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Need info on Apprenticeships

I am in year 12 now. I am interested in IT and Computer related Apprenticeships. Would like to know what is eligibility criteria for Apprenticeships? When can i apply ?
Please kindly provide me guidance for preparation.

(edited 10 months ago)

Reply 1

{Moss}

Original post by bucremmagojo

Hey there

. Apprenticeships are one of those things that are dependent on who's offering them. The eligibility for IT related apprenticeships often sits at 3 A-levels at BBB (or 120 UCAS points) and at least 5 GCSEs grade 4-9.
Eligibility and Criteria
A specific A-level isn't required, and nigh on all IT apprenticeships have boot camps at the start of the course, to get you foundational knowledge: what the apprentice-providers really want to see is your passion for the subject. What kind of apprenticeship are you interested in? For example, if interested in Software Development it's worth practicing programming skills and maybe building up a light portfolio of small projects, just to speak about.
When to Apply
Most apprenticeships open up anywhere between October and May, and most will have closed by June. Assessment centres and such are often held around then too, depending on the apprenticeship.
Applying
There are several ways of applying to apprenticeships. The first is via the government website: https://www.apprenticeships.gov.uk/. This gives you apprenticeships local to you. The second, is via training providers: some apprenticeships, in case you didn't know, partner with training providers such as QA Apprenticeships to give you your education. It's worth checking out their openings on the website. Lastly, and probably the most popular way after govt. websites, is applying directly. There are a few big companies offering differing levels of Apprenticeships, such as Google, Amazon, Samsung, BT, Vodafone, KPMG, Capgemini, IBM, etcetera... If you search up '[company] apprenticeship' there'll often be links explaning their apprenticeships. You can then apply via their website (it will show you how.)
Preparing
Preparing is one of those things that is just too huge to say in a post haha, so if you don't mind I've attached some links.
https://www.prospects.ac.uk/jobs-and-work-experience/apprenticeships/how-to-apply-for-an-apprenticeship
https://www.apprenticeships.gov.uk/apprentices/interview-process
https://www.ucas.com/apprenticeships/how-apply-apprenticeship/how-prepare-apprenticeship-interview
https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/interviewing/apprentice-interview-questions
https://www.prospects.ac.uk/careers-advice/interview-tips
Apprenticeships use different processes, which is why I recommend checking out the actual companies website or emailing them to see about this. For example. some have personal interviews, online or face-to-face; others have assessment centres: most have aptitude tests (e.g. testing logical thinking, problem solving, etc.) before anything else. I have noticed a few apprenticeships for IT that require you to pass a coding test: again, it's worth seeing what who you're applying to does. It's definitely worth practicing common interview questions, researching the company, and such. (see the links for more detailed info).

I hope that helps! Hopefully that provides a start-up knowledge for you, I cannot stress enough how important it is to explore company's websites for apprenticeships too - the info they provide is invaluable. Best of luck :biggrin: