Apprentice: What is the cost of hiring?

Why hire an apprentice

An apprentice will study their trade from experienced colleagues, getting guidance on how to do the job and train for specific skills. An apprentice has to be able to learn the different skills required for the job and should be able to demonstrate those skills as time goes by. The idea of apprenticeship is that the company is in charge of training the individual, while the individual will give their time at a much lower rate than a regular worker. Contributions of a great apprentice:

• Can quickly learn the skills needed for the job.
• Assists in the daily tasks of the company.
• Takes any opportunity for further training that is offered.

What are the different types of an apprentice?

An apprentice is someone who is still learning about the career they are in and must be willing to take instructions from their colleagues. The idea of hiring an apprentice is that you can teach someone the skills of the industry so that they have the hands-on experience needed for the job. Having an apprentice became popular in industries where the jobs were technical and people needed to learn how to build, prepare, or create certain products. An example of this would be an apprentice hairdresser. A hairdresser has to know skills that cannot be taught by reading, so having an apprentice can be seen as the best way to train upcoming talent. Currently, apprenticeship programs are very popular as they give students the real-life experience they will need in order to get a job in their chosen field. The following is a list of industrial areas most likely to have an apprentice program.

• Trades/services: Workers in these industries use their hands in order to create their goods or services. Examples include cooks, hairdressers, aestheticians, and seamstresses. An apprentice would work directly with someone already established in the business and learn how to perform the tasks from them.
• Manufacturing: An apprentice in the manufacturing industries would learn how to use the tools or equipment required to make the product being manufactured.
• Industrial: This would include jobs in construction, architecture, and engineering. Apprentices in these sectors would learn both the technical skills needed for the job and any specialization of those skills.
• Business/technology: An apprentice in these industries would learn the specialized skills of the job.

Where to find an apprentice

To find the right apprentice for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

• Apprentice search company: There are online databases that you can search for apprentices or where you can post your apprentice jobs. These sites will give you access to people looking for apprenticeships in your industry so that you can easily find a quality candidate.
• University or college programs: If you are looking to hire an apprentice who is either still in school or has just finished their formal training, connecting with local universities or colleges can help you find candidates. Some schools will have apprenticeship requirements for their programs, so this might be the easiest way to find someone who can fit into your organization.
• Professional organizations or trade unions: Both professional organizations and unions can help you find qualified candidates for an apprentice job. Some professional organizations, for example, will require continuous education for their members. Since an apprenticeship can be considered a training program, it can be advantageous to look at professional organizations or unions to find appropriate apprenticeship candidates.
• Government websites: Provincial and federal governments often sponsor apprenticeship programs and are a good place to look if you want to hire an apprentice. They will give you more information on the process and how to get involved in a government-sponsored program.

Post your job online: Try posting your apprentice job on Indeed to find and attract quality apprentice candidates.

Skills to look for in a great apprentice

A great apprentice candidate will have the following skills and attributes as well as work experience that reflects:

• ability to learn quickly and take direction
• oral and written communication skills
• ability to interact with the entire team
• ability to solve problems
• use of creative thought processes

Writing an apprentice job description

A thoughtful description is important for finding qualified apprentice candidates. An apprentice job description includes a compelling summary of the role, detailed list of duties and responsibilities, and the required and preferred skills for the position. When writing your apprentice job description, consider including some or all of the following keywords to improve the visibility of your job posting. These are the most popular search terms leading to clicks on apprentice jobs, according to Indeed data:

• Apprentice
• Apprenticeship
• Electrical apprentice
• Automotive apprentice
• Plumbing apprentice
• Aircraft maintenance apprentice

Interviewing apprentice candidates

Strong candidates for apprentice positions will be confident answering questions regarding:

• What they know about the industry
• Why they want to build a career in the industry
• Experiences in their schooling or training that they can use on the job
• Experience of working as part of a team
• What they hope to get out of the apprenticeship

Need help coming up with interview questions? See our list of apprentice interview questions for examples (with sample answers).