When's the Best Time to Start an Apprenticeship?
It’s often spoken about how fantastic apprenticeships are and the possibilities and opportunities they can provide. What people little talk about is when these apprenticeships are accessible and what is the best time to start one, both from your side and an employer’s side. In this article, we’ll discuss when the right time to embark on an apprenticeship is, regardless of what stage you are at.
School Leavers
For school leavers, the peak hiring seasons for apprenticeships are generally around when the GCSEs period begins. The larger, national employers have strict recruitment deadlines so it’s worth getting ahead of the game and applying early to ensure you don’t miss out. Before applying for apprenticeships, it’s important to ensure you meet the following criteria. Most opportunities require certain qualifications at GCSE level so, double check that your qualifications reflect the role you’re applying for. Higher-level apprenticeships may require A-levels or equivalent qualifications.
Gap Year Seekers
If you have recently completed your GCSEs, A-levels or equivalent qualifications, don’t feel forced to enter an apprenticeship immediately. You may consider taking a gap year before embarking on an apprenticeship which is perfectly fine. Gap years are good for taking time to fully determine your career path and potentially work towards obtaining the skills and knowledge required to bolster your CV. Apprenticeships are not age discriminatory so if you’re looking to pursue an apprenticeship a year later after leaving education, you have an equal chance of securing the role as anybody else.
Changing Career
Perhaps you’ve been in the workforce for a significant amount of time and you want a career change, this is no issue at all. Although we mentioned that the peak period for hiring is during the GCSE period, there will always be various apprenticeship opportunities open throughout the year so it’s a matter of keeping a keen eye out. We understand it can be a daunting idea however, there’s a multitude of opportunities out there, should they be relevant to you. It’s important to note that you may require transferrable skills and knowledge for the apprenticeship you wish to embark on. Also, there should be no concern about age, as previously mentioned, as apprenticeships are open to all ages.
Seasonal Apprenticeships
Industries and sectors, such as agriculture, are seasonal and therefore can only operate in specific periods. Seasonal apprenticeships are a good option if you want to try your hand at something different but it’s important to research the industry you’re applying to and the seasonal requirements before you commit to it. Also, in some cases, they may not provide a guaranteed job at the end, which is due to the nature of the business, so it’s important you factor this into your decision.
Although we’ve explained the peak periods for employers’ recruiting, the best time to start an apprenticeship is completely dependent on what stage of your life you currently sit at and what your future aspirations are. The key point we wish for you to take away from this is to make sure you take careful consideration and carry out research into what path you choose. Once you’ve established that, the rest is simple!
