Why You Should Consider Doing An Apprenticeship

Whether you are fresh out of high school or considering a career change later in life, these days, there are more options than ever open to you when it comes to training. You could study for a college degree, do some volunteering, or even work abroad. Another pathway you might want to think about is doing an apprenticeship.

An apprenticeship involves studying for an official qualification while also being employed in the industry you’re training in. Depending on the level, sector, and employer, they usually last anywhere between one and six years. There are many different types of apprenticeships available in industries, such as accounting, construction, media, and IT, and there’s no upper age limit to be eligible. That means you’re almost certain to be able to find one that fits your interests, skills, and career goals. If that sounds good to you, read on to find out more about the many advantages of doing an apprenticeship.

You’ll be earning money as you learn

One factor that puts a lot of people off returning to education or training is the financial cost. With an apprenticeship, however, you don’t need to worry about money. Because you will be an official employee of the company you train with, you will be paid a wage in accordance with your level and industry. Not only that but you will also be entitled to benefits such as paid leave and sick pay. In addition, your tuition fees might be covered by your employer or the government – which means that, unlike a college degree, your qualification doesn’t have to cost you anything. Talk about a win-win situation!

You’ll get plenty of relevant experience

Many employers complain that when they hire graduates fresh out of school or college, those people often initially struggle with the job. That’s because, although they have lots of theoretical knowledge, they don’t have any practical experience. With an apprenticeship, on the other hand, you’ll be gaining hands-on experience right from your very first day. Lots of people find that this also makes it easier for them to study successfully because they can immediately put what they have learned into practice in a real-world environment. This is helpful no matter what industry you are interested in working in and means that you can hit the ground running once your apprenticeship is complete.

You’ll deepen your understanding of your chosen profession

When it comes to working in any field, there’s a lot more you need to know than what you are taught in the classroom. There are certain factors such as work culture, day-to-day tasks, office or on-site etiquette, and interpersonal communication that you can only gain an understanding of by actually doing the job in question. By undertaking an apprenticeship, you’ll be immersed in the work environment of your chosen profession right from day one. Not only will this help you to do the job better, it will also confirm at a very early stage whether or not you’ve picked the right path.

You’ll level up your skills

Doing an apprenticeship is a fantastic chance to improve your skills in your chosen industry. You will be in the perfect position to combine the academic knowledge you gain during your studies with the practical experience you gain on the job to truly bring your skills to the next level. Your capabilities and competencies will develop much more quickly than if you were only studying or only working, making an apprenticeship one of the most effective ways to become qualified in certain fields. Not only that, but you’ll also boost a wide range of transferable skills that will be useful in any industry, such as communication, teamwork, and time management.

You’ll get an official qualification

People don’t always realize that an apprenticeship is not just learning as you do the job – it gets you an officially recognized qualification too. The precise qualification you get and how you are examined will vary according to the level of your apprenticeship and the industry you’re employed in, but will always look great on your resume. Normally you will be assessed while working and have an End Point Assessment that could involve an interview, written tests, a presentation, practical work, or a project.

You’ll learn directly from the experts

When you do an apprenticeship, you have the advantage of learning from both academic experts and industry experts working in the field. You will be able to observe seasoned professionals as they work, with the chance to ask any questions you have as and when they arise. If you are lucky, you’ll be able to find someone in your workplace who can act as a mentor to you on a consistent, long-term basis. This is one of the best ways to learn and move up in your industry, so be sure to take advantage of the opportunity.

You’ll boost your job prospects

One of the great aspects of apprenticeships is that they often enable you to step directly into permanent employment at the company you’ve been training with as soon as you are qualified. Even if that’s not possible, the valuable blend of study and experience that you’ve gained will be very impressive on your resume and put you in high demand. You’ll likely also find that it helps you to perform better in job interviews and be more aware of the precise job role within your industry that you are most interested in having.

You’ll have lots of networking opportunities

These days networking is as important as ever, and doing an apprenticeship gives you plenty of chances to do just that. Every day you will be working directly with professionals in your field, which means you can showcase your talent and get to know people far more easily than when you’re stuck in the classroom. Make sure that you say yes to every opportunity offered to you, and do your best to make a good impression on everyone you meet. After all, you never know what bright possibilities a chance encounter could bring you in the future!