How to apply apprenticeship
Want to do an apprenticeship in the construction trades?
Popular trades apprentice programs like the Certificate III in Carpentry (CPC30220) require applications just like regular jobs.
Put your best foot forward by making your apprentice application as good as it can be.
Here’s how to apply for an apprenticeship so that you stand out and get the job.
1. Use plain english
No matter what type of job you are applying for, the advice is always the same.
Use plain English.
It doesn’t matter if you are applying to be the director of a Fortune 500 company or a labourer on a construction sites, plain English is the best for job applications.
Instead of trying to use big words and long complicated sentences, just write as if you are talking to a person.
Try to keep your sentences as short as possible and use the most basic and common words for things.
Imagine how much your application will stand out in the pile if it is easy to read and down-to-earth.
2. List your qualifications
Didn’t finish school and don’t have any certificates under your belt? No problem.
Employers don’t expect an apprentice to have any formal qualifications but that doesn’t mean you can’t still give evidence of what you’re capable of.
Be creative with things that could stand as qualifications.
Being the captain of a sports team for example is a way of showing your leadership skills.
An award you got during high school can count as a qualification too.
You can get a qualification by doing a pre-apprenticeship like the Certificate II in Construction Pathways (CPC20220).
This is literally a qualification specifically designed to make you a top pick for apprenticeships.
3. Highlight your experience
When you apply for an apprenticeship you can stand out from the other candidates by showing off your experience.
If you are young, employers don’t expect you to have a tonne of experience to show for yourself.
That leaves you with a couple of options.
You can either get the experience by doing some part-time labouring on a construction site or by doing the pre apprenticeship in building and construction mentioned above.
Or you can show past experience by connecting tasks you did at school, in volunteering positions, or in part-time jobs with the tasks you’ll be expected to do as an apprentice.
4. Open with an apprentice application letter
Make your apprentice application stand out by writing what’s called a cover letter.
As the name suggests, this is a letter that goes on the cover—in the front—of your apprentice application.
A cover letter doesn’t have to be long— in fact it’s better if it’s short and sweet.
Use the letter to summarise the gist of your application and show your enthusiasm for the role.
5. Follow instructions
One surefire way to have your apprentice application thrown in the bin is by doing it all wrong.
But by following the guidelines you can show that you did your research, took care in your application, and have what it takes to follow instructions on a job site during your apprenticeship.
Whether you’re applying to an online apprenticeship application or applying via email or in person, follow instructions to stand out from the crowd.
6. Show willingness to learn
If you’re wondering how to apply for apprentice jobs in 2023 then there’s one important thing to remember.
Your apprenticeship will be a learning experience as much as it will be a paid job, so show your willingness to learn.
You could do this by describing a time when you learnt hands-on skills from a more experienced person and successfully applied them.
Draw from work experience you did while at school or extracurricular activities such as sports, clubs or hobbies.
7. Be passionate
Stand out from other apprentice candidates by showing your passion for building trades.
Use your cover letter to show your employer that you will be committed to the full apprenticeship which is normally about 3 years and that you’d be likely to continue working for them even after you finish your certificate.
You could do this by explaining why you’re interested in construction or how gratifying your previous construction experiences have been.
Even if you weren’t the most enthusiastic student in the classroom you can still demonstrate your enthusiasm about learning trades work.
Thinking of doing a Diploma of Building and Construction (Building) (CPC50220)? Chat to a course advisor about your options on 1300 534 363 (LEGEND) or request a callback today.
