We recently caught up with Daniel Cabezas who is currently upskilling at Mears Group via the Information Communications Technician Level 3 Apprenticeship at Kaplan.
Daniel spoke about his experience so far.
Could you tell us about your career to date?
My apprenticeship marks the beginning of my career in IT. I’ve been learning all the skills I need to independently solve problems and work with customers. I’m currently working on an IT service desk in the IT department at Mears - a housing and care provider that also manages the repairs and maintenance of 700,000 homes across the UK.
What made you want to go into data and technology? Was it always the plan?
I’ve always been around computers and troubleshooting basic problems with my own PC, and my main hobby is gaming, so I’ve always wanted to go into this industry.
Did you encounter any challenges during your studies? If so, how did you overcome them?
I’d say my biggest challenge has been time management and balancing my work with my studies, as well as finding the time to write all my portfolio pieces.
However, to overcome this, I’ve worked with my manager to get more dedicated time to learn, as well as spending days working with different teams to learn entirely new skills and knowledge.
How has the support been from Kaplan and your employer?
The support from Kaplan has been good - my talent coach, Vinch, is always pushing me in positive ways, and my tutors during the online classes always explain things clearly and at a comfortable pace.
My employer has also been great. I have a dedicated day to work on my portfolio, and my manager is always looking for new opportunities to help me get more learning in.
How have you developed within your job role through your studies?
As time has gone on, my aptitude for problem solving has increased, and my social confidence with working with customers has improved dramatically.
Initially, I was anxious about handling phone calls, but now I can confidently speak with users, understand their issues, and efficiently reach a resolution.
Furthermore, my studies have been invaluable when tackling more complex problems. Linking the knowledge gained from my studies with my understanding of our company systems to inform a solution can be challenging, but it’s becoming easier as I progress.
What advice would you give to others who are studying or struggling with their studies? Can you share your top three study tips?
- Time management: Managing responsibilities at work and studying at the same time can be challenging. I recommend for anyone to try and get as much studying done as possible earlier on so that it doesn’t pile up as time goes on.
- Communication: Be sure to communicate your needs to your colleagues and manager. For example, I’ve shown my manager a list of criteria that I need to include in my portfolio, so they have been finding me tasks and projects relating to those criteria that I can get involved in.
- Capture visual evidence of your work: Anything you think is related to any of the criteria in the portfolio, take photos or screenshots of everything you do in your role. By doing this, you can look back on things from a while ago and write about them for the portfolio.
What are your plans for the future?
After my apprenticeship, I want to stay on with Mears. I really enjoy working here and feel comfortable with our systems. In the long term, I would like to move up to a more technical role where I regularly handle more complex problems.
Is there anything else you’d like to share?
Overall, I’ve really been enjoying my apprenticeship and the knowledge I’m gaining. I much prefer this to my time at school and college.
I originally chose to do an apprenticeship because I wanted to improve my technical skills but I didn’t want to go to university. I’m satisfied that I’ve made the right decision for me.
Progress your career
Daniel’s story perfectly illustrates the transformative power of an apprenticeship with Kaplan. Whether you’re looking to upskill or pivot your career, our tailored programmes offer the guidance and flexibility you need to succeed.
Interested in progressing your career? Browse our wide range of apprenticeship programmes and apply for a vacancy today.
Additionally, learn more about how you can discuss apprenticeship opportunities with your current employer.
If you are an employer looking to upskill your workforce, contact the team to find out more.