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Apprenticeships

Apprenticeships are a good opportunity to gain qualifications, experience work and get paid at the same time. They involve working for an employer while studying part time with a training provider or college for a vocational qualification such as an NVQ. There are apprenticeships available in a huge range of sectors such as childcare, engineering, IT, hair and beauty and accountancy.

There are three levels of apprenticeship:

  • Level 2 Intermediate equivalent to 5 GCSEs grade A* to C
  • Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship equivalent to 2 A Level passes
  • Level 4 Higher Apprenticeship equivalent to a Higher National Certificate

Apprenticeship Vacancies

  • The national apprenticeship site aims to answer all questions regarding apprenticeships for students, parents and employers.  Students can also get alerts for vacancies when they arrive and apply for those vacancies online (note that this operates at a national level, including Northamptonshire and the surrounding counties): http://www.apprenticeships.org.uk/
  • Starting Off offer a range of good quality apprenticeships in Northamptonshire: accountancy, customer service, business admin, IT, digital marketing http://www.startingoff.co.uk/
  • Key Training have foundation learning courses and apprenticeships covering Business & Administration, Customer Service, Recruitment, Management, Learning Support: http://www.keytraining.co.uk/apprenticeship-programmes-2/
  • 3AAA are an award-winning provider of IT, Digital Marketing Finance, apprenticeship in Northampton: https://www.startingoff.co.uk/jobs
  • Aston Recruitment and Training specialise in engineering, hairdressing, marketing, health & social care and leadership & management apprentice and training courses for school leavers: http://aston-recruitment.co.uk/apprenticeships
  • Not Going to Uni is A national website containing job, apprenticeship vacancies and some sponsored degrees: http://www.notgoingtouni.co.uk/apprenticeships-223
  • Northamptonshire Jobs Today have some apprentice vacancies listed amongst other jobs in their pages: www.Jobstoday.co.uk/

In addition, our local colleges also list current vacancies:

If you haven’t quite achieved the grades you need at GCSE you could look to complete a foundation learning course, please click here for further information: https://www.careersadviceforparents.org/p/foundation-learning.html

CV Writing and Interview Guidance

Prospects have produced an excellent web page full of resources to help you in writing a CV and a covering letter, click here: https://www.prospects.ac.uk/careers-advice/cvs-and-cover-letters

  • Research the organisation and what they do or the course. Employers will expect you know something about the organisation and colleges will expect you have researched the course.
  • If applying for the job and there is one, read the job description.  You need to know what skills the employer wants and be able to give examples how you demonstrate them.  Do not worry if you cannot demonstrate each skill as there may be training for a suitable applicant, particularly if the job is for a school leaver.
  • Check your application form, letter and/or CV.  The interviewer will have read these and may ask you questions about what you have written.
  • Try answering some practice questions. Check your body language, or your tone of voice.  Are you speaking too quickly or too slowly?  
  • Check the details. Where is the interview? What time is it? Do you know how to get there? You could even do a practice run.  Do not be late!
  • Check yourself. What are you going to wear? It’s better to be too smart than not smart enough.  The interviewer will want to know that you have made an effort and show that you care.
  • Ask questions at the end of the interview. Is there anything you want to know? Interviewers like to see you asking questions as this shows that you are interested in the role. Try to think of some questions in advance, and listen to the information given during the interview. The interviewer might answer one of your questions in the interview itself.
  • Remember to shake hands with the interviewer(s) at the start and end of the interview.
  • Remain calm.  You have prepared well.  If you are right for the job/course, you will get it.

Example Interview Questions

This is a list of some of the most popular general questions that you could be asked at an interview. 

  • Tell me about yourself
  • What are your strengths?
  • What areas do you have for development?
  • What are your goals? or Where do you see yourself in five years’ time?
  • Why do you want to work here?
  • What are three positive things your last boss/teacher would say about you, and why?
  • Can you give me an example of a time when you displayed great team work/leadership/people skills, (or any other skills relevant to the job)?
  • Tell me what you know about…..  (This is usually about something relevant to the course/job).
  • Are there any questions that you would like to ask about the job?

This list is not exhaustive and there are many other questions that you could be asked.  Other questions could be based on information that you have given in your application form, letter of application or CV.  Questions could also be based on information contained in the job description if there is one for that job.

 

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