15 Feb 2020

If you’re considering doing an apprenticeship or a traineeship, you’re doing something right. Apprenticeships are the key to the many great things such as an endless supply of work, combining work and travel (the dream) and escaping an office job.

But, like anything, if you just waltz into an apprenticeship without having the slightest clue about what it Is, you could be in for some shocks.

1. There are heaps of different trades out there

When some people think of a trade, they tend to think only of the ‘classics’, like being a carpenter, an electrician, or a plumber.

However, there are actually heaps of different trades out there. Like, heaps. You might only be able to think of a couple more, but we’re talking numbers around the one-hundred mark.

That’s great and all, but why would you wanna do a trade you’ve never even heard of?

Well, let’s say you’re interested in carpentry because you like making things. Instead of simply doing a carpentry apprenticeship, you could do something a little different that still lets you build things and get hands-on, but it’ll also allow you to stand out and enter a more unique market.

For example, you could do a traineeship as a Timber Truss and Frame Manufacturer. You’re still essentially doing carpentry; it’s just a little more specialised. And as it’s a lesser known, you’d be faced with less competition when you’re looking for work than if you had just stuck to carpentry.

On the other hand, there’s a lot more to construction than what you can simply do with your hands. Perhaps you’d prefer to be behind the scenes, working in the office and learning about auto-cad and building codes. There are options to suit every type of learning, and every type of worker.

2. Consider the stats

Before you jump into an apprenticeship, you should take a deeper look at what you’re getting yourself into. Try to answer the following questions for each trade you’re considering:

Is the amount of work for your trade increasing or declining?

What is the employment rate for apprenticeship completers?

What is the average annual salary of someone in your trade?

You don’t wanna commit to an apprenticeship for three-plus years, only to find yourself unemployed and struggling to find work at the end of it.

Alternatively, you could be looking at traineeships. They’re only 1 to 2 years long, and you still get a qualification at the end. They’re a really good way to get yourself straight into the workforce and get your career up and running.

3. Getting support is a great idea

Apprenticeships can be tough, and they require you to balance work, training and study simultaneously. But it totally manageable and rewarding if you get the right support. Over the past four years, the number of people who actually complete their apprenticeships has dropped by 50%.

One of the main reasons people drop out of their apprenticeships is that they aren’t getting the necessary support to see them through to the end.

If you want to ensure that you do finish your apprenticeship or traineeship, then it could be worth completing it through apprenticeship provider TABMA Apprentices & Trainees. They help guide you through from start to finish and make sure they’re getting looked after for the entire journey. From sign up to completion, you’ll know you’ve got someone looking out for you.

4. There are more leadership and growth opportunities than you think

There seems to be an assumption out there that in order to get into a leadership or managerial position, one must have a uni degree.

However, this isn’t the case at all. In the building and construction industry, you can climb your way up the ladder with experience and all the know-how you pick up on the job – meaning that starting an apprenticeship is the first step in your journey managing, leading, or even owning a successful business. No uni degree? No worries.

5. There’s heaps of work for young people

Have ya ever heard the expression ‘ageing workforce’? Well, if you have, you’d probably know that we’ve got one.

Life expectancies are going up, and people are working well into their older years in order to save enough money to retire. What does this mean?

More oldies on the job.

Now, the ol’ whippersnappers are great assets; however, a lot of organisations are looking for some fresh young faces to bring into the industry (before, ya know, everyone retires). For us, that means there’s plenty of work out there for young apprentices and trainees and plenty of opportunities to move up the ranks throughout your career.

Starting a trade is probably one of the smartest things you could do. Just make sure you do your research and know exactly what you’re in for; knowledge is indeed power.

If you’re keen to get started on one, check out all the jobs our mates at TABMA Apprentices and Trainees. They’ve got a tonne of opportunities across Australia, so suss ‘em out and get applying over here.