Published to Career Information on Oct 12, 2018
STEP ONE: Choose Your Career Path
Before applying for an apprenticeship, understanding your own interests will assist in identifying the industry and career you want to pursue. A career in carpentry is vastly different from a career in diesel fitting, so it’s important that you really sit down and think about where your interests lie and research job descriptions of your chosen occupation.
Once you’ve decided on the path you’d like to pursue, make sure you have an updated and professional-looking resume, and a cover letter outlining why you’re interested in pursuing your chosen career and any relevant work experience or qualifications.
STEP TWO: Job Hunting
In order to begin your Certificate III in Carpentry or Engineering, you must first find an employer. Finding someone willing to take you on as an apprentice can be a daunting experience, but there are many employers out there who realise that in order to have qualified tradespeople in the industry they must also contribute to training them. One important thing to remember when searching for an employer is to never give up!
There are several different ways you can find an employer:
1. Online Job Search Engines
Online job search engines are a fantastic and simple way for employers and apprentices to connect. Job search engines are often only a two-step process in which you simply click “APPLY” and submit your resume and cover letter.
Search engines specific to apprentices are:
Other Job Search Sites:
One of the downsides of applying for apprenticeships online is that there are plenty of others applying for the same jobs, and competition can be tough. Don’t let this deter you though! With determination and a professional cover letter, you will find someone willing to take you on.
2. Hidden Job Market
The ‘hidden’ job market refers to the multitude of job vacancies that are not advertised online or in local newspapers.
Only searching for jobs through online job search sites could severely limit your chances of finding successful employment.
The best way to tap into this ‘hidden’ job market is to do some research on local businesses that you are interested in completing your apprenticeship with. You can find these businesses through Yellow Pages or Google. Once you have identified the companies that are relevant to the industry and occupation you’d like to pursue, you may call or email potential employers to ask if they are currently recruiting apprentices, or if you could send through your resume for any future positions.
Another way to discover potential apprenticeships is by approaching friends, family or acquaintances you know work in the industry, and asking if they know of any businesses who may be seeking an apprentice.
3. Group Training Organisations
Group Training Organisations (GTOs) provide apprentices and trainees employment opportunities with ‘host’ employers on a full-time basis. Apprentices might stay with one host for the entirety of their course or may be rotated to several different hosts to gain experience in separate businesses. GTOs are responsible for selecting and recruiting apprentices and trainees, undertaking employer responsibilities (wages, allowances, superannuation, and other employment benefits), and managing the quality and continuity of training both on and off the job.
STEP THREE: Sign Up
So, you’ve found an employer willing to take you on as their apprentice? Congratulations! The work isn’t over just yet though.
First of all, your new employer will need to contact an Australian Apprentice Support Network (AASN) provider to sign up to a formal training contract. The training contract will ensure that both you and your employer are aware of the responsibilities involved with the apprenticeship. It also protects both you and your employer’s interests.
After you have both agreed and signed the contract, it’s time to choose a Registered Training Organisation (RTO) to complete your Certificate III. Your chosen training provider will develop a training plan for you to follow in order to complete your chosen qualification.
Some RTOs will require block training, which means you will have to take time off work to attend face-to-face classes. Other RTOs, such as Blue Dog Training, have self-paced courses, which you can complete during down time or on rainy days.
To learn more about the apprenticeship process, or to appoint Blue Dog Training as your training provider, call us today on (07) 3166 3900.
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