Applying to the Gov Comms Apprenticeship: Tips from a current apprentice
Current Government Communications apprentice Natasha Mirus shares practical tips on what to expect from the application and interview process.
The Government Communications Advance Apprenticeship is a great programme to start your career in comms. I’m currently a Gov Comms apprentice in the Government Communication Service, and I feel very lucky to be in my role. The application process was straightforward and structured, though it still required hard work.
Here are my tips for applying.
The application stage
My first tip is obvious: read the job description! It tells you exactly what they’re looking for.
The Civil Service careers website has great resources, including guidance on Success Profiles and the STAR method – a useful structure for demonstrating your skills.
Your examples can come from anywhere. The programme welcomes people with diverse skills from any background. In my application, I included examples from university, waitressing, and volunteering in heritage environments.
Make sure you highlight what you learned and contributed. A good tip: use ‘I’ instead of ‘we’. That was feedback I received on my own application.
Preparing for the interview
If your application is successful, you’ll be invited to an online interview. You can book a time that works for you, which helped me plan ahead and find a quiet space with strong Wi-Fi.
I was asked to prepare a short presentation on a topic that was important to me, showing how I would communicate it to the public. I chose disinformation – how people can spot and combat it online. Though I didn’t realise it at the time, it was my first go at designing a communications plan!
My advice: research your topic thoroughly, include statistics, and be ready to answer questions.
I was required to show how this topic should be presented to the public and what resources could be used to spread awareness on the subject. This was a great way to talk about your interests and how you would approach sharing information with a large audience. I chose to do my presentation about spreading awareness on the disinformation threat online, highlighting how the public can identify and combat disinformation themselves, something that is very topical in the communications profession.
I would recommend doing lots of research before your interview, include statistics on your topic and be prepared to answer questions on your presentation. I found some great resources on campaign planning, and made sure to use this to help plan my presentation, and develop my ideas. Now I’m in my role I realise how useful this research was!
The interview itself was a bit nerve-wracking, but the interviewers were friendly and made me feel very comfortable. I’d suggest preparing a few questions to ask at the end – it shows interest and helps you learn more about the role.
Support along the way
Throughout the process I felt very supported. Before my interview, the apprenticeship team invited candidates to an online session with tips on interview techniques and staying calm. It really helped me understand what to expect, which eased the nerves.
Receiving an offer
If you pass the interview you’ll receive an email with a job offer and details of your department. Your line manager will then contact you about organising your start date and security clearance.
My final tip: enjoy the process! There’s so much to learn just from applying, so make the most of it.