How to Find a Local Apprenticeship

There are many different avenues you can take after leaving school. One popular choice is to take apprenticeship or traineeship positions. Apprenticeships allow you to learn skills while also earning money. This way, you can cover two grounds at once and reach the other end with a secure path to success. If you need help finding an apprenticeship, we have created a guide to help you discover a local apprenticeship that is right for you.

Australian Apprenticeship Support Network (AASN)

The Australian Apprenticeship Support Network (AASN) is a great starting point for all apprenticeship questions and queries. The AASN will help guide you in all aspects of your apprenticeship search, from providing personalised advice to assisting with payment processing. They can also help you find the right career path if apprenticeships are not ideally suited to you.

Some organisations hire apprentices or trainees and then put them with a specific 'host employer'; these organisations are called Group Training Organisations (GTOs). GTOs can provide on-the-job training, offering the chance to learn new skills while supporting their apprentices. GTOs cover a range of industries, with many host employers looking for new staff and apprentices to join their teams. Utilising the AASN is the first step you should take if you are looking for an apprenticeship or traineeship.

Reach Out to Employers

Another thing you can do is speak to employers from companies or businesses you are interested in. Large corporations are often looking for a new apprentice, and reaching out makes you look confident and interested. Also, if you are interested in a particular sector or field, there might be several career opportunities within that field you didn't know about beforehand.

If you decide to reach out to employers personally you have an interest in, it is crucial to do some research on them before you take the leap.

Ensure these organisations hire apprentices and trainees to avoid wasting your time.

Find out about the level of training they provide, as some organisations will not give you the guidance, help, or support you need.

Consider the career pathways that could be gained from this organisation to ensure you can end your apprenticeship with a stable and secure job.

Attend a Job/Apprenticeship Fair

Career fairs have two types of people present - people looking for work and people looking to hire. A job fair is one of the best places to go if you need more clarification about the career pathway you hope to take. You can speak to various people and find information about different roles and traineeship opportunities. The goal of visiting a job fair is to learn more about different career pathways, so speaking to many people is the best way to approach this.

On the other hand, if you know exactly what you are looking for at a job fair, you need to make sure you go prepared. Dress smart, bring copies of your resume, and be ready to ask questions. After speaking to a range of people, you might learn something new about the apprenticeship or traineeship pathway you had in mind. It will also be beneficial to go into these fairs with an open mind and perspective. An employer will undoubtedly favour someone willing to learn over someone who is not.

Utilise Social Media

If you didn't already know, social media is a great way to find jobs, apprenticeships or traineeships. The key element of social media is the 'social' aspect, and while it may not be the first place you think of, you can definitely find opportunities on some social platforms. Employers can turn to social media to share opportunities and vacancies with job seekers from all over the world, or in this case - the internet.There are even social platforms dedicated to careers, such as LinkedIn. This platform can enable job alerts for specific work areas, but you can also browse the range of organisations looking to recruit new apprentices and trainees. You can join groups and connect with professionals in the industry that you are interested in to establish relationships with the right people.

Alongside LinkedIn, Facebook is a great platform to use if you are looking for career opportunities. However, if you use social media to help with your search, you must have a professional and clean profile. Similarly to an interview, your social media profile will act as a first impression, so you want to eliminate anything that would deter an employer from choosing you.

Visit Your Local Job Centre

While it seems old-fashioned, you can still take a trip to your local job centre. Job centres are the best place for all job seekers, as the people here will help you find exactly what you are looking for. Many organisations and employers will contact local job centres to share their available positions with job seekers on the hunt. You will also be able to speak to very experienced individuals who regularly help people with their job search.

Hopefully, this guide should help you find the right apprenticeship or traineeship to get started on your career path with the best skills available. It is important to avoid getting disheartened - there is a high likelihood that you will face some rejection before you find the perfect opportunity. However, a strong future requires commitment and resilience, so don't give up.