• Name
    Ashanti
  • Job Title and Employer
    Talent Aquisition Advisor
  • Employer
    Channel 4
  • Provider
    Paragon Skills
  • Levels
    Level 2 (Intermediate) Apprenticeship
  • Training Provider and Qualification
    Level 2 Recruitment Resourcer - Distinction
  • Occupations
    Administration
  • Apprenticeship Start Date
    Sep 2021
  • Skills Gained
    recruitment skills office professionalism time management focusing multi-tasking
  • What are your interests outside of work?
    Outside of work I love fitness including weightlifting at the gym, reading, listening to music and podcasts. I also love learning new skills, spending time with family and socialising with friends.
GetMyFirstJob Ambassador

Hello, I Am Ashanti

An apprenticeship is an amazing experience to have, I have definitely grown immensely as an individual because of it. I loved that I was treated as a valuable member of the team and give key responsibilities from day one.

Tell us more about your experience

In my role as an in house recruiter within the Talent Team at Channel 4, I help to manage the recruitment of a variety of creative roles within our Creative Division. This consists of posting jobs, shortlisting candidates, stakeholder management etc. As well as this, I got involved in exciting personal projects like participating in wider HR initiatives, redefining agency additional worker processes and supporting apprentices on our team. My proudest moment since completing my apprenticeship with no prior recruitment experience has been confidently managing a high volume of roles and receiving an early promotion.

As well as the day to day recruitment of our creative divisions, such as 4Studio, Film4, Commissioning and Operations (Commercial Affairs), I am involved in a lot of apprenticeship ambassador work for our 4Skills team, like speaking on panels for out 4Skills YouTube page, and getting involved in 4Skills social media campaigns and speaking on Create Access panels!

Initially, I went to University for 2 months to study journalism but discovered that I did not enjoy the course, despite my love for writing and I wanted to work and study within another area. I applied for numerous apprenticeships and some of them I did not proceed to the next stage. However, there was a degree Business Management apprenticeship which I received an offer for, but COVID resurged and funding was cut for the scheme. This did not deter me and I kept applying until I received a Channel 4 apprenticeship, which I was other the moon about as I love our content and remit. I am grateful that I did not give up.

My advice to someone thinking about doing an apprenticeship would be, to go for it!! It is an exciting journey and one that is beneficial. Apply to as many as you want and allow your passion to shine through.

Whilst on the apprenticeship I received a vast variety of support from my immediate team, external colleagues, as well as having an early careers co-ordinator which checked in on all the apprentices. I also had a lovely warm tutor from Paragon Skills which gave resources to help with my assignments.

Since being promoted to a Talent Acquisition Advisor, after a year in the position I had the opportunity to explore my other creative interests by completing a secondment in the commissioning department. The role was Team Assistant, Youth & Digital. Within this role, I supported the Head of Youth and Digital, Commissioning Editor for E4 and Digital Commissioning Editor for Branded Entertainment with admin assistance e.g. diary management, booking travel, expenses etc. 

The experience was amazing and I learnt about the commissioning cycle for both linear and digital. I organised big cross departmental meetings and a programme screening with talent/production companies for a new E4 show release called ‘Josh Must Win’ . I also attended all genre routines (E4 Factual Entertainment, Channel 4.0 routines etc), branded briefs and contributed ideas within creative brainstorms e.g for the digital brand Channel 4.0. I also had the opportunity to sit in casting meetings for ‘Married at first sight’ to understand the casting process and contribute my thoughts.

I have a passion for succession planning and took it upon myself to research new digital creators, create a deck and pitched the next generation of talent to the wider team within a workshop and this led to setting up a talent meeting with one of the talent I pitched and sitting in the meeting with the Digital Commissioner. 

I shadowed the Digital Commissioners closely within the team on their projects by attending production shoots for shows such as ‘King Konan’s Trapped Door’ and reading pre production material e.g. running orders, beat sheets, set designs, budgets etc. I also watched rough cuts of edits and gave Commissioners my viewing notes to support their editorial feedback. It was a highly immersive experience which I loved and it increased my knowledge of commissioning overall.  


Cyber Essentials
© 2021 GetMyFirstJob Ltd.

Your first steps into the world of work for Apprenticeships, Degree Apprenticeships, Work Experience & Graduate Jobs