Glory's Story: My CV Didn't Tell My Story

I came to this country with a plan.

I arrived from West Africa with my WAEC results in hand, determined to study International Law. I did everything the system asked of me: College. A-Levels in History, Sociology, and English Lit. Good grades.

But then I hit the wall that so many international students hit: The Fees.

I remember doing the math. Because I wasn't entitled to government student loans, the cost was astronomical. My parents were amazing. They were willing to pay it, but I felt a heavy guilt. I had been jumping from one educational hoop to another, all while being dependent on them.

I realized there was no point in draining their savings just to follow the "traditional" route. So, I made the terrifying decision to put university on hold.

I needed a different way to start my life.

That’s when I found myself in a Personal Development class. My teacher said, "Today, we’re going to talk about apprenticeships."

At first, I didn't have a strategy. I just desperately wanted a degree and a paycheck. I went on Google and applied for everything. (I even applied for Engineering apprenticeships, despite not having the Math qualifications!)

I faced rejection after rejection. One rejection from BMW particularly stung, but it opened my eyes. My CV was a mess. It listed my alternative GCSEs and my time working at McDonald's, but it didn't tell my story.

I humbled myself. I went back to my teacher, we fixed my CV, and I started going to apprenticeship fairs.

Eventually, I found a listing for a "Travel Consultant" apprentice at one of the top agencies in the UK.

The "Visa" Questioning

But even after I applied, I couldn't stop wondering what the outcome would be.

Because I am on a skilled worker dependent visa, the company had questions. They asked for my National Insurance number; they asked when my visa expired.

Because I was on temporary residency, I worried that the extra requirements might be an issue. I was concerned they would see the paperwork as a hassle and move on to someone else.

But they didn't. They just needed to tick the boxes. They gave me a chance.

Life on Thin Ice

Transitioning from food retail to corporate travel was a shock.

In my first few weeks, I wasn’t allowed to touch the live systems. When I finally moved to the shop floor, I had to "shadow" colleagues, and then do "reverse shadowing," where I did the work while someone watched my every move.

It felt like walking on thin ice. In travel, a mistake isn't just a typo, it's someone's luxury holiday. You are dealing with their hard-earned money and their trust.

I faced some not-so-great experiences, too. Some customers would sit down, see the "Apprentice" badge, and simply refuse to work with me.

It hurt.

But then there were others who would smile and say, "We’ve all started somewhere. You can learn with my booking." Those people gave me the permission to believe in myself!

The Slump and The Comeback

My journey hasn't been a straight line.

In October, I was flying. I made £5,000 in commission and booked a £30,000 holiday. I was the one everyone boasted about in training.

Then December hit.

The numbers dropped. I didn’t hit my targets, and my confidence wavered. I questioned myself. I saw other apprentices getting shout-outs while I was struggling, and I started to think, "Maybe this isn’t for me."

January is a peak month in travel, and I started it feeling the pressure. But my Assistant Manager, my mentor, stepped in. She helped me claw my way back, and I hit my target right at the last minute.

I learned a valuable lesson and realised I couldn't look at other people to determine my worth.

I saw another apprentice who hadn't made any money for her first three months, but she kept showing up. If she could be confident, I had no reason to panic over one bad slump.

To the aspiring apprentice reading this

Looking back at the girl who was so stressed about university fees, I wish I could tell her that her feelings were valid, but that she was going to be okay.

To anyone else currently navigating this, whether you are an immigrant facing visa questions or just someone afraid to step off the traditional path, here is what you need to know:

Don’t be afraid to ask. I used to wait a week for an email reply, terrified to be a nuisance. Now, I ask questions in the room. Be proactive.

Use your support system. I wouldn't be here if I hadn't asked my teacher for help with my CV.

Don’t let the visa conversation scare you. It is just paperwork. If you have the right to work and the hunger to learn, there are employers who want you.

An apprenticeship allowed me to stop jumping through hoops and start building a career. It was the hardest, and best, decision I ever made.