Hi, I’m Maria Amparan, and this is the beginning of something real.
I’m not your typical apprentice. I’m a student in my 40s, a foreign citizen, a mother, and someone who’s learning sales while studying, self-studying, and navigating life in a new language. My journey into sales wasn’t planned: it was born out of resilience, reinvention, and a deep desire to grow.
When I joined Royal Mail as a Sales Apprentice, I didn’t know what to expect. I was stepping into a world that felt intimidating, fast-paced, and full of jargon I hadn’t mastered yet. God, it was difficult to understand! But I showed up. Every day. And slowly, I started to find my rhythm.
The ISP website has been a big part of that journey. Its content explained things in a different way and helped me improve my performance. So far, I’ve passed my Sales Ethics exam, earned my Sales Expert Certificate, and received incredible support from this amazing Institution, including being interviewed during National Apprenticeship Week. I’m now proud to be part of the ISP Next Generation team.
In just a few months, I’ve completed key assignments, trained across different platforms and CRM systems, polished my communication and presentation skills, spoken to real customers, and started building a map of the customer journey: from first contact to onboarding and beyond. I’ve learned how to identify internal stakeholders, refer leads, and even help resolve issues when things don’t go as planned.
I’ve had moments of doubt, but also moments of pride, like when my manager encouraged me to take time to write this blog, recognising the unique perspective I bring.
This blog is my diary. It’s where I’ll share the ups and downs, the lessons, and the real talk about what it means to become a sales professional when the odds aren’t in your favour. I want this diary to be a space for honesty, growth, and connection: for anyone who’s ever felt like they didn’t belong but showed up anyway.
In the next post, I’ll talk about what it’s like to balance sales targets with study deadlines, and the wonderful experiences (both good and bad) that have made me stronger, more confident, and increased my motivation.
Thanks for reading. Let’s grow together.
Remember: Things in life do not come easily, but motivation, dedication, and resilience are amazing allies to anyone who wants to pursue anything in life.
Royal Mail Sales Executive/ Sales Apprentice