Jennifer said, “I’m only 25, I’m still young enough to change my career – I don’t want to turn around when I’m 50 and say, ‘What if?’”
She moved to Northern Ireland with the goal of improving her English and unlocking a door to further international career opportunities.
She was introduced to the apprentice scheme while on the job hunt. Jennifer – who has aspirations of becoming a wedding planner – jumped at the chance to learn the service industry from the ground up.
Jennifer spends four days per week working at the Galgorm, where she is currently based in the Gillies Bar & Grill – and spends one day per week in college.
In college her and her classmates are learning everything from how to deliver an immaculate silver service dinner, to how to make the perfect barista-quality cup of coffee, all from industry experts.
Thanks to the small class sizes Jennifer says her class-time is more like one-on-one tutoring: “It’s nothing like sitting in a classroom all day!”
Jennifer sees the apprenticeship programme as a “wonderful opportunity” to learn as much as possible about the industry and to get the skills and knowledge needed for a successful career in hospitality.
“It is important to understand the work that goes on behind the scenes and how details like how the food is served and presented can affect the success of an event. It’s a great opportunity. I wouldn’t have been able to get training like this if I had stayed in Spain. Nowadays, in such a competitive job market, experience is essential.”
Jennifer says she would highly recommend the scheme to anyone: “The apprenticeship allows you to not only earn while you study, but also to really understand what the sector is like – that means you don’t waste time, energy and money on a degree and then realise you actually don’t want to pursue it as a career!”
“You really learn everything from the ground up: I started with the basics like bringing out the meals, but I’ve quickly moved into more advanced roles which involve a lot more customer contact –something I really enjoy.”
When asked what advice she would give to someone else, thinking of going down the same route, Jennifer says it’s important to not let yourself be overwhelmed at first. She admits it can feel unfamiliar and somewhat daunting to be thrown into a busy food service environment, but she says that an enthusiastic, confident attitude and the ability to think on your feet are key to success.
In Jennifer’s own words: “Just try it!”