Apprenticeships are a great way to kickstart your career in your chosen industry. Finding the right apprenticeship placement can take a little time and effort, especially if you’re new to your job search, but the results are worth it!
Undertaking an apprenticeship will help you build valuable industry expertise and transferrable skills which will set you up for a successful career. In this blog we’ll share some of our top tips on finding the right apprenticeship for you.
Types of Apprenticeships
There’s a wide variety of apprenticeship opportunities out there, with something to suit almost everyone – no matter what your interests and career goals are.
With almost 650 apprenticeship courses available, you can do an apprenticeship in almost any job role you can think of. From construction to business administration, digital marketing to data analysis, apprenticeship programmes cover all sectors, including software development, floristry, farming, IT, law and accounting.
There are different levels of apprenticeship programme to suit different stages in your career. If you’re just starting out in an industry, a Level 3 programme is ideal.
If you’ve already got some experience but are looking for a qualification to help advance your career, a Level 4 apprenticeship could be a great fit for you. For business leaders and senior specialists, Level 5, 6 and 7 apprenticeships offer certifications that are equivalent to qualifications at degree-level and above.
The Institute for Apprenticeships have a search tool where you can browse a full list of approved apprenticeship programmes to get an idea of what’s out there.
Where to Find an Apprenticeship:
Once you’ve decided on the type of apprenticeship you want to do, you will need to find an employer that you can complete your training with.
There are a few different ways you can approach this:
- Search for apprenticeship job opportunities near you
- Research apprenticeship schemes with a company you’d like to work for
- Go through an Apprenticeship Training provider who can connect you with local employers
It’s likely that you’ll use all three methods to find the perfect placement.
Apprenticeship Job Search Tools
There are lots of different websites and job boards you can use to find the right apprenticeship opportunity. In many ways, looking for an apprenticeship is similar to searching for any other job vacancy.
Creating an account with the National Apprenticeship Service is a great starting point. This website was set up by the government to help people find apprenticeship opportunities and search for vacancies or training providers in their region. Here, you can filter your search by specific programme or location.
Training providers and employers also advertise their apprenticeship vacancies on job boards such as Indeed, Total Jobs, Not Going to Uni, and Get My First Job.
Some vacancies will be advertised on different services, so it’s worth checking them all to make sure you’re getting a full picture of the opportunities available near you.
Finding an Apprenticeship with a Training Provider
Many training providers offer a recruitment service to help connect apprenticeship candidates with employers. This can be a really effective way to find an apprenticeship, as you’ll often get personal support as you progress through the application and interview stage.
Often, training providers will list their apprenticeship opportunities on their website, along with details of the programmes they offer. Every provider is different: some deliver their training in the classroom, while others – like Baltic Apprenticeships – deliver interactive training online.
Some specialise in particular sectors. For example, at Baltic, we’re experts in the digital and tech sector. Our apprenticeships cover the exciting worlds of data analysis, digital marketing, IT, and software development. A specialist provider will often have detailed industry knowledge and have some great links with cutting edge employers in your field of interest.
When choosing an apprenticeship training provider, there are a few questions that can be helpful to find the right fit:
- What apprenticeships do they offer?
- How do they deliver their training?
- How do they work with candidates to find the right match?
- How do they support their apprentices once they’re enrolled?
- Do they have a track record of success with your programme?
- What kind of reviews do they get from apprentices and employers?
- How many of their apprentices go on to further training and full-time employment?
Don’t be afraid to ask questions at the recruitment stage – after all, you’re looking for an opportunity that could change your life!
Read more: How to Find the Right Apprenticeship Training Provider
Apprenticeships with Specific Companies
If you’re lucky enough to know which company you want to work for, you can start your apprenticeship search on their website. Take a look around their careers pages and see if they offer any apprenticeship programmes. Some larger companies take on apprentices in groups throughout the year, so there may be particular deadlines to keep in mind.
If you can’t see any information on a company website, you could try using search engines to see which training providers they work with. If you don’t have any luck with that strategy, you could always send them a polite message along with your CV, and ask them if they have a current apprenticeship scheme, or whether they’d consider hiring apprentices in the future.
If you take this approach, be specific about why you’d like to work with the company, which team you see yourself adding value to, and what training programme you were hoping to study. This way, you have a higher chance of your message reaching the right person.
Read More: How to Write an Apprenticeship CV
When to Look for an Apprenticeship
Unlike university applications, there is no fixed time of year to start an apprenticeship. This means that different employers will take on apprentices at different times in the year, and opportunities can come along at any time.
At Baltic, our apprenticeship vacancies work in the same way as any other job application, with successful candidates starting their programme as soon as possible after receiving an offer.
If you are looking to begin an apprenticeship after leaving school and completing your GCSEs or A-Levels, we would advise you to begin applying for vacancies with Baltic Apprenticeships as you are finishing your exams. We’ll you help you through the application process and will put you forward for vacancies when you are free to begin an apprenticeship full-time.
Find Out More:
Completing an apprenticeship provides you with an excellent opportunity to build experience alongside a qualification and get started in your chosen industry. If an apprenticeship sounds like the right option for you to kickstart your career, check out our latest vacancies, or browse our apprenticeship programmes to find out more.