Hot Tip Tuesday #19

“Apprenticeships and Traineeships – A crash-course!”

There is a bit of confusion at times regarding Apprenticeships and Traineeships, so this week we’ve got a (very!) brief overview of what they are, how they work, and how becoming an apprentice or trainee can help you with your career journey. Please note this is very much an overview of what they are, and there are *a lot* of variables, so get in touch if you want to know more!

What are they?

Apprenticeships and traineeships are, at their core, basically the same thing. If you’re undertaking an apprenticeship or traineeship, you’re working towards gaining a nationally-accredited qualification via on-the-job training alongside being assessed by a Registered Training Organisation (RTO) to complete your required coursework.

The biggest difference between an Apprenticeship and Traineeship is usually the timeframe – an Apprenticeship is generally 3-4 years while a traineeship is usually1-2 years in length. Additionally, an apprenticeship is often more practical/physical skills (think Carpentry, mechanical, hairdressing, becoming a chef) whereas traineeships are often based around soft-skills such as administration, tourism, customer services and hospitality. There are some exceptions to these differences so do some homework to identify what avenue you’d like to explore!

“Apprenticeships are just for young people”

Wrong!

You can become an apprentice or trainee at any point along your career journey. Granted, it is a lot more common to see a 17 year old to become an apprentice, but there are lots of examples of people in their 40’s and 50’s retraining into a career change via an apprenticeship or traineeship. The opportunities exist, you just need to be confident enough to explore them. Don’t be afraid to ask for help.

“I’m going to get paid seven bucks an hour”

The biggest concern we hear from people thinking of being an apprentice or trainee is the wages. We get it! But the biggest misconception is that you’re going to get paid slave wages for four years and not be able to afford to live. The reality is that yes, while you’re an apprentice or trainee you may be paid less than what you may be currently used to but many employers are willing to negotiate wages for the right candidate, and if you are over 21 you’re not constrained by junior wages.

Additionally, many industries have additional payments and subsidies available to apprentices and trainees which may help supplement lower incomes during your training agreement – have a chat with an apprenticeship network provider to see if there is any additional benefits in your chosen industry.

What sort of apprenticeships or traineeships are available?

Lots!

A lot of jobseekers (and employers!) do not realise the variety of training packages that can be delivered on the job as an apprenticeship or traineeship. To check out the courses that can be delivered on the job in Tasmania, visit here - http://laureldw.stategrowth.tas.gov.au/default.aspx- you never know, you may be able to upskill in your current job.

We could go on (and on and on) about this for pages – we love this stuff! The GJH team are passionate about helping you along your career journey. We’d love to chat about exploring opportunities as an apprentice or trainee;  To get in touch with the team, contact us at the GJH on 1300 084 307 or email jobshub@gcc.tas.gov.au

For more expert advice about apprenticeships, get in touch with your local “Apprentice Connect Australia Provider”

· Mas National 1300 627 628 https://masnational.com.au/

· Apprenticeship Support Australia 1300 363 831 https://www.apprenticeshipsupport.com.au/

· Busy at Work 13 28 79 https://www.busyatwork.com.au/

Or visit 

• https://www.skills.tas.gov.au/apprenticeships_and_traineeships

• https://www.apprenticeships.gov.au/