Applying for Apprenticeships: Step-by-Step

Step 1: Make your CV look good

Your resume should tell employers about what you’ve done. This includes jobs, qualifications, and projects.

Keep it short and sweet. Formatting is everything. Yes, you’ll only need one page. No, you don’t need to write about every place you worked at. Most Tradespeople do not have the attention span to properly sit down and read a densely-written resume. I know that I’ll get persecuted for saying that, but Tradespeople are very busy people.

Personally, I go onto Canva for free templates that are so easy to read. They have a resume builder, and you can download it as PDF (always export as a pdf).

Any document page builder can do this. You don’t need anything fancy. When in doubt, use bullet points and have good spacing; it makes it so much easier to read.

Step 2: Make your Cover Letter

A cover letter should explain to employers why you want to be in the trades, and why they should take a chance on hiring you. It should tie in your current transferable skills with how it will benefit your next job.

You can also use Canva for the same task, as they do a variety of cover letter templates. Keep it concise and short, same as above.

Step 3: Get your Resume & Cover Letter checked.

Grab a close mate, your sister, or anyone with a good pair of eyes to double check your resume. Watch out for:

• First Impression: What is their first thought when they read it? Does it sound professional?
• Relevance: Are my resume and cover letter relevant to my apprenticeship?
• Clarity: Can I quickly read it and understand the main point, or is there too much jargon?
• Errors: Re-read and correct any grammatical and spelling errors.

Step 4: Find companies in your area

Unlike office jobs, many Tradie jobs don’t advertise for jobs online. Walk-ins, directly emailing, calling and getting recommendations through friends are the way to go.

Things you should do:

• If you know other tradies, ask them if they know of anyone hiring. Companies are more willing to hire people who have been recommended to them.
• Otherwise, start by going to google maps and searching for something like, “electricans in my area”. You’ll get a range of companies that you can directly get in contact with.

Don’t be too reliant on job sites like Seek. Many companies don’t have a strong online presence, so don’t be afraid to contact them. Check their social media and websites.

Step 5: Walk in, call, and email companies

Many companies prefer the traditional way of hiring. They will prefer you if they can either talk to you in person, or if you were recommended to them by someone they know. Things to do:

• Ask your friends if they know of anyone hiring. Companies are more willing to hire people who have been recommended to them.
• Email your resume and cover letter directly to their business email.
• Give them a call, and ask if they are currently taking on apprentices.
• Directly walk into their office and hand in your information.
• Send them messages via social media – Instagram, Facebook etc.

Personally, I applied and got my first job through an Instagram DM. The company was advertising on their social media at the time. It was a small company with a simple website.

Step 6: Keep applying and follow up on the emails

Uncontroversial opinion, but I have one simple rule when it comes to finding jobs:

Treat job searching like dating on Tinder. Do not wait for a response.

Some things that you’ll need to do:

• Keep applying. You will not get a response for many of the emails you send. It’s a numbers game.
• Keep track of the jobs you apply for. Keep copies of the resume that you send in folders on your computer, or record them on an excel sheet.
• If you haven’t heard from them, send a follow up email.

You have to want this position. Being a Tradesperson means that you cannot be shy, and you have to work for what you want.

Reasons why you may not be getting call backs:

• Timing is everything: Many companies don’t hire between December and February. There are certain times of the year when people are commonly looking for apprentices.
• Your resume needs work: Try rewriting or reformatting your resume.
• Try different job hunting methods: You may need to do more calling to get different results.

Step 7: Interviews

Congrats! You’ve scored an interview. Interview prep is important, so make sure to:

• Do research on the company: What sort of work do they do, and are you fit for that kind of work.
• Make a list of questions to ask at your interview.
• Decide your wage: Check your budget and be prepared to discuss your hourly earning at the interview.

Check out my article, Apprenticeship Interviews: Five Questions to Ask

Step 8: Accepting Offers & Rejections

Decide if the offers suit your needs, and be sure to keep an eye out. Things to do:

• Watch out for emails: Sometimes they go to junk folders and spam.
• Respond to emails in a timely manner. Thank them for their time.

And Rejection? That’s okay too. Be sure to:

• Ask why you were rejected: Usually it’s timing, or a difference in skill level. You’ don’t want to be working if you’re not qualified to do the job yet.
• Ask them to keep you on file for when they need to rehire again.

You’ve made it to the end…

Finding an apprenticeship isn’t easy, so take the time to do it properly. Trust your gut and be sure that you’ll be a good fit for the job.

You don’t need the perfect resume, have a friend who can give you a job, or to have years of hands-on experience in the trades. You just need confidence and try different methods. Just remember, confidence and timing is everything.