Apprenticeships in England are open to anyone aged 16 up who is outside full-time education. But with so many opportunities on offer, it can be hard to know where to start.
The government’s Find an Apprenticeship service has thousands of opportunities in England on its website. Applicants need to create an account to apply for apprenticeships, after which they will receive email and text alerts about what’s available and be able to track their applications.
Candidates can search by job role, occupation type, apprenticeship level and location. They don’t need an account to search. Once they set up an account, they can store the application, so if it wasn’t successful they can work on it for another vacancy.
The service offers advice through a document called How to write a winning apprenticeship application, which gives a step-by-step guide to the process.
Apprenticeship hopefuls should listen out for recommendations from friends and family. They should also attend school careers fairs. Some colleges and schools advertise apprenticeships, as do employment agencies. It may be worth approaching a company that interests you even if it hasn’t advertised. The important point is to research widely.
In Scotland, school students can begin an apprenticeship foundation course or take a modern apprenticeship when they leave. There are also graduate-level apprenticeships up to a master’s degree level on offer. The website apprenticeships.scot hosts opportunities that can be searched by job category and location.
In Wales, applicants can go to the Careers Wales website to search for apprenticeships. In Northern Ireland, they can go to the NIdirect.gov.uk website for advice.
Time to apply yourself
You can boost your chances of getting the apprenticeship of your choice by taking time to research the role and writing a strong, personalised application.
Find out as much as possible about the apprenticeship, the company and the industry it operates in. You need to develop a clear idea about your desired career path and where the apprenticeship will take you.
A mistake that young people often make is failing to personalise their applications and CVs. You need to avoid sending out generic applications, but should tailor each one to highlight how your relevant experience and skills are suitable for that particular role.
Amanda White, head of specialist markets at recruiters Manpower, says young people often feel they have little relevant experience, but advises parents: “You need to start talking to them and extracting things they may have done in the past – for instance, whether they were part of a football team and have that team ethic. Get them to think of when they have had to overcome difficulties, influence people’s opinions, or get people on side.
“Young people have a lot more experience than they might think, it is a question of sitting down with somebody – whether that is a family member or a friend, a school teacher or careers adviser – and extracting some of these points.”
Being positive and pro-active, investing time in each application and demonstrating knowledge about the role, the company and the industry is essential if you want to secure an interview. Looking the part with a smart appearance is the next step, says White. Displaying confidence is important, too, for instance by looking people in the eye when shaking hands.
John Endersby, employment and skills director at Futures in Nottingham, says: “They need to make sure they are able to sell themselves. If they have done that and have managed to get the interview, then they have to be well prepared, which means understanding what the employers expect from them. It is all about presenting yourself in the best possible light.”
Above all they need to remember the old advice to job seekers: if you fail to prepare, you should prepare to fail.
