MOST people think that you have to spend years in the workplace before earning a top wage.
But 20-year-old Carlos Baretto went straight from working at his local Slug & Lettuce to a job with a £30,000 a year salary.
His wage will increase to £33,000 in September before jumping to around £40,000 next year.
He told The Sun: “I would say I’m proud, very happy with the wage I’m getting currently and the future prospects.”
The Birmingham-based worker last year started an 18-month apprenticeship scheme with Virgin Media O2.
He learns on the job, working as a DevOps engineer on the data side of the business.
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You don’t need prior experience to secure an apprenticeship at the company – but you will need five GCSEs including Maths and English level 9-4.
Carlos applied for the scheme when taking a gap year after finishing his A-Levels.
He had previously hoped to go to university but enjoyed earning a wage from working in a local bar.
He also liked the idea of learning and working.
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Carlos said: “I’m more of a practical learner. When I apply what I learn is stays in my head for longer.”
He said the career is particularly suited to anyone interested in what is going on “behind the scenes” in IT.
He added: “If you have a fascination with how a computer works, what is going on when you load a website, open a word document – you would be perfect for this role.
“It doesn’t have to mean you build computers but [instead] have a general thirst for knowledge behind what is going on.”
You could apply to the scheme if you are looking for a career change or straight out of school, Carlos added.
Working in data, part of is his role is looking at how to store and analyse information efficiently.
He says: “Storing large amounts of data is harder than you think.”
As part of the apprenticeship, he takes courses to further his learning, such as coding and security.
With the way the world is going and the development of AI, Carlos believes IT is a sound career path for the future.
He said: “IT changes constantly… it’s all quite interesting.”
Carlos mostly works from home in Birmingham where he lives with his parents and two younger siblings.
Around once a week he will visit the company’s office in Reading.
He said his favourite part of the job is the relaxed culture.
“I organise my day how I please. I get to choose if I want to do some learning in the morning. And if I want to get a coffee, I can – as long as I get the work done,” Carlos added.
The company also organises social events for employees so he can meet and talk to people in other teams who are a similar age.
Once he passes the apprenticeship, there is the option to take it further and turn it into a degree qualification.
Out of all his friends he is the only one doing an apprenticeship, most of the others are studying at university.
But Carlos said: “They are happy, because I’m always happy to pay for their drinks.”
How to become an apprentice and earn while you learn
Around 30,000 apprenticeships are on offer across the country at any one time, for more than 1,500 different roles.
Apprenticeships and the industries in which they were traditionally offered have changed enormously.
Almost a third of trainees now study a Higher Apprenticeship, which is equivalent to a university degree.
And they are suitable for all ages, from 16 to 70. In the past decade, more than five million people have studied for the courses, in which trainees get qualifications while being paid a wage.
Virgin Media O2 said it's looking to take on around 350 apprentices this year across the UK in a huge range of business areas, providing paid training opportunities along with guaranteed roles and competitive pay at completion.
The firm said many people think apprenticeships are just for young people but the roles can suit all ages.
If you are looking to change or start a new career, an apprenticeship could be one of the best ways in.
Look at the companies in the field you are looking to work and enquire what schemes are available.
Most big companies will advertise roles on their own dedicated career sites.
The wage will usually depend on the area you want to work.
The average advertised salary for a DevOp apprenticeships, such as the one Carlos is doing, is £26,393, according to job site Adzuna.
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The career has huge room for earnings growth, with the average advertised role paying £83,405, according to Adzuna.
Here we have looked at the best paying apprentice jobs.
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