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How to find an apprenticeship (Updated for 2024)
One of the best ways of securing a job you know you'll love is to find an apprenticeship. You'll be working side-by-side with experienced staff to gain useful job skills, earning a wage, and studying towards a qualification.
Check out these 5 ways to find apprenticeships online:
1. Search for apprenticeships on student careers websites
Student careers websites like Success at School work closely with partner employers across a variety of industries. We consistently post new roles on our apprenticeships page, which is well worth checking out and bookmarking.
If you'd like notifications for when new opportunities are listed so you can be the first to apply, you can sign up here.
2. Search on local authority websites
All local councils advertise their latest job vacancies on their websites and that includes apprenticeship opportunities.
One of the main benefits of applying for an apprenticeship through a local council is that the process is designed in a way that all applicants have an equal chance of being invited to interview.
There are two levels of local council: district/city councils which deal with local affairs, and county councils which are responsible for the wider region. Both could offer apprenticeships, so make sure you know who they are - you can use this site to find out.
3. Set up an account on the National Apprenticeship Service website
The National Apprenticeship Service is run by the government and their website lets you search for apprenticeships in England. You can put in your postcode and search by region, or select the area of work you want to go into, to see what's on offer.
If you want, you can create an account and apply for apprenticeships directly through the website. It's a really useful system as it brings everything together in one place, but it's a bit tricky to use sometimes so make sure you play around with the setting so you don't miss out on what you're looking for.
4. Take the initiative
The next best thing to applying for advertised apprenticeships is to send your CV, with a cover letter, to a company that you’d like to work for in the hope that they may have a position available. Often, smaller companies don’t advertise their apprenticeships and rely on word of mouth referrals from friends, families and co-workers.
If your CV lands on someone’s desk at the right time, you could be in luck. Alternatively, a company may want to keep your CV on record for future opportunities, should any apprenticeships open up further down the line.
Needless to say, your CV should contain all your contact information and you should follow up your application by email if you don’t hear back within two weeks.
To find relevant employers, search Google for your local area plus the field you're interested in, eg "Engineering companies in Stoke-on-Trent". Try to find a recruitment or HR contact on the companies' sites. If you can't, give them a ring and ask for the name and direct email address of the most appropriate contact - you might just get lucky!
5. Talk to your school's careers advisor
If you’re still studying at secondary school, then speaking with your careers advisor is a smart move. Careers advisers work closely with local companies and are often able to recommend students directly for positions.
They might also be able to give you the inside scoop on companies who are actively seeking apprentices in your chosen industry and in any case, they should be able to provide you with a list of helpful resources to help you feel more informed about the process.
And finally, if you prefer your careers advice in animated form, you can check out this useful video...
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