When my apprenticeship started, it was hard to get into the routine of updating my off the job log (OTJ), I just couldn’t wrap my head around what was supposed to go in it and I viewed it as one of the less important tasks of my course. From my experience, a lot of people seem to have the same mindset not realising that the off the job log is one of the most crucial parts to your learning.

If, just like I did, you are struggling to find a routine that fits you, try following these three simple steps that have completely changed my Apprentice life:

• Save the Date

What I found when it came to updating my OTJ log, is that I never had the time to complete it, it always just slipped under the radar because of other tasks I deemed more important, which just made the hours build up and the task an even longer one.

Now, I block out half an hour every Friday afternoon, so I know I have the time to get my hours for that week logged. Building it into your weekly routine, rather than just slotting it in anywhere increases the likelihood that you will actually complete it.

BONUS: Outlook will even remind you 15 minutes before too!

• Weekly not Monthly

Following on from that point, do not fill out your log monthly, it makes it such an enormous task filling in a months worth of work compared to a weeks worth, it also makes it easier to miss some activities too. Don’t create extra work for yourself!

• Update your Diary

Your diary is your friend. It takes two seconds to update your diary with what you are currently doing and it makes your off the job log so much more easier to fill in. If you do this, all you have to do at the end of the week is transfer everything from your diary into your log. How simple is that?

What counts as off the job learning?

In terms of what should go in your log… everything!

Have you

• Attended any seminars?
• Completed any training?
• Participated in a meeting different to your usual duties?
• Learned a new skill?

All these count towards your off the job hours, and if your still unsure, just ask your trainer, they are there to help!

The key to keeping up with your log is just getting into a routine. Hopefully, building these three things into your daily and weekly tasks will give you your start and keep you from falling behind.