Apprenticeships

Think that group was fairly small so maybe 4 or 5 and I’ve no idea what the requirements were for the role. It was a degree apprenticeship in finance, I think. They do offer some higher apprenticeships and some level 3 ones but they only do an annual recruitment exercise across the business.

@ButterPiesAreGreat There are lower level apprenticeships for lower achievers. It’s about fit really. Surprised so many don’t get grades though.

Yes, very much I would like to see them give priority to people without a degree already. DS has met the new cohort when they came in for an event and he said there were more younger ones but still a spread of ages. His mate will be turning 21 soon but he’s been doing temp jobs for 3 years after he finished a BTEC.

Having said that, last year they had different groups of apprentices with them on their induction. One of the groups was only one person as the other people didn’t get required grades. Seems a shame they can’t have a waiting list for this sort of occurrence. I’m almost sure that having the right number of UCAS points helped him second time around.

@ButterPiesAreGreat The numbers changing career has been a big issue. They are getting a second degree whilst 18 year olds are rejected. Most people think the scheme should favour 18 year olds, not adults. It’s somewhat abused by companies but at least he got something but many didn’t because adult career changers got them. I would like to see this change.

I know this thread has moved on but let me share DSs experience for anyone reading and worrying their DC might miss the boat.

DSs dream job was working for a big local employer who are a huge multinational. In y10, he went to their open day and someone sold him the benefits of working in Project Controls. This was just before Covid.

In the second year of A levels, he applied for this degree apprenticeship, potentially split over 2 sites. A week after applying, he was asked to self record some interview questions. I know he had technical difficulties, and one question got missed off. Suggested he email them to explain.

He had struggled a bit with A levels, particularly with Physics which I know he regrets taking. Some of this was lack of application and I did have an issue with the Physics teacher and the lack of support offered. He applied to uni as well.

However, he received a rejection from them a few weeks after the closing date. I know he was very bummed about it. His A levels were his first external exams (he was one of the students who had teacher assessed grades at GCSEs) and he didn’t do brilliantly. However, as it turned out, he got exactly the right number of UCAS points to apply for the same degree apprenticeship.

He took a year out (he was meant to get some temp work which never materialised). He did apply for other roles, but when the roles opened up again, he applied. He took a lot more care with the video interview questions and made sure he didn’t press any wrong buttons, took his time etc.

Anyway, he then got an interview and he deliberately booked it for 3 weeks away so he had time to prepare. He’s done interviews before in school and air cadets but not for a job. Both me and DH fired lots of questions at him, he read a book we bought him, looked at the company website etc etc.

4 weeks after his interview, out of the blue, they rang to offer him the role. He started last September, is about to start his second year and he’s helping with the induction of the new apprentices next week. He does remote lectures from home on a Wednesday (as there are other apprentices doing the same thing across the UK) and has two in person weeks per year, thankfully not far from us.

He’s doing really well, and regularly gets the best grade out of his cohort. Work wise, he’s had a great year and does work really hard. He has had great support but he loves it and so he takes it seriously.

The interesting thing about his peers is he is one of the youngest. Most of the others are mid 20s to early 30s and one is late 40s! Some have degrees and one had a long career as a teacher.

I often wonder if having the right grades made a difference. I wonder if they asked his college for predicted grades.

But don’t give up if you don’t succeed. Keep trying. Yes, the competition is fierce and teenagers are often at a disadvantage but it’s not impossible. DSs friend starts next week in the same role and he finally got an offer after his 3rd attempt. (DS helped him prepare for interview).

What is AAT level 3?

@SlinkyDog1 thanks for update. My DC will try this year. It all seems quite daunting but everyone's tips and experience above will definitely help. So thank you everyone. Final year of BTEC Nationals, and yet to start process for apprenticeships.🤞

That's great! Congratulations.

Mine has just been offered a degree apprenticeship in Project Management with Babcock in Bristol.

Yaaay!! Well done to him. It’s definitely a gruelling process. Hoping he loves his new job!

Also, does he think his written applications became stronger, or anything he changed as he got more feedback?

@SlinkyDog1 I am so delighted to hear about your DS. He has done so well and I wish him the best of starts in his new position. Good to know in advance about the juggle - that is really tough with clashing deadlines, so a heads-up oon that is good. As you say, really good life stkills.. Can I ask how many hours he's doing in uni / work - how it's all balanced.

@SlinkyDog1 My DH was an employer - just retired! They were a medium sized engineering consultancy. I know your DS is not looking for this but they don’t have algorithms! They read applications! What they wanted was no spelling mistakes and someone who actually knew who they were! Award winning engineers with a great portfolio of work. Generic off the shelf applications were not what they wanted. It’s very important to tailor the application in my view.

Also don’t get obsessed with the big players. There are mid sized companies who have human beings reading applications. Good luck with interview practice too. DH would have been amused if anyone had turned up in a school blazer! Most 6th forms, even private ones, don’t have one in the 6th form. He would expect a suit or presentable separates. You need to judge about a tie these days. Always clean shoes and avoid casual ones. Black lace up leather works best. Yes, answering clearly is important and concisely. Do work on this. If really helps if dc is articulate. Good luck!

@SlinkyDog1

Practise video is the key...initially dd was looking at the screen rather than the camera when she practised.

Dd did mention the SJ assessment as one company treats it differently to another. I said to her just be yourself and think logically. SJ are hard since they are subjective!

There are a lot of finance apprenticeships out there- UBS, Bank of England have just been released recently...good luck

I think a lot of it is confidence and enthusiasm
Dd got an apprenticeship at 16 straight after gcses. She took her CV and cover letters round local garage managers.
Her manager told her she was offered the apprenticeship because she had the balls to rock up to the front desk and ask.
Confidence will get your ds a long way, definitely practice the interviews, but if it's something he really wants to do his enthusiasm will come through.

@SlinkyDog1

Hi my dd has just been offered an apprenticeship in finance.

What I have learnt is...

They need practise with interviews...if you know he is having an interview- practise with them.

Help them to have some key examples

Practise video himself...

Learn about the company and at this stage they want motivation and being a team player

Some companies give reports after the assessment- maybe read it as well

It is a bit of luck and don't give up- you only need one!

Thank you ladies for all very informative posts. My DC is doing BTEC ( year 13) and although enjoying it, it is difficult to process and remember certain information because of neuro divergency and low focus So achieving Pass grades. Hopefully this year results will be better with having to 1-1 support. I don't mind if DC gets Level 3 apprenticeship of choice. Because of neuro divergency there is obsession in certain areas which might help.

I suggest you do a mock interview with him and video him on camera.

I had no idea how much I don't smile and look nervous.

When you watch YouTubers, they smile A LOT and look so friendly. It's a real art. Unfortunately interviews are quite a lot about acting and getting comfortable with being uncomfortable.

Now I know to smile a lot more. It's hard on camera though, much easier face to face, that's why it's important to practice.

he can practice in the mirror. Write out sentences and try saying them out loud. Get good as speaking about your strengths, what you are working through on your weaknesses etc.

It can be a gruelling process and our DS definitely had to build up resilience to rejections. The worst factor for him was how many of the application forms were obviously driven by keywords or algorithms, so he felt he was getting rejected without ever having a chance to show who he was and the skills he had.

However, after several rounds of (human) interviews and aptitude tests he was offered an Apprenticeship at a Top 3 tech company.
Tell your son to keep his chin up and keep going.
HTH.

Just read your post about work and study.

Apprenticeships are a completely different beast. He should not apply if his main reason is to save student debt. I understand that will always be a factor but he could find he's being offered something he's not really wanting to sign up to.

Differences of my son's experience to his sisters Uni experience...

He had to find his own accommodation. He lived in a professional household because council tax was payable.

He actually lived in a hotel for 2 weeks until he found a room on spare room.

He had to work and study. Long days. Assignments took up a lot of his weekend work.

He did earn a wage so was able to fund his room, food and a car.

There wasn't any provided activities he could attend as he was so busy although after a while the Apprentices sorted socials etc between them however there was no party lifestyle.

He only came home at Christmas as his holidays were the normal working provisions 5.6 weeks ish? And much of that he used to study.

My son got an apprenticeship (8 years ago now). In fact, he was offered two.

He wasn't someone who, in Mumsnet terms, should have even got a look in with his row of mainly C grade GCSEs and a BTEC (albeit at the top grades). But he had a passion and spent a lot of his spare time from 14+ learning and improving outside of the box, so to speak, which he did because he was naturally curious not because he wanted application evidence. As well as.this he was working part time as soon as he could in a public facing shop role. So, when it came to being assessed, I think he just clicked with them.because he was able to talk about things with that perspective, he was great at the practical tests, and he had the confidence to do all of this from his shop work.

I never expected him to have any chance but it was what he wanted, he did the applications himself, and was very invested. The applications took him.hours to do and were very directed to the opportunity. I don't think it would have been possible for him to have managed that if he'd applied to a lot. He would have had to have been more generic to actually find the.time.

I think that was the key to his success. Scattering applications like a shotgun might not hit the right target although I can fully understand why he wants to give himself as many chances as possible. He must make sure he is passionate about those he is applying for and can express that in his application.

Not getting one isn't a failure either. They are as rare as hens teeth. A lot of brilliant kids will not get an offer.