So, you’ve started your marketing or market research apprenticeship and now keep hearing about “Off-the-Job” (OTJ) training. But what is it, and why should you care? Well, I’m going to explain it in under 400 words. Just stick with me and you’ll get it by the end of this article.
What is OTJ?
Simply put, OTJ is any training you do during working hours that isn’t part of your day-to-day job. You could close this page now, but, carry on reading.
OTJ is designed to help you develop the skills and knowledge you need to 1. pass your apprenticeship and 2. become professionally competent. Think of OTJ as your opportunity to learn new things or develop existing skills that’ll make you even better at your job. An important thing to remember though is that it’s got to be relevant to your apprenticeship. In our case, related to marketing or market research.
As an apprentice, you should be getting at least 6 hours a week as a full-time employee to work towards your OTJ. It’s commonly referred to as 20% OTJ relating to being 20% of your weekly hours.
Why is OTJ Important?
In my eyes, OTJ is arguably one of the most important elements of any apprenticeship. On the average 12-month-long apprenticeship you should get around 300+ hours of OTJ time to learn and develop within your role. That’s 300+ hours of time that you’ll be paid to learn, make your job easier, and ultimately equip yourself with the tools you need in the future.
OTJ gives you time to focus on learning, whether that’s digging into new marketing strategies or mastering data analysis tools. It’s also one of the things your apprenticeship coach will look at to make sure you’re getting a well-rounded experience. If you spend your OTJ time wisely you can acquire additional certifications, skills, and knowledge that’ll help you get a promotion or your next job.
OTJ is also taken into account during your gateway process. So make sure to keep on top of how much OTJ you should be logging. It gets very difficult to claw back if you fall too far behind.
How and When to Log OTJ?
You should really be logging OTJ every week as you should be getting a minimum of 6 hours per week to work towards it. I often advise learners to make a note of all the OTJ they’ve done in a week and log it all in one go on a Friday. However, this depends on what system your apprenticeship provider uses. All apprenticeship providers will have a system in place (a spreadsheet, paper log, or learner portal) where you can quickly update your hours. Logging regularly means you won’t have a panic-fueled rush trying to remember everything at the last minute.
What Counts as OTJ?
Not sure what activities count as OTJ? Here are a few ideas:
- Attending webinars or workshops on marketing tools and strategies.
- Completing e-learning courses on topics like SEO or social media trends.
- Participating in coaching sessions with your manager or a mentor.
- Doing research for a project that stretches your skills.
- Working on assignments or projects from your training provider.
- Reading articles, books, or newsletters.
- Etc, etc, etc, and the list goes on.
OTJ quick tip: Any time you spend learning or developing knowledge, skills, or behaviours toward your profession that is OTJ.
Here’s a quick little checklist for you:
- Did conduct the learning activity during working hours?
- Did you learn something new or develop as a professional in some way?
- Can you explain what it was you did and what you learned if asked?
If you answered yes to all of the above, it’s OTJ. Go and log it!
Remember, OTJ isn’t about doing more work; it’s about learning. Use it to grow, not just to tick boxes!
If you’re on one of the marketing apprenticeship standards, why not check out our OTJ random generator if you’re struggling for ideas?
Now, get learning – and logging!
Interested in seeing more of our guides, advice, and articles on marketing apprenticeships?
Then sign up for our monthly newsletter. We’ll send you all the information on our latest stuff and general updates as well. Sign up below!
