both the Big Rep brand and my coursework. Ticking these off my task board on ‘Asana’ (our project management tool) is very rewarding.
I share the office with Chelsea Spencer, the Managing Director of ‘Big Reputation’, and Morgan Greener, the Marketing Executive. I help by managing daily content schedules, handling admin tasks, and keeping the team organised. This way, everyone stays updated and nothing gets missed.
I’m always looking for ways to boost my professional growth, in and outside of the workplace. This includes reading industry blogs, listening to marketing podcasts, or taking online courses. Shadowing Chelsea and Morgan at work lets me establish the skills required as experienced marketers. These are what I can then apply and refer back to in my execution of marketing strategy in the future.
Classes are run every Tuesday by my training provider via Teams, I work remotely to complete coursework and learn core marketing skills through interactive seminars where I connect with other apprentices and take part in industry-related activities. I am currently working on Marketing concepts in theories, which requires me to dive into the role of marketing in businesses, competitor analysis, brand guidelines and identity. This Module has been able to equip me with the basic knowledge of consumer behaviour and business strategy.
Kickstarting the day
9:00 AM: On a typical day, I arrive at the office at 9 AM. I find that my priority should be planning a to-do list and setting the goals I would like to achieve by the end of the day. I always make sure to start my day by getting organised and ready to dive into my tasks. This proactive approach is essential for me to avoid feeling overwhelmed, ensuring a smooth and productive workflow throughout the day.
9:15-10:00 AM: I make myself aware of any team updates or tasks on the agenda that concern me during our production meeting, where the entire team converges to discuss the current status of our various clients.
During this collaborative session, I actively listen and contribute to any information that relates to my responsibilities. This proactive approach allows me to anticipate potential challenges and align my daily objectives with the broader team goals, enabling a seamless and efficient workflow. This leads me to organise the team’s project boards and manage the ‘Asana’ task boards, where I track any overdue items or those I can mark as done!
I make sure that I allocate tasks to our suitable team members with accurate deadlines.
10:00-12:00 On days when I am lucky to attend meetings with Chelsea and Morgan, I will create follow-up notes for each one I attend.
As an example, when meeting with a client this week, I shadowed both Chelsea and Morgan in discussing their goals and challenges they face as a business and what they are aiming to achieve with their marketing. With this information, I made notes and transferred them over to Asana, turned them into tasks and assigned these to the correct team members.
Morgan and I stayed for a ‘content shoot’ after the meeting, to capture a course in action that the client provides in video format, while Morgan was grabbing the content for the client, my job was filming for our social media to give potential clients an insight into what we do and the services we provide. I put together a post we can use with a voiceover explaining what the day entails.
12:30-1:00 I take about half an hour to an hour for my lunch break, as this gives me time to get some steps in and fresh air. Doing this allows me to recharge so I can maintain my productivity throughout the rest of the day. I would recommend this to anyone (to move away from the workspace) before coming back to it with a clear mind.
On a Tuesday afternoon, this is when I would join my 4-hour online seminar to discuss and develop my understanding of a marketing module as part of my learning plan.
Even with a short break in the centre of this session, I have plenty of time to listen, ask any questions on things I might not completely understand, and have discussions with other marketing apprentices, I reflect and relate to situations and topics that I have come across in my workplace and how I can transfer skills I have learned going forward, all while respecting confidentiality and not disclosing any unpermitted information.
Wrap up & reflect
By noon, I want to ensure I have finished all my tasks on the agenda. This may include:
- Coming up with content ideas for Big Rep’s social media
- Scheduling Content across LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook for Big Reputation and our clients
- Conducting light marketing research
- Attend team meetings and make follow-up notes
- Shadowing members of the team to build foundational skills in content and design
- Organise digital folders and support admin tasks
After this, I like to know that I’ve made the most of my productivity and reached my full potential for the day. After checking off my tasks on Asana, I tidy up my workspace to ensure the office is ready for the next day. I also take a moment to reflect on what I’ve learned and achieved, noting any areas where I can improve for the future.
The workday end approaches, but creativity never clocks out. Even at the end of the day, creative thinking doesn’t automatically switch off. Ideas can naturally come to me regardless of the time on the clock.
Referring back to structure but flexibility, I have freedom in my role to embrace creative work whenever inspiration strikes.
Friday is a day I look forward to, not for the reason you think, it’s because this is when I have my weekly 1:1 to check in on my development, address challenges and my overall well-being. It allows me to seek guidance on my professional development with my mentor, enabling me to grow and set realistic goals and pursue opportunities that align with my aspirations.
Being part of Big Reputation
For someone like me, with a willingness to learn and eagerness to contribute to a team, I feel Big Reputation has been the perfect fit for me at the beginning of my marketing career and hopefully long into the future.
One of the things that I value most about working with Big Rep is how their mission deeply aligns with my own: I love helping others to grow, succeed, achieve their goals and fulfil their true potential.
Being part of a team that shares the same commitment and values is both motivating and makes a fulfilling job role.
Why a Marketing Apprenticeship?
Since starting my Marketing apprenticeship, I have gained a variety of skills and knowledge, from an understanding of supporting clients to campaign planning. The biggest contribution to my professional development has been the hands-on experience from working with the team.
Collaboration and effective communication are the epitome of a successful marketing apprenticeship. Regular team meetings, brainstorming sessions, and feedback help me grow my interpersonal skills. I gain insight by listening to my team’s perspectives and strategies.
One of the many things I enjoy, and hope to continue during my employment, is having the freedom to think outside the box when developing ideas on how the agency can grow.
Working on real campaigns can always lead to dealing with the unexpected. There may be adjustments or client feedback which result in the need to be adaptive and think on my feet.
I believe that this is the most effective method of learning.
I recommend a marketing apprenticeship to anyone wanting industry experience. You’ll have the opportunity to meet many skilled and interesting people. Plus, you’ll get great support from your employer and apprenticeship provider along the way!
My interest in marketing stems from my desire to be creative and innovative. I have certainly found gratification in this role. It offers me endless chances to grow my skills. This developing industry will always keep me engaged.
In other words, I will never be bored or run out of things to learn or achieve.