19 Sep 2019

Apprenticeships can be a daunting thing. Being thrown into full-time work and study with no previous experience can be a dramatic shift in lifestyle, and it’s hard to know what to expect.

But whether you’re about to start your first day as an apprentice, or still on the hunt for someone to take you on, it’s super important to be as prepared as possible so that your employer can see that you’re ready.

Here’s a couple of things you should sort out before you even start looking for someone to hire you. The more you can check off this list, the better you’ll look when applying for apprenticeships (or jobs in general).

1. Licence

Having your licence shows you’re dedicated, reliable, will show up on time and are willing to learn, so the longer you put off going for your test, the worse it looks for you when applying for jobs.

If you’re keen to become a tradie you need to be able to get to the job site every morning and because you could be working all over the place, sometimes public transport isn’t an option (and mum and dad are going to get sick of driving you pretty quickly).

On top of that, you’ll probably need to move between job sites during the day, run errands and pick up materials or tools- which is pretty hard to do if you’re relying on the bus.

If you need help getting off ya Ls, check out our tips for smashing your Ps test.

2. White Card

If you’re planning on getting a job in the construction industry, you’re going to need a White Card. They’re compulsory for anyone working on a construction site in Australia, so you should get onto it pretty quickly if you’re looking to go into the industry.

You can nab yourself one of these before you even start looking for a job and if you’re from Western Australia, you can get yourself a White Card* with Warp Training Australia. Warp Training Australia is a Registered Training Organisation (RTO 51972) (WTA) who offer a variety of courses in the construction industry and First Aid.

The beauty of WTA’s White Card Course* is that it only takes a day. It’s a six-hour face-to-face class and at the end of it (if you are deemed competent), you’ll have your White Card in your hand – easy stuff. If this sounds like it might be up your alley, you can register your interest and find out when courses are coming up over here. Make sure you take a look at the pre-requisites that are required before booking into any course; you can find this info on WTA’s website.

If you’re from another state, you’ll be able to get a white card from a variety of places, just do a little research to find a course that suits you.

3. Resume

Applying for an apprenticeship is just like applying for any job, so you’re going to want to have a schmick-looking resume. It should include previous experience, education and any of the extracurricular stuff you think an employer will find a bonus plus a couple of decent references.

This is what will convince employers that you’re the perfect person for the job, so put the effort into nailing it. If you need a hand making yours look that extra bit spicy, check out our resume-writing guide.

4. First Aid

While you don’t actually ‘need’ your First Aid Certificate in order to start an apprenticeship, whacking it onto your resume definitely won’t hurt your chances of landing a job. Employers love someone who’s gone the extra mile to stand out from the pack, and knowing CPR is an invaluable skill to have no matter what career you’re heading into.

WTA offer a First Aid Course** in Western Australia as well, and this also takes just a day to get done. If you want to suss out more details and register, head over here.

If you’re thinking about applying for an apprenticeship or about to head on out and start one, make sure you’re super prepared so it’ll be smooth sailing from here on out for ya.

* White Card:

CPCCWHS1001 - Prepare to work safely in the construction industry

** First Aid:

HLTAID003 - Provide first aid

HLTAID001 - Provide cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

Please note that WTA in no way guarantees that a learner will successfully complete a training product mentioned above, nor that a learner will gain employment after completing the course.