Looked for Too Long to Find a Job?

Posted on the 03 May 2012 by Lucyfindlater

Apprenticeships may be the answer for unemployed youngsters all over Britain!

Read on to find out more why this could be right for you, and give you cash while you learn..

Many people are looking for jobs now in Britain, mainly students and post graduate students, finding a job is tough and getting tougher. But has anybody gave an apprenticeship course a try? Not enough people are giving these "learn and earn" schemes a chance as the word "learn" simply is not in their vocabulary anymore.
I left my sixth form as it was not for me, like many other students, and decided to give full time work a go. I looked online everyday for vacancies, checking throughout the day to see if anything had been updated, giving CV's out in my local towns and beyond. I must admit it was very hard, especially when I didn't even get replies from jobs I applied to online, but this was expected as I'm sure the number in applications were vast. I was at my wits end, so decided to give apprenticeships a go.
There is always that catch 22 where you need experience to get a job, yet you have none so you have not been granted the chance to apply. However with apprenticeships it is a learning scheme so you usually do not actually need experience.
Apprenticeships are for 16 to 19 year olds and allow you to learn in the field you want to work in, while gaining valuable hands on experience, plus - you get paid! While the minimum wage for apprenticeships is quite low at £2.60 an hour, it is still £2.60 more than nothing. Apprenticeships usually last around 12months and at the end of the year, if your efforts were up to scratch, you may be offered a full time job by that company or you can use the experience you gained to get into another job that you feel is right for you.
For each apprenticeship each learning provider is usually different, it may be a college or a local university depending on what you apply for.
The types of apprenticeships are as follows:
  • Agriculture, Horticulture and Animal care
  • Business. Administration and Law
  • Arts, Media and Publishing
  • Construction, Planning and the Built Environment
  • Education and Training
  • Engineering and Manufacturing Technologies
  • Health, Public Services and Care
  • Information and Communication Technology
  • Leisure, Travel and Tourism
  • Retail and Commercial Enterprise

I have started a apprenticeship is Business and Administration through the Apprenticeships.org website, and find it very useful as I learn skills that I will always benefit from, whether it be in another job, or just in my own everyday life. It takes up my time, so I am not bored at home and twiddling my thumbs. I am meeting lots of new interesting people and getting paid - further more, I enjoy it! Please do not hesitate to ask me any questions and email me at luxstudios@hotmail.com. I know some people can find looking for a job and starting a new job daunting and scary, but it is very much worth it once you start. You have to start somewhere!
So, start applying today and soon you could be in the exact type of field you want, learning and earning!

For more information and to sign up and apply to go:  http://www.apprenticeships.org.uk/  

By Lucy Findlater