The Apprentice: Do's and Don'ts

A new apprenticeship. Exciting, rewarding and sought-after. And, for many, the first real taste of pressure at work.

But what if that pressure was coming direct from the boss himself? What if the boss was none other than Sir Alan Sugar?

As this year’s hopefuls strut their way towards the boardroom, we thought we’d pool our knowledge of the selection process and offer our tips for evading the F-word and excelling in the boardroom. It’s our apprentice do’s and don’ts:

Effort

DO - Go the extra mile

Demonstrating your dedication and desire to impress is essential if you’re to stand any chance of success. With 15 other assertive entrepreneurs battling it out to get their voices heard, this is no mean feat. Showing that you’re willing to go above and beyond the call of duty, and put the hours in where it counts, can really make the difference. Remember: the best apprentices aren’t necessarily the loudest.

DON’T – Take it too far

Standing out from the crowd is good. Being shunned by the crowd is not. Putting yourself on the periphery by trying too hard to steal the limelight will only make you look desperate and delusional (two qualities not usually highlighted in a job description). Self-appointed nicknames definitely fall into this category (see: Baggs ‘the brand’), as do made-up words (Melissa from Series 6 was a particular fan: professionality anyone?).

And the less said about Pantsman the better. N.B. Underwear does not sell cornflakes (no matter how hard you try).

Teamwork

DO – Be a team player

Apprenticeships are not all about individuality. You will have to work as part of a team, and learning how to work together for the good of the project and finding your collective voice is just as important as finding your own.

DON’T – Mix business with pleasure

Staying away from your friends and family can be tough. But throw in a luxury penthouse, and a few flutes of the finest French fizz (sorry, English sparkling wine), and things can start to get a little too friendly. Kate and Phil, Katie and Paul, Stuart and himself. Office romance never really works out well for those involved, so try and keep relationships strictly professional. Well, at least while the cameras are rolling.

Criticism

DO – Keep your enemies close

Working within a team isn’t always a simple task, especially if it’s someone else’s turn to take the lead (take note Tre from Series 3 ‘You’re not my boss. You’re nothing to me’). However, it’s important that as much as possible, you try and put your differences aside for the greater cause.

DON’T – Give out what you're not prepared to receive

When tasks go wrong, it can be tempting to start pointing the finger at other people. However, if you’re unwilling to be held accountable for your own actions, be prepared for the mudslinging to come your way. Trying to point out other people’s mistakes may only serve to highlight your own, and boardroom bullying isn’t well received.

Expertise

DO – Know what you’re talking about

If you’re attempting to pitch the perfect product, make sure you can back up what you’re saying with something other than your own bravado. You will be rigorously questioned, both during the pitch process and afterwards, so make sure you know your numbers. If all else fails, remember three simple letters: VAT.

DON’T – Make it up

Whether it’s lying about your education (Lee McQueen), or advertising yourself as a good Jewish boy whilst failing to grasp the concept of Kosher meat (Michael Sophocles), history speaks for itself in this department. It’s not big and it’s not clever. Unless you get away with it. Obviously.

Stereotypes

DO – Avoid clichés

OK, Sir Alan probably expects a certain number of bloated business buzzwords to be banded about in the boardroom. And, by keeping them to a minimum, you might just get away with it. But trying too hard to pander to the board (‘I’m an East-end boy, Sir Alan. I know what you’ve been through’), or transforming your entire personality into an extended cliché is definitely not becoming. Particular highlights include, but are not limited to:

‘I could sell Ice to Eskimos’ (Melissa Cohen)

‘My first word wasn’t mummy. It was money’ (Shibby Robati)

‘Don’t tell me the sky’s the limit when there are footprints on the moon’ (Melody Houssaini)

DON’T – Do the reverse pterodactyl

Ever.

Final thoughts...

So, to the 16 lucky contestants going in front of Sir Alan, Karen and Nick, and to anyone else starting an apprenticeship in the coming week, we wish you all the best. If all else fails, just smile, relax and avoid everything you see in the video below…