Apprenticeship Applications

[Hellohah]

DS has started applying for apprenticeships. He's got one which requires a covering letter (the first one).

Looking through examples, it says highlight academic achievements. He didn't do so well in his A Levels despite great GCSE results (he didn't do any work, he's annoyed with himself now, obviously).

How do you word something like this? He's very much learnt his lesson, but not sure how you would navigate this in a letter?

Does he say he's disappointed and determined not to make the same mistakes or does he just not say anything? He's been trying to write this for days and doesn't feel he can big himself up when he let himself down if that makes sense?

Maybe that's the point. They may not mean just "results", what did he gain from being in college, who did he meet, what skills does he now have that he didn't have, what did he enjoy, what were his personal achievements (ie meeting new people, putting himself outside of his comfort zone, trying new activities - which he didn't love but glad he tried, joining new clubs). Did he have a part-time job, maybe he could talk about what felt good - even working hard enough to get his first pay packet!

Think about what an employer is going to want to see. What differentiates him for other candidates. A* results won't necessary mean they make a great apprentice. I want an application from someone who is going to work hard, genuinely wants the job and not because mum told them they had to apply and had some personality.

He needs to big up the stuff he can.

most people applying for apprenticeships only have academic stuff which is why they are suggesting talking about that.

what else can he talk about? Extra curricular, Saturday jobs, volunteering, etc?

In a covering letter I like to see more than qualifications - I like to hear the whys - why the industry, why the job and why the company. I like to hear a bit about the personal attributes that make the candidate suitable for the position - things like open to new ideas, problem solving attitude, attention to detail - draw these out from the advert. If they want academic achievements focus on his GCSE results and what he liked about his A levels - were there any aspects of the A level course he enjoyed? I agree that great exams results do not always translate into great candidates - so he need to push what he can do.

In a case like this I’d get him to ask ChatGPT or copilot for some ideas to start him off- BUT IT HAS TO BE HIS WORDS

Step back a bit and think of why they want a cover letter at all. Presumably to get a better feel of who he is and why he would be suited to the role thats more than the data set on his CV.

I wouldn’t get tied up on talking about academic achievements, I suspect this is suggested as it might be all some 18 year olds have. Think critically about what skills he can bring to the role and how he’s developed and showed those skills in the past - part time jobs, sports teams, extra curricular activities, learning to drive, relationships with friends and siblings, interests and hobbies.

And as PP said, using AI to brainstorm and come up with a bullet point structure that he can flesh out into his own words is a great idea. It’s truly fantastic at career coaching, but be clear in the prompts that you’re looking for a bullet point structure not a drafted letter

I think he should explain that a vocational type path like an apprenticeship is much more suited to his skill set.

He tried A levels but they really weren't for him. He's more a hands on, practical learner.

Highlight the decent GCSEs then go on to say the above to explain away the bad A levels.

And just have him say all the reasons why he thinks he'd be good in an apprenticeship.

They don't want kids with amazing A levels necessarily. Those kids would be heading for Uni.