5 Things to Know When Applying for An Apprenticeship
The whole process of applying for an apprenticeship can feel daunting - especially if you haven’t applied for a job before.
Here are 5 things to know about what employers are looking for when applying for an apprenticeship:
- You’re willing to learn
They want to bring in someone who will contribute to their business. Someone who will work hard to learn their way of working and add their own skills to the mix.
“We look for hardworking, considerate, driven and conscientious people who are willing to work hard to achieve their goals. In return we can offer an opportunity to change their lives and build a solid, long-term career.”
Chris Johnson, Director of Delta 4 Electrical
- Commitment
Show that you are really making the most of their time with them, proving that you are self-motivated and driven. Employers need someone who is reliable and that they can trust.
- Enthusiasm
As an apprentice, employers are looking for you to be excited about working for them and strive to learn more. They want people who will get stuck in.
“We want our apprentices to have a willingness to learn, enthusiasm, commitment and reliability. As a business we can offer them the chance to further themselves in a variety of career paths; advance their personal development; offer access to professional advice relating to their job role; and develop in different areas of engineering.”
Rob Oldham, Production Manager at Group HES
- Confidence
Employers need to be able to trust their apprentice to confidently and professionally communicate with clients and other team members.
“We want our apprentices to maintain our level of customer service and deliver the whole experience. Hair Systems is a community and we expect our apprentices to build relationships with our clients and pay attention to the little details that make a successful salon.”
Helen Fryer, Senior Stylist at Hair Systems
- Demonstrate genuine passion
Employers are looking for an apprentice with passion and flair for their chosen profession. They can teach you the specific skills but they can’t teach you to love what you do.
“GE looks for highly-motivated and highly-personable individuals who have demonstrated an ‘above and beyond’ attitude by being involved in extra-curricular STEM-based activities that demonstrate their genuine passion for technology. We look for individuals who enjoy working with others, have excellent communication skills and who genuinely want to work as part of large teams of engineers who inspire, motivate and support each other.”
Tracie Gaston, Engineering Apprenticeship Manager at GE Aviation
If you’d like further insight into what employers are looking for come to our Apprenticeship Open Evening on Wednesday 18 March. You can talk to the employers currently recruiting and even apply for vacancies on the night.