Choosing The Right Apprenticeship For You

If you read our Myths and Facts surrounding apprenticeships, you'll understand the benefits on earning while you're learning, and if you decide that you want to start an apprenticeship, we have put together some tips and ideas to help you choose the right Apprenticeship for you.

Once you start searching for Apprenticeship jobs, you might feel there are so many to choose from; how do you know where to start?

There are several things to consider when choosing an apprenticeship that's right for you. First of all, you'll need to make sure the training provided is aimed at the right level to equip you with the skills and experience you'll need to develop your chosen career.

Selecting the right qualification level

There are different levels of apprenticeship to choose from, depending on your academic achievements:

Intermediate: For if you're just starting, or have less than 5 GCSEs at grades A*-C (grades 9-4).
Advanced apprenticeships: If you've already got 5 GCSEs at grades A*-C (grades 9-4)
Higher apprenticeships: Equivalent to a foundation degree, if you already have two or more A-levels.
Degree apprenticeships: These are equivalent to a full bachelor's degree (level 6) or master's degree (level 7) – you'll be as qualified as a university graduate without the debt!

Think about your interests

If you're a 'people' person and have excellent communication skills, a Customer Service Apprenticeship could be perfect for you. If you're passionate about helping others, you might want to work in Health Care or Teaching.

Perhaps you interact on social media or enjoy exploring new ways to connect with others then a Digital Marketing Apprenticeship might be for you. If you have a passion for technology, an IT Apprenticeship with options to specialise in Software Development, Cyber Security or Data Analytics, are just a few ways start your career.

You can see all our Apprenticeship courses on our website.

If you're not quite sure what to choose, there are lots of online profiling tools that can help you think about your skills and then research you can the types of apprenticeship opportunities available in various sectors.

Then think long term

Where do you want to be in 3-5 years and will the apprenticeship course help you gain the skills, knowledge and experience you'll need to get there?

The sky is the limit

Whether you want to develop one particular role and become an expert in that profession or wish to gain transferable skills that can be used across a range of sectors, these are all things to think about when choosing the direction of your apprenticeship.

Finding an employer

The next step is to think about the type of employer you want to work for and your preferred location. Do you want to work in an SME or startup or a large international company? Both have advantages, a small company may be more local to you, making travel times less, you may work in small teams, and your role may cross over into various areas of the business. If working for a larger company, this might mean focussing on one task, but you might travel more and access larger networking groups.

Taking the first steps

Once you have a firm idea about the type of apprenticeship you'd like to pursue, it's time to think about the bigger picture. Will the apprenticeship you've chosen ultimately help you meet your career goals? How and what do I need to do to apply? How do you want to undertake your course? Do you want to attend a college one day a week, or do you want bespoke, flexible 1 to 1 learning through a training provider.

We have a series of helpful tips on our website where you can also see our current vacancies, and you can also search the National Careers Service and Institute of Apprentices.

For more help on becoming an apprentice – feel free to email our recruitment team or sign up here to receive news and updates.

20 Jul 2021