Ten years ago, I took a risk. Instead of following the traditional university route, I started my career in digital marketing through an apprenticeship program.
At the time, it was an unconventional choice, one that my tutors strongly disagreed with.
They believed a degree was the only path to a successful career, but I had a different perspective.
Looking back, I know it was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. Here’s why.
I Skipped the Debt and Started Earning
While many of my friends were paying thousands in tuition fees, I was already in the workforce, gaining hands-on experience and earning a salary.
Now, to be fair, the hourly wages for apprentices back then weren’t exactly life-changing… at one point, I struggled to afford a £3 Tesco meal deal!
But the value of getting paid while learning was undeniable.
Instead of starting my career burdened with student debt, I had a clean slate. I was already building a portfolio, making industry connections, and learning skills that would have taken years to develop in a university setting.
By the time my friends were graduating, I had several years of real-world experience under my belt, which gave me a serious edge in the job market.
I Learn Best by Doing, Not Reading
I’ve always been a kinesthetic learner… someone who absorbs information best through hands-on experience rather than textbooks or lectures.
Sitting in a classroom for three years, writing essays about marketing theory, never appealed to me.
I wanted to be in the thick of it, working on actual campaigns, analyzing data, and seeing the direct impact of my work.
An apprenticeship provided the perfect environment for that. I wasn’t just learning concepts; I was applying them in real-world scenarios.
This approach helped me develop practical skills much faster than a traditional academic route would have allowed.
SEO, PPC, content strategy; I was actively testing and refining these skills in real-time rather than just reading about them.
I Tried Everything Before Specializing
One of the biggest advantages of starting my career through an apprenticeship was the opportunity to explore different areas of digital marketing before deciding on a specialization.
I dabbled in social media management, paid advertising, content marketing, and SEO.
This hands-on experience helped me identify what I enjoyed most and where my strengths lay.
Over time, I gravitated toward SEO strategy and ROI-driven marketing, areas where I could combine creativity with data-driven decision-making.
Had I gone to university, I might have been funneled into a specific path without the chance to experiment and refine my focus.
Instead, my apprenticeship allowed me to make informed career choices based on real-world experience.
Building a Career Without a Degree
One of the biggest myths in the job market is that you need a degree to succeed.
The truth? Employers care about skills, experience, and results far more than a piece of paper.
By the time my peers were graduating, I had:
- Worked across multiple industries, developing a broad skill set.
- Built a strong professional network that helped me land new opportunities.
- Developed a portfolio of successful campaigns and measurable results.
- Gained the confidence to navigate the real challenges of digital marketing.
No degree could have given me that level of preparation.
Would I Do It Again? Absolutely.
If I could go back and make the decision all over again, I wouldn’t change a thing.
My apprenticeship fast-tracked my career, gave me practical skills, and set me up for long-term success without the financial burden of student loans.
If you’re at the crossroads of choosing between university and an apprenticeship in marketing, my advice is simple: get stuck in.
Work, test, learn, and grow.
Nothing beats real-world experience when it comes to building a career in digital marketing.