08 Jun 2015

Apprenticeships aren’t always easy to come by.

Everyday we hear from people who have been struggling for months–sometimes over a year–to get themselves out there and into an apprenticeship, and if you’re one of those people then you know the pain of the waiting and the wondering, before the final stinging rejection. It’s a rough and competitive market out there, and sometimes having all the enthusiasm in the world wont guarantee you’ll get hired at the end of the day.

Well, what if I told you that we have the answer to all your problems? That there’s a silver bullet that is going to increase your employability and give you the edge over your competitors? Not only that, but it’ll provide you with a truckload of on-site experience and give you a chance to frequently connect with potential employers. Talk about a resume booster!

If you want all this and more, then say hello to the Pre-Apprenticeship. You might not have heard of it before, but it just so happens to be your best chance of securing yourself an apprenticeship.

What is a Pre-Apprenticeship?

A pre-app covers the first phase of your compulsory learning with a hands-on course you study prior to starting an apprenticeship, which will provide you with all the necessary skills and training you need in preparation for starting trade work. Kind of like a pathways program into a trade, pre-apps can be completed in a host of different fields, such as plumbing, carpentry and electro-technology and on completion will provide you with Certification for 15-20 units of a total 30 units that you need to adequately complete for your chosen trade.

Where can you study a Pre-App?

Pre-apps are offered at TAFEs and other Registered Training Organisations across Australia. If you’re a Sydney-sider, TAFE Western Sydney Institute (WSI) is the largest training provider in Western Sydney and is currently looking for aspiring apprentices who would like to complete a pre-apprenticeship course in carpentry or plumbing.

How long does a Pre-App go for?

Pre-app courses generally run for one year–or 30 weeks–where you will be working 3 days a week. This will usually be hands-on work completed on site, which you will be transported to and from every day. Outside of these days, you are free to look for an apprenticeship or other work. If you get an apprenticeship during your pre-app course, you can head straight into the one day a week apprenticeship class that provides the theoretical training for your apprenticeship.

Who can enroll in a Pre-App?

Pre-apprenticeships are available to anyone who is keen to get started in an apprenticeship. There is usually no prerequisite courses or experience needed to start a pre-app, however people under 17 years of age will need to look more closely into eligibility if they wish to leave school to complete a pre-apprenticeship. A driver’s license or your own vehicle is not required and transport to and from work sites is provided for you.

How will it help me get into an apprenticeship?

Many employers look for a Certificate II or Pre-apprenticeship when they’re hunting for potential apprentices, as it proves you have the aptitude to go on and complete and apprenticeship in a certain trade. For example, electrical work requires a very specific skillset, including some knowledge of maths and physics, so completing a pre-app in electro-technology demonstrates that you have the right capabilities for the job. Plus, pre-apprenticeships provide you with a years-worth of on-site experience, which means you’ll have a decent understanding of the trade and how to handle yourself around a worksite.