Friday brought about my final day with Stef, which being my third placement as the Apprentice, also marked my final day as the 2007 Graduate Apprentice. Its been a long year, but a truly fantastic one, which has completely gone beyond all of my initial expectations.
I had two fantastic placements with Deloitte and LMM, and now can look back on what was another brilliant experience. During the sixteen weeks with Stef, I worked on a huge range of projects, getting involved in the Big City Plan, working on Digital Media events as well as working with clients of 3Form. However, the main project was Stef’s new idea, Odadeo. Odadeo is all about Dads, its social network with a difference. Highly interactive and highly useful, I have been working with the beta testing Dads for the last few weeks, finding out what they want from the site, how they use it, and then turning it into development points for Stef to work on. I’ve been writing legal documents, been coming up with ideas for our pitch, and recently, making video walkthroughs of various features, so that new users can see what the site is all about.
I’m very sad to be leaving Odadeo, I truly do think that its a fantastic idea, which will take off. I hope to look back at the project in a few months and say that I was a part of it. It could be the next big thing on the web.
But more than that, I have worked from Stef’s home over the last four months, and I’m thankful that Emily, Imogen and Stef allowed me into their home. I have learnt so much, much more than I could have imagined that I would. At times the work has been varied and difficult, but at all times its been the challenge and experience that I expected as the Graduate Apprentice. Stef is a unique individual, creating ideas from nothing, and it was great to be part of that process. I am sure that I am a more creative individual because of it.
I now head back to Deloitte, to being my life as a International Tax Associate. I worked in the same department as the Apprentice, which is why I am sure that there will be people around to help me settle back in.
Looking back on my year as the Graduate Apprentice is tough to do, I still haven’t quite come to terms with the fact that its no longer my role but I can say this. As a new Graduate last June, I was lost, unsure of a career path and lacking direction. I assumed that something would come up… well it did. The Apprentice has given me a diverse range of business experience, its shown me career paths I never knew existed and taught me how to go about achieving what I want from life. But more than that, I have had a year working with absolutely fantastic people, both directly and indirectly. I have met people who are going to be key in the city for many years to come, and my hope is that I can also play my role in the years to come. To my employers, Deloitte, LMM, and Odadeo, thank you. There are too many individuals to mention, but I will be taking the time to individually email them all.
So here’s to looking forward, and a new daily motto, Challenge Yourself… something I aim to do every day.
