GenM Student Success: How this Student Used her Creativity to Find her Passion

Billie Lorraine Ngaosi is an English major with a passion for creativity and design. Before starting her apprenticeships, she had an office job, but she quickly found that a desk job was not for her. She wanted to be creating and building. Here’s how she started a career doing what she loves.

We talked to Billie about her GenM apprenticeships and asked her about her dreams. Here is what she had to say.

Hi Billie! Can you tell us why you wanted to do an online marketing apprenticeship?

I did an online apprenticeship because I wanted to gain enough experience to change careers.

Who did you apprentice with and what skills did you gain?

I apprenticed for Jacqueline Taylor-Adams at TaylorAdams Marketing & MgMt, Dagmar Khan at Khan Group, and Justin Ham at Dripeo.

I gained skills in email marketing, social media, graphic design, content marketing, brand creation, website design, SEO, and Copywriting.

How much experience did you have before your apprenticeship and what were your key takeaways after you completed it?

Before the apprenticeship, I had very minimal marketing experience — mostly just social media.

After my apprenticeships, my content creation skills improved greatly. I have a better understanding of how to cater to a specific audience and how to tweak the content based on their interests. I am using those skills today, in copywriting, graphic design, and social media to target a specific audience.

I was also able to improve my resume and build my portfolio. My apprenticeships allowed me to expand my professional network and land some freelance gigs.

Can you share some of your top tips for GenM students who want to secure an apprenticeship?

1. Do your research.

Make sure the apprenticeship is a good fit for you! Ask questions during your initial interview and really get to know your mentor and their business.

2. Time management is ESSENTIAL.

Efficiently managing your time is so important, especially if you decide to do more than one apprenticeship at a time. Don’t go over your required 5–10 hours a week or you will burn out very quickly.

3. Don’t be afraid to ask questions.

Your mentors are there to help you every step of the way! Don’t be afraid to ask for their help and guidance if you need it.

What are your favorite marketing tools?

Canva is hands down my favorite tool for graphic design. It’s simple to use and the designs can be easily edited to fit your needs.

I also used Slack to keep in constant communication with my mentors.

What is your dream job?

My dream job is anything that lets me express my creativity —

whether it’s through copywriting or graphic design.

What’s next for you?

I want to continue building my skills and hopefully land a full-time position that allows me to work remotely.

If you are looking to build your digital marketing portfolio and acquire in-demand skills, GenM can help! Sign up at genm.co/student or download the app for iPhone and Android and start searching for an apprenticeship today!