Read Time: Approx. 4 Minutes
Author: Joe Weatherill
My first year at Customer First Digital has flown by and I have enjoyed every minute of it. From learning all about what marketing has to offer to working in a variety of sectors in the industry, my journey with CFD has been amazing for my growth into the initial phase of my career and my personal development.
I have been delighted with the support and guidance the team has given me to make such a positive first year possible. Here’s how it unfolded….
My Journey So Far
On my first day I felt extremely welcomed and was made to feel part of the team straight away. Throughout the early stages of my apprenticeship, I received great deals of support from every team member, helping me to paint a picture of what my role would look like within the team as I would progress through the course. This was done alongside providing me with independent set tasks that gave me more control over my work and helped me further develop my confidence in my skillset. Therefore, making me feel more trusted and valuable to the team.
In the second half of my first year at CFD, I have seen my day-to-day work efficiency increase. With the regular daily tasks being done much quicker, it has given me more time to continue expanded my knowledge and skillset. Allowing me to make more of a difference across areas of marketing such as, paid ads, expanding my knowledge of Affiliate Marketing, to even setting up our own marketing campaign on LinkedIn to support both the business and my college project.
Outside of Work
Outside of the work, I have thoroughly enjoyed the social outings that we have had as a team. This has helped greatly for team bonding and allowed us to discuss different ideas for us and our brands in a different setting.
We have had multiple meals out alongside a variety of different activities, one being going to the Casino for our Christmas meal, which was a great night.
Other things we have done outside of work include our fitness challenges for the Aortic Dissection Charitable Trust. This was a massive challenge for me both mentally and physically, but being able to come together as a team and raise money for a fantastic cause was a great feeling and experience.
I am excited for the other activities/events in the near future.
Highlights
My biggest highlight of my first year at Customer First Digital has got to be winning the Creative & Digital Apprentice of the Year at Hull College. I was delighted to be announced the winner and pick up my award. It meant a lot to me and was a fantastic way to see my hard work pay off.
A big thank you to Dave and team CFD for the way in which I was welcomed into the team and continued to be supported and encouraged throughout the whole of my first year. I have been given various opportunities to show my skills in all different aspects of Affiliate and Partnership Marketing.
I am very thankful to Andy at Hull College for his support and insightful/interesting lessons which have kept me constantly on my toes and eager to learn every week.
Personal Growth
I feel I have continued to develop my communication and problem-solving skills throughout my apprenticeship so far. Especially in the second period I have gained much more confidence in my work and now feel I have more time to fit in other tasks and continue to develop my knowledge.
The most significant change I've noticed is in my approach to challenges. Where I once might have immediately sought help, I now take time to research and attempt solutions independently first. This shift has not only made me more self-reliant but has also led to some innovative approaches
Looking Ahead
For the future I look to continue my development for both Customer First Digital and at Hull College. I want to keep testing myself and remain as eager to learn as I was when I first started.
I am open to exploring and working on different roles within the company and ensuring I keep improving my digital skills on the platforms we use day-to-day and when we test out new ones.
The values held at Customer First Digital allow for constant growth and improvement within the team and for our clients. We ensure we are always looking out for the latest digital trend/update to keep our work as efficient as possible, whilst providing our clients with advice bases on industry changes. As I carry out this sort of work and have an influence on what changes to focus on, it allows me to keep working on ways we and our clients can improve, whilst also improving my knowledge in the industry. This is very important in this industry due to it ever-evolving.
A Big Thank You…
I wouldn’t be where I am today, one year into my apprenticeship, without the incredible support of the team here at Customer First Digital. Dave, Suzanne, Lewis, and Cerie have each played a pivotal role in my journey and development, from helping me understand the day-to-day tasks and navigate various platforms, to deepening my knowledge of the strategic reasoning behind the way we work.
This training has empowered me to contribute meaningfully to both our internal marketing efforts and client campaigns, giving me the confidence to make informed decisions and add real value.
Reflecting on my first year, I'm grateful for every challenge, success, and learning opportunity that has shaped my growth. Here’s to continued development, new opportunities, and making an even greater impact in the years ahead at Customer First Digital.
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