Marcin’s Apprenticeship Story

Marcin Tumidajski is Assistant Librarian in the academic support team at Paul Hamlyn Library University of West London, Ealing and completed his apprenticeship at the end of 2023.

Marcin moved to the UK in 2013, but despite trying different roles, he had no luck in finding a job that gave a sense of professional and intellectual fulfilment. In search of this ideal, Marcin took an assessment on the government website to help him identify the path to take, and the result was clear: information science.

“Information science was new to me, and it first conveyed an image of computer science for me.

“Only after some research, did I find out that it has a lot more to do with libraries. I have always been passionate about books, and this realisation cemented my vision of a library as an ideal place for me to work.

“I found out about the Library, Information and Archive Services Assistant apprenticeship and Westminster Adult Educational Services as its provider. By stroke of luck, an ad for the position at University of West London appeared just then.”

Books have always been a part of Marcin’s life and the apprenticeship equipped him with the skills and knowledge needed to get a head start in his new career and give him a sense of professional fulfilment.

“Thanks to the broad scope of topics and skills covered over the course of the apprenticeship, I gained a new perspective that led to a deeper understanding of the role of a professional librarian.

“I developed a deeper understanding of the institution’s workings, by shadowing across the teams within my library, while gathering evidence for my portfolio,

The apprenticeship helped Marcin discover a new interest in a customer-facing role and helping members of the public, and he found a new passion for work.

“In previous jobs, I could barely pretend to be interested in advising customers, but I learned that when the enquiry concerns a matter I am passionate about, that passion translates into my way of dealing with them.

“On top of career development, the apprenticeship offered new perspectives on professional fulfilment, and this has had an immense positive impact on my well-being and, in turn, even my personal life.

“I felt stuck in my previous jobs, which resulted in a growing sense of dissatisfaction, but, since the start of my apprenticeship, that feeling has been replaced with a sense of pride and accomplishment.”

CILIP Pathways provides the final assessment to apprentices before they graduate from the programme and find work as qualified librarians.

“The experience of the assessment itself has been twofold. On one hand my assessor, was kind and reassuring, helping me to cope with the inevitable anxiety, and on the other hand, as with every such occasion, at least for me, the nervousness was unavoidable.”

Thanks to the series of reciprocal visits, Marcin felt privileged to experience institutions within the heritage sector such as the Imperial War Museum or the National Gallery from behind the scenes.

“Meeting fascinating people and seeing amazing places. I have formed friendships with fellow apprentices from my group, finding out that despite age differences, we were drawn to this commitment by similar passion.

“Libraries are the environment where I flourish. I feel so privileged to have this opportunity.

“The lack of professional fulfilment, I felt since coming to the UK, is now a thing of the past.

At the end of the apprenticeship Marcin gained a lot more than a qualification, he was offered a permanent position, and is now looking to the next steps in his career.

“During the final stages of my apprenticeship, I was able to secure a permanent position in the library. I am proud to be an Assistant Librarian and thinking about becoming a Subject Librarian.

“I am focussing on my work and family at the moment, but as a CILIP member, I am always thinking about professional development and am definitely considering doing Certification in the future.”

CILIP Pathways

CILIP Pathways provides assessment services for apprenticeships and provides end point assessment services for Level 3 Library, Information and Archives Services Assistant apprenticeship Standard the Level 7 Archivist and Records Manager apprenticeship standard.

Learn more