How To Get An Apprenticeship: Advice From Apprentices
In high school, teenagers have to choose their career path before entering year 11 and 12. For young 16-year-olds, this is a major decision to make. Most choose the most common path of 'VCE' but a minority choose what they call 'VCAL'.
'VCAL' is the pathway for those wanting to pursue a trade. These may range from hairdressing to plumbing. A major stress for 'VCAL' students is finding an apprenticeship. My sister recently decided to move to 'VCAL' as she would like to be a carpenter (that's right, girl power!) Due to this, I have recently discovered how hard it is to get an apprenticeship. So I turned to some of my friends who have/are doing an apprenticeship to get their advice on finding one!
Here is their advice for anyone looking to do an apprenticeship:
1: Know What Industry You Want to Work In.
This includes what specific trade you would like to do, as well as if you want to work in a commercial or domestic environment. These are two very different things. With both, you learn somewhat of the same skills but on very different scales. Look into your trade and find out the major differences in working domestically and commercially. This may also help you decide if the trade you want to do is really for you.
2: Look at All Options.
When sourcing an apprenticeship, start with who you know and who they know. Getting an apprenticeship with someone you know and trust can make your life easier and a bit more stress-free. If there is no one you know in the trade you would like to do, turn to 'SEEK' or 'Indeed'. You'd be surprised how many apprenticeships are advertised on those sites. Another option is 'Group Training Companies'. The advice given is that they are great in terms of getting you an apprenticeship but the quality might not be the best. This being said, it could be a different experience for you. Lastly, Union apprenticeships have their advantages, they have better pay rates most times and are more consistent and secure.
3: Resume and Confidence.
There are hundreds of people fighting for an apprenticeship, so make sure you sell yourself. When stepping into an apprenticeship you will most likely have very little experience in the trade. So with your resume, you need to highlight your ability to work hard and be a fast learner. The next step (when you land that interview because your resume was amazing) is to have confidence and sell yourself in the interview. The best advice my apprenticeship friend gave was to practice with your peers beforehand. Make sure you sell yourself and show them you're willing and able to learn.
This is just a bit of advice given from people who have gone through the process themselves. This guidance not only works for students, but anyone wanting to do an apprenticeship. I hope this article has helped some people with the process of finding an apprenticeship.
