Rhian Jones is apprentice to Guardian contributor and freelance journalist Janet Murray. Prior to that she was an English and media student at Lancaster University and did a variety of jobs ranging from waitressing to selling insurance over the phone. She tweets as @journapprentice

What do you love most about doing what you do?

I love the people I get to meet and the fact I’m doing something different every day. I recently had a task of interviewing people whose lives had been changed for the better by their experience at college. They all had amazing stories to tell, I love being nosy so my job is ideal! I really enjoy doing something different all the time. Sometimes I won’t know what's happening the next morning until 11pm the evening before so it’s never boring.

Why do you think you are successful at what you do?

I think my determination, people skills and work ethic makes me successful. I’ve learnt never to be scared of asking for anything, whether that's asking an interviewee a cheeky question or asking for that golden opportunity. If you don’t ask, you don’t get. If you work hard there's no reason why you can’t aim high.

How do you keep motivated?

I make sure nothing overwhelms me. If I have a big list of things to do I write everything down and prioritise it. I break it all up and just think about doing one thing at a time. I have a long-term career goal and think how all the things I am doing now – no matter how small or mundane – are helping to get me to that goal.

What would you say to a young person who is feeling uninspired about life and work?

I would say take some time to really consider what you want to do. Not everyone has a career mapped out straight away and there is really no need to rush and start something that your heart isn’t in. Try new things and think outside the box. Don’t just consider work and lifestyles that are expected of you or seem like an inevitable option. You are your own person and there is a hugely exciting world out there, but nothing’s going to be handed to you before you put in any effort. Get out there, make yourself known and grab your slice of the action!

What do you think about The Big Academy and the work we’re trying to do, in helping all young people to get inspire and achieve success?

I think it’s brilliant that you're aiming to provide sound career advice for young people in schools. It’s really important to make school leavers aware of everything that is available to them and that traditional paths are not for everyone. With all the depressing unemployment figures it’s easy to get disheartened and resign yourself to being another number on the growing pile, so someone needs to give that generation hope and inspire them to take the next step in their lives. If The Big Academy can help those young people find out what's right for them then with the right advice success is achievable.