How to apply for an apprenticeship

Ready to gain real-world experience and earn while you learn? Our guide takes you through applying for an apprenticeship, from initial research to the final interview

How do I choose what apprenticeships to apply for?

Before applying for an apprenticeship, it's crucial to understand what employers in your chosen field expect and what each apprenticeship entails. Typically, apprenticeships involve:听

practical work experience under the guidance of a skilled professional听
classroom-based learning to complement hands-on training听
a structured programme that leads to a certification or qualification.听

Ensure that any apprenticeship you apply for aligns with your interests and career goals. Consider the following questions:

What subjects do you excel in?听
What are your passions?听
What work environment do you envision yourself in?

For more guidance, consider what is an apprenticeship?

What are the entry requirements for an apprenticeship?

Apprenticeships vary significantly across fields like healthcare, construction, IT, and sports.听听

Consider your preferred industry, but don't let a lack of experience deter you. For instance, you don't necessarily need office job experience to apply for an HR apprenticeship.听听

To apply for a degree apprenticeship, you'll usually need at least two A-levels and some relevant experience.听

To discover opportunities, you can search for vacancies at:听

Some organisations might not advertise their opportunities. Consider making speculative applications to companies you'd like to work for or networking with industry professionals to explore potential opportunities.听听

When should I apply for apprenticeships?

Apprenticeship application deadlines vary significantly. Always check the specific advertisement for the exact deadline, as this will differ depending on the programme and the provider.听

To increase your chances of securing a place, it's best to apply early.听

For higher apprenticeships, degree apprenticeships, and accountancy-related programmes, applications typically open around September and close between late October and early May.听

However, some employers may close applications as early as February or March, while others may accept applications until the summer.

How do I tailor my CV to an apprenticeship?

Strong CVs are the foundation of any apprenticeship application. They should be professional, clear, and concisely demonstrate your suitability for the position. Ensure your CV is easy to read and error-free.听

Use a simple font, divide sections clearly, and use bullet points for easy reading. Your CV will need to include:听

Profile: An opening paragraph showcasing your most relevant qualities, skills, and experience for the role you're applying for. Learn more about writing a personal statement for your CV.听
Education: Many apprenticeship applicants have limited work experience. If the apprenticeship you're applying for will be your first position outside of full-time education, highlight your academic achievements. Emphasise transferable skills developed through group work, coursework, and end-of-year exams, such as excellent organisation and time management.听听听听
Work experience: List all previous paid employment and any relevant non-paid experience, such as voluntary work or work placements, in reverse chronological order. Even if you think your experience isn't directly relevant, it can still highlight transferable skills. For instance, if you're applying for an engineering apprenticeship, past customer service experience demonstrates excellent communication and the ability to think on your feet - valuable qualities for any future engineer.听
Interests/hobbies: Only include interests and hobbies if they're relevant to the position or demonstrate a particularly impressive achievement. For example, if you're applying for a computer programming role and build websites in your spare time, it's worth mentioning.听听听听

Discover more tips on how to write a CV.

Should I write a cover letter for an apprenticeship application?

Your cover letter is a vital component of your apprenticeship application. It provides an opportunity to expand on the achievements and skills highlighted in your CV, showcasing why you are an ideal candidate for the apprenticeship. Remember to keep it concise and impactful, as employers may have many applications to review.

While it might be tempting to reuse cover letters, especially when applying for apprenticeships with similar requirements, it's crucial to invest time in researching each company and tailoring your application accordingly. This approach allows you to identify companies that align perfectly with your needs, strengths, and career aspirations, while demonstrating your genuine interest to potential employers.

Be realistic about how many applications you can research, write, and submit while maintaining a good quality of work.听

Explore how to craft the perfect cover letter or find inspiration by reviewing our example apprenticeship cover letter.听

How do I prepare for an apprenticeship interview?

Before submitting your apprenticeship application, research the company thoroughly. If available, read about the experiences of previous apprentices to get a better idea of what to expect. You could also follow them on platforms like LinkedIn or Instagram to get a feel for their brand and culture.听

Arrive at the interview well-prepared with questions to ask your interviewer and think about preparing some answers to questions you might be asked.听

Common apprenticeship interview questions include:听

Why are you interested in this apprenticeship?听
What are your career goals, and how does this apprenticeship align with them?听
What are your top three strengths, and how would you apply them to this apprenticeship?听
Describe a situation where you had to learn a new skill quickly. How did you approach it?听

Explore general interview questions employers may ask.听

Be prepared to discuss your strengths, areas for improvement, and career ambitions confidently. If you're feeling nervous, ask a friend, teacher, or parent to help you think of what to include.听

Employers looking to take on an apprentice will understand a lack of work experience. They'll be more interested in your other attributes, such as your punctuality, reliability, and digital expertise. See what skills do employers want? for more guidance.

It's also helpful to familiarise yourself with the types of interview tests and assessments commonly used in apprenticeship applications to ensure you're well-prepared. This may include psychometric tests, SHL tests, and work-related simulations. Practice questions and sample tests are often available online.

Finally, ensure your online presence reflects a professional image. Review your social media profiles and remove any content that could be considered inappropriate or unprofessional.听

Can I apply for university and for apprenticeships?

Yes, you can apply for both apprenticeships and university places. This approach keeps your options open, allowing you to choose the path that best aligns with your goals, interests, and circumstances after receiving offers.听

Applying for both can be time-consuming, so make sure you have enough time and resources to dedicate to both applications.听

What should I do if I get rejected from an apprenticeship?

Rejection is a common part of the search - don't let it discourage you. Review your rejected applications to identify areas for improvement. This will help you learn from your experiences and strengthen future applications.听

Don鈥檛 be deterred - continue applying for apprenticeships and other job opportunities. Persistence is key to finding the right fit.听

Get more鈥�interview tips.听

Find out more

Discover whether you should go to university or do an apprenticeship.
Read about apprenticeships in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Explore higher apprenticeships.