Meet Phoebe and learn more about her job as a digital engagement apprentice for Manchester Pride. Part of our Bitesize world of work series.
My name is Phoebe Woodall and my title is digital engagement apprentice
The bulk of my job whilst I’m working on Manchester Pride festival event sites will be taking pictures, videos, just gathering social media content, and then posting live. So I’ll upload Instagram stories, I’ll do some Facebook lives.
Having creative control over Manchester Pride social media accounts is slightly scary but it’s, it’s still really fun I think, just making sure I’m reflecting as much of the festival as possible, capturing as many moments as I possibly can.
It was really important for me to find something that would allow me to have the freedom to sort of express myself and be creative and this job allows me to do exactly that. I can take my ideas to members of the team and be like ‘what do you think of this?’ and then they allow me the creativity and the room to just go away and create something, which is great.
I studied Art and Design at college, and although I’ve tended to do well in exams in sort of high school and college, I never really… I didn’t really enjoy doing them. I don’t think anybody does, but it was a real source of anxiety for me and I thought that going to university would be a bit too much pressure for me. Taking the apprenticeship route now and doing what I’m doing has really shown me that there are more ways to sort of get into a really really stable successful job rather than just going to university and going from there.
I learned a lot in the apprenticeship about the different social media platforms that I might be using in the workplace. I’ve always been really into social media anyway, I use it a lot in my spare time and I think having that interest anyway was a really good starting point for me.
It’s really beneficial to have strong writing and grammar skills - that’s super important obviously if you’re posting on social media. I guess being social media savvy, knowledgeable about the social media environment, internet culture. That really helps when you’re writing content, being able to write for a group of people specifically.
There are lots of really really great opportunities out there – it’s just a case of finding them, so do your research and don’t just settle for the first thing you come across, you don’t want to sort of end up in a job that you’re not really fond of. I think it’s really important to make sure that you’re finding the right opportunity for you.
Try and base what you want to do of maybe the interests that you already have. So if you’re really into graphic design for example, try and look for something in that field.
I didn’t actually know that my job existed before working here. I definitely didn’t know that at high school. So I think just getting out there, doing some research, really trying to find something that you think will be suited to you is a great way to go.
Having creative control over Manchester Pride social media accounts is slightly scary but really fun.
Phoebe works as a digital engagement apprentice for Manchester Pride
A key part of her role involves gathering social media content and posting it to Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, at live events and throughout the year
The creative aspect of Phoebe's job is what she most enjoys about her role. Being allowed freedom to express herself was important to Phoebe
Although Phoebe did well in her Art exams at college, she was anxious about the pressure university would bring. She decided to do an apprenticeship which worked really well for her
According to Phoebe, the key skills you need for this role are:
- strong writing and grammar skills
- good knowledge of social media
- good knowledge of internet culture
Phoebe's advice for finding the career you want is to do as much research as possible, follow your interests and don't be afraid to take an apprenticeship route.
Phoebe is a digital engagement apprentice. A similar role, which could be a possible next step, could be social media manager.
Phoebe works as a digital engagement apprentice for Manchester Pride. Once she has finished her apprenticeship, she can apply for a role as a social media manager. Social media managers communicate with organisations’ customers and clients through social media channels.
What to expect if you want to be a social media manager
- Social media manager average salary: £25,000 to £60,000 per year
- Social media manager typical working hours: 38 to 40 hours per week
What qualifications do you need to be a social media manager?
You could get into this role via a university course, an apprenticeship or working towards this role.
Sources: LMI for All, National Careers Service
This information is a guide and is constantly changing. Please check the National Careers Service website for the latest information and all the qualifications needed.
Find out more on the Prospects website about the role of a social media manager.
For careers advice in all parts of the UK visit: National Careers Service (England), nidirect (Northern Ireland), My World of Work (Scotland) and Careers Wales (Wales).
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