Skip the Bootcamp, Secure the Bag: Tips for Apprenticeships
Pivoting careers in tech is NOT for the faint of heart—this industry will humble you.
Welcome to the second installment of Weekly Job Hunting Tips! This week, I’m sharing how to stand out when applying for an apprenticeship!
You’re either dropping thousands of dollars on a bootcamp with no job guarantee, or trying to piece it together on your own, often without clear guidance.
Back in 2020, I was in the same boat😣.
I wanted to transition into UX Research after years working in sales but had no idea how to make the leap and thought these were my only options. One day, while scrolling LinkedIn, I stumbled across the ✨Meta Apprenticeship Program✨.
📌Spoiler alert: the program doesn’t exist anymore (RIP), but the good news is there are plenty of other apprenticeships out there for folks looking to break into technical roles.
The question is: how do you stand out when you don’t have formal experience?
Here’s the TTT☕️ — Taiwo’s three tips to maximize your chances, written from experience:
1. Ask ChatGPT to Create a Learning Roadmap
The hardest part about getting started is not knowing where to start.
But It’s 2025 sis, so use your resources. I wish I had ChatGPT back in 2020, but since I didn’t, I built my own roadmap from scratch. Can you imagine?
You can use AI Tools like ChatGPT to create a customized learning roadmap that focuses on the foundational skills you’ll need in UX Research. For example, ask it to point you toward resources for learning qualitative and quantitative research methods, usability testing, or storytelling with data.
Here’s a prompt to try:
“Help me create a roadmap to learn the foundational skills needed for UX Research, including specific tools, courses, books, YouTube videos, podcasts, and practical exercises to build my portfolio in the next 8 weeks.”
This is the shortcut I wish I had when I was starting out.
2. Take Online Courses
You don’t have to drop thousands to build your skills.
Platforms like LinkedIn Learning, and Coursera offer affordable, high-quality courses that lay a solid foundation—and if you have a premium LinkedIn account, you probably already have access to some of them.
Here are a few top picks to get you started:
• User Experience Research and Design by the University of Michigan (Coursera)
• Foundations of UX Design by Google (Coursera)
• Learning UX Research on LinkedIn Learning
• UX Foundations: Research (LinkedIn Learning)—this is the one I started with🙋🏾♀️!
These courses break down the basics, introduce tools, and offer project ideas to help build a portfolio that highlights your skills.
3. Get Hands-On Experience
No experience? No problem.
Volunteer your skills to gain hands-on experience.
Nonprofits, startups, or small businesses often don’t have the budget for dedicated UX Researchers, which means they’re happy to have someone help out in the office.
This is your chance to step in, learn by doing, and build a portfolio project in the process.
📌These platforms can connect you with opportunities to get your feet wet. Document everything—your process, insights, and the outcomes. When it’s time to apply for apprenticeships, you’ll have a strong story to tell about your initiative, problem-solving, and the value you bring to the table.
Now, It’s Time to Apply
Pivoting careers in tech isn’t always a straight line. But apprenticeship programs can be the game-changer you need, offering mentorship, real-world experience, and a foot in the door.
The journey might not be easy, but trust me—it’s worth it.
You got this, sis💪🏾!
Want More Tips?
Join the ✨Fifty50 Initiative✨ community for more career advice, tools, and support. Together, we’re creating blueprints for success—one week and one tip at a time.
〰T.
