I need an apprentice
Recruiting and selecting an apprentice or trainee is a strategic way of growing and sustaining your business for the future.
On this page:
What makes a good apprentice or trainee?
Using good selection and recruitment techniques to identify the most appropriate applicants can save you money by minimising staff turnover. For each applicant the selection process should try to evaluate:
- Their knowledge of the trade or traineeship
- How realistic their expectations are of the day to day work they will be undertaking
- Their motivation to succeed in the training
- Their educational and physical suitability
- Their previous experience in similar activities
- Their long term aspirations; and
- How likely they are to experience difficulty in adjusting to the workplace.
Who can be an Apprentice?
An apprentice can be
- a new employee of your organisation or
- someone you have employed for some time
- a current school student as a school-based apprentice on a part-time basis while they undertake the HSC.
There is no age limit to someone starting an apprenticeship and recent figures show a shift to employers engaging older apprentices.
Who can be a Trainee?
A trainee can be
- a new entrant to your organisation
- an existing worker.
Who can help you find an apprentice or trainee?
- Job Network on 13 62 68
- Group Training Organisations on 1800 819 747
- Australian Apprenticeships Centres on 13 38 73
- a careers advisor at your local secondary school
- Continuing Apprentice Placement Service (CAPS) on 13 28 11
(CAPS helps employers find apprentices and trainees who have lost their jobs because of the economic downturn).
Non-traditional applicants
Consider non-traditional applicants for the position.
People re-entering the workforce after an absence or looking to get additional skills are increasingly using apprenticeships and traineeships.
Your company can apply for the standard range of Commonwealth Government incentives and may be entitled to others such as the Mature Aged Worker incentive.
