Thinking about a trade but not sure where to begin? Here is how it actually works, and how to get yourself an apprenticeship.
Why a trade is worth it
You get paid from day one. No university fees, no HECS debt hanging over you. While your mates are studying and racking up loans, you are earning a wage and learning a skill on the job. Three to four years later you are fully qualified, with a certificate that works anywhere in the country, in a trade that is in real demand. Good tradespeople never struggle to find work.
How an apprenticeship works
An apprenticeship is a job, not a course you sign up for at a school. An employer hires you, you work for them most of the week, and you train at a TAFE or college the rest. You earn the whole time. Once you have the job, a provider sorts the paperwork with you and your employer, so you do not have to figure that part out on your own.
The thing to remember: you get the job first, and the training is built around it.
Where to actually start
These are the real first stops, not just "go search".
apprenticeships.vic.gov.au is the Victorian government's own site. It walks through how to get started, the types of apprenticeships, and where the support sits. Start here.
Find a Group Training Organisation. A GTO hires you and places you with an employer, then handles all the paperwork and looks out for you through the whole thing. It is one of the easiest ways in. The Apprenticeship Employment Network lists Victorian GTOs and employers at aen.org.au.
Visit a Skills and Jobs Centre. These sit inside TAFEs across Victoria and give free careers advice to anyone, not just students. You can walk in and talk to a real person about which trade and which course. Find your nearest one at vic.gov.au/skills-and-jobs-centres.
Search the job boards. SEEK and the others carry thousands of apprenticeships, plenty marked no experience needed. Set up a job alert with your trade and the word apprentice, for example "carpentry apprentice", so new ones come to you.
Look at a pre-apprenticeship course. A short TAFE course in your trade, usually a few months, gives you hands-on skills and makes an employer far more likely to take you on.
Give yourself the best shot
Get a White Card. For any construction site this is a must, and a lot of employers will not consider you without one. It is a short, low-cost course you can complete before you apply.
Sort your resume. Even a short one is fine. A genuine line about why you want the trade beats a copy-paste template every time.
Follow up. If you have applied and heard nothing, a short polite follow-up shows you are keen and puts a name to the application.
Any age, any stage
Still at school? A school-based apprenticeship lets you start early and finish faster. Just left school? Apply now, you do not need top marks. Older and thinking of switching careers? You are just as welcome, and experience you already have can shorten the training period.
Who can apply
To sign an apprenticeship you need the right to work in Australia. Australian citizens, permanent residents, and eligible New Zealand citizens can apply. If you are unsure about your work rights, visit our guide to working in Australia for more information.
Not sure where you fit?
Get in touch. A quick conversation about your trade and what is available locally can save you a lot of guessing. ChapterSix Professional Services works with employers across trades, technical, and engineering roles nationally. If there is a role that suits your background, we will let you know.
Juanique Liebenberg
Director, ChapterSix Professional Services
juanique@chaptersix.com.au
0468 289 015