Apprenticeship Top
Apprentices learn on the job, building up skills and knowledge, achieving qualifications and earning money all at the same time.
As an employee, you will work alongside experienced staff to gain job-specific skills. Off-the-job, usually on a day release basis,
you will spend time with a learning provider, gaining key skills such as team-working, problem-solving, communication and using new
technology.
Apprenticeships are increasingly popular and demand for places is high. The success of any apprenticeship is dependent on the
hard work and dedication of all those taking part. As an apprentice, you’ll be given the very best training for a formal qualification
by both learning providers and employers. In return, you’ll be expected to use your training and studies to do the best job possible.
There are over 180 different Apprenticeships on offer nationally, from administration to child care, plumbing to IT, retail to
manufacturing to name but a few, covering the majority of sectors. See below;
- Agriculture, Horticulture and Animal Care
- Arts, Media and Publishing
- Business, Administration and Law
- Construction, Planning and the Built Environment
- Education and Training
- Engineering and Manufacturing Technologies
- Health, Public Services and Care
- Information and Communication Technology
- Leisure, Travel and Tourism
- Retail and Commercial Enterprise
Advanced Apprenticeship are also available, this is the next stage you could progress onto after an Apprenticeship course.
It offers you more extensive training, qualifications up to NVQ 3 and usually a higher rate of pay. (It's also possible to go straight
on to an Advanced Apprenticeship from school or college if you have the right grades.)
Step by Step Guide to writing a CV Top
Writing a CV
First impressions count and as your CV will be your introduction to the employer, it's vital you get it right.
A good CV will ensure you get noticed and ultimately secure you an interview.
There are no definitive rules to writing a good CV, but there are some basic guidelines you can follow to ensure your CV
is presented professionally. For tips and guidance on how to write your CV follow our step by step guide.
CV Heading
Ensure you always start your CV with the title Curriculum Vitae, it may sound obvious but it is important when formalising your CV.
Follow with your personal details which should contain your full name and title, your postal address and full contact details
including your e-mail address, home & mobile number. Also state whether you have a full, clean driving licence.
Personal Profile
This is an optional section and can be used to indicate your career aspirations for your chosen industry.
Be aware however that a poor personal profile can do more harm than good, so don’t try to be clever.
Use your personal profile to honestly reflect your skills, experience, attitude and behaviour.
Career History
Start with the most recent or current employer, detailing the month/year you started and finished,
together with the Company name, position held and location. If you had a number of different roles within the same company.
Company, state them below in order to progression.
Follow with clear and concise bullet points outlining responsibilities and key achievements ensuring the detail is
factual and to the point. When choosing your responsibilities and key achievements, be selective and only put the most relevant/important details on as if it is too extensive you will be at risk of losing the potential employers interest.
Complete this process throughout your career history finishing with your first employer.
Education & Qualifications
List schools, universities and dates including all qualifications & grades (GCSEs or O-Levels, A-Levels, Degrees).
Also provide details of any professional qualifications achieved.
References
Provide details for two references, ideally one of these should be your current or most recent employer.
If you have not currently been in employment an academic (teacher/tutor) will be suffice.
They will not be contacted without your permission being requested. However it demonstrates that you are
comfortable with the referees being contacted at the appropriate time.
Conclusion
As important as what’s written in your CV is ensuring the presentation (font, layout etc) is consistent and visually appealing.
Correct spelling and grammar is essential. Ensure you check, double check and have it proof read if necessary.
When taking your CV to an interview it is advisable to put it in a folder (something to protect it) so it does not become creased,
folded, stained etc.
Interview Tips Top
Few people look forward to job interviews however it’s a great opportunity to sell yourself and with some
prior preparation you should be ready and able to overcome any nervousness. It's always worth remembering that
the interviewer wants someone to succeed and it could be you.
Before the Interview
Research the job, the company, the products or services. It is vital as the employer will expect you to have looked
into the company and have a basic knowledge of what they are about. This will show you have a genuine interest in
the position within the company you are applying for and will put you at an immediate advantage to those who have
not done their homework.
Tip: Online research and the job description/advertisement are great to do this.
You will be asked about what you have done in the past,
therefore make sure you know your CV and are able to talk through all the points on it.
Prepare to be asked about your strengths, weaknesses and achievements.
Think of some examples you can use when asked these questions. With the negative questions such as weaknesses try to turn this
into a positive by showing the interviewer that you are aware of a weakness and are willing to turn this into a strength.
You may be asked if you have any question at the end of the interview, it is a good idea to plan some questions beforehand
so you are not caught off guard if this happens making the interview flow smoothly, this will show a keen interest in finding
out more about the employer and the company. Steer away from questions that require a yes/no answer and money/incentive questions i.e.
holidays, sick pay etc. Try to ask questions around: the company & position, training/progression, the interviewers experience within the
company etc.
Presentation
Presenting yourself well is essential as first impressions last. Here are some points to consider:
- Arrive around ten minutes early.
- Dress appropriately for the interview, i.e. smart, well presented.
- Be aware of strong odours i.e. smoke, strong perfumes etc as this can be very off putting.
During the Interview
Throughout the interview maintain good eye contact (without staring) with the interviewer.
When sitting down, look confident and keep the body language in check. Avoid crossing arms and do not hide hands under a desk.
Alternatively, do not be too laid back and horizontal. Instead, look self assured and open.
Be sincere and interested. Enthusiasm is a positive, so is humour but do not over-do it as over-playing your keenness can appear desperate or false.
Listen carefully to the questions and ask for clarification if you need to get a better understanding.
Do not be afraid of taking a brief pause before answering a question this will help you compose yourself to give the best possible answer.
When answering questions, back them up with an example. Give the situation, what you did and the outcome.
This will provide the interviewer with key evidence of your experiences.
Steer the talk to the most relevant areas of your experience/abilities/interest. Try not to waffle about past experiences, focus on key points to keep the interviewer interested.
Answer questions in a positive upbeat manner you only have a short period of time to sell yourself and negative answers can leave a lasting negative impression.
The interviewer will indicate the meeting is coming to an end by saying something like "Well, I think we've covered all the aspects of this role". This is often your cue to ask a couple of further questions (see preparation section). Do enquire about what the next stage is and when you will be likely to hear back.
As you leave, smile, good eye contact, a handshake, and thank them for their time.
Good luck with your interview. To be truly confident and perform at your best make sure your research the role and rehearse your answers. Remember, failure to prepare is preparing to fail.