Apprenticeships

What is it?

It is a full time opportunity that allows you to work, gain skills, get qualifications and get paid all at the same time. Wages can range from £95 to £260 a week. Training can last from 1 year to 4 years – depending on the level of apprenticeship.

Want to do an apprenticeship but haven’t found an employer?

You can start a Programme Led apprenticeship which means beginning your studies at college with some work experience. If you are aged between 16-19 you will be able to get the young persons bursary ((from £30 a week) dependent on attendance. Many colleges offer apprenticeships now - City and Islington college,College of North east Londonand Westminster Kingsway for example.

What qualifications do I need?

Between 2-5 GCSEs grade A* - C is the usual minimum requirement but Camden has apprenticeships that need no previous qualifications.

How do I apply?

We have many apprenticeship opportunities in the drop in folder or you can try these websites:

: This is the national apprenticeship vacancy website 08000 150600. Download free app Av Search from Google Playstore or Apple Apps

sign up and get selected apprenticeship vacancies sent to your email

: This is the London Wide Apprenticeship vacancy website 020 7963 8548

: London wide apprenticeships for young people

Apprenticeships in the motor industry

Info about apprenticeships and jobs as well as careers

National Careers Service 0800 100900

Local apprenticeships

Camdenadvertises apprenticeships throughout the year. These can be applied for with aConnexions Personal Adviser at Camden 16+ team (Karin) or through Camden Under 25s Team at Crowndale Centre (020 7974 4595). These include in-house council apprenticeships as well as private employers and charities/voluntary sector.

Please look online for apprenticeships at Tips available online on how to fill out form and do a good interview.Or email: or call 020 7974 1736.

Kings Cross Construction offers local apprenticeships in the construction industry. Call 020 7974 5161 or 0800 328 8840 or email: or check new website on

Apprenticeships

Interviews

Your interview will last about 30 minutes and during that time you will be asked a range of questions based on the job criteria set out in the initial vacancy.

The interview is an opportunity for you to expand on the examples you outlined in your application form and to also provide additional examples.

This skills-based interviewing seeks information about what you did in previous situations to determine whether you have the skills needed for the advertised vacancy. You can include in your answers, examples of where something has gone not quite to plan or a difficulty arose – here we would be looking to understand how you handled this situation and what you might do differently next time.

Situational questions (see examples below) may be used if you do not have sufficient experience to provide good examples for every skill. In these cases, you may be asked how you might deal with a situation relevant to the job.

Good examples given at interview will say what task you carried out, your own contribution to achieving it, how you handled important issues which came up and what the overall result of your own actions was (including lessons learned). Where you do not have appropriate work experience, you can be asked to describe experiences outside your work situation that demonstrate relevant skills.

Examples of skills based questions:

  • Can you give me an example of when you have had to use your own initiative?
  • Can you tell me how you did it?
  • How did you ensure everyone understood?
  • What happened and what was the outcome?
  • Can you give me an example of when you have had to do a piece of work or activity to a deadline?
  • Can you tell me how you achieved it?
  • What lessons have you learned?

Examples of situational questions:

It is late one Friday afternoon you take an urgent query over the phone about an aspect of your teams work. Describe how you would handle this situation?

Using the STAR model

This will help you to answer the above question.

  • Situation (where were you and who were you with?)
  • Task (what were you trying to do?)
  • Actions (how did you personally contribute?)
  • Results(what was the outcome? Was it a success? What could have been done better?)