This post is written by Aurora Geis, head career coach, to outline how DCI coaching works to integrate apprentices into their new jobs.

With the DCI apprenticeship program, career coaching is one of the key aspects to ensure long term success. Marketers who invest their time and resources in career coaching services are going to experience six key advantages to help them apply their skills and succeed in an ever-changing market:

• Gain long-term perspective

• Achieve goals
• Enhance performance
• Receive honest feedback
• Increase confidence
• Discover the root of problems

How do you become a PPC master when almost no colleges teach Google AdWords and when most entry level positions require 3 years experience? Through being self-directed and connecting to the larger community of professionals to build your skills. Here's the story of an English major who become a PPC master in 2 years by adopting an apprenticeship and growth mindset.

Cohort 1 kicked off on January 4 with 6 apprentices and 6 digital marketing jobs at companies in San Antonio. DCI identified these candidates as high-potential future marketing leaders and then matched them up with growth-oriented companies in San Antonio looking for new talent. After completing a week-long bootcamp to learn the basics of digital marketing, our apprentices launched into their jobs to put their knowledge into practice. They are now immersed in the regular rhythm of full-time work combined with coaching and intensive study during evenings and weekends.

“Unifying, Unbelievable, Intense, Tenacious, Exciting, Surprising” - that’s how each of our 6 apprentices describe their experience immersed in our weeklong digital marketing bootcamp. Last week (January 4-8, 2015) our apprenticeship program kicked off at Geekdom in San Antonio, TX. The week was packed full with digital marketing skill development, sessions from instructors and coaches and real-world marketing campaign creation.

All too often, people feel stuck after their initial digital marketing training. If you're looking for career acceleration, an apprenticeship can help you find clarity and direction. We're excited to kick off the first cohort of DCI apprentices next week and want to give you a preview of the first digital marketing bootcamp.