Apprenticeships

First, let’s understand the typical process that you’d go through when applying.

Application, CV & cover letter

Not all companies ask for a cover letter, but they will almost always ask for your CV and to answer several skill/competency questions.

Aptitude/Psychometric tests

A mix of verbal, numerical and abstract reasoning games/questions. Some may carry out personality and situational judgement tests.

Recorded interview

Pre-recorded questions are played, you are then usually given 30-120 seconds to prepare an answer and another couple minutes to voice your answer.

Assessment Centre

You collaborate with other candidates where you partake in a group activity together. Following this, there may be a mix of related questions, 1:1 interviews or a presentation.

Offer!

If successful, you would have received a phone call and email about your offer. You may then sign relevant documents to accept your contract.

The above is a guideline and can differ between companies, for example, there may be an additional interview stage following your assessment centre or there may not be a recorded interview stage. A number of candidates will pass on to each subsequent stage if they meet or exceed the hiring manager and business expectations.

You want to excel at EVERY stage. Failing or falling short in any one stage will jeopardise your ability to receive that offer at the end.

In the case of IBM, there was no aptitude/psychometric test when I applied, as was the case with a few other companies I applied for. However, IBM did have a second 1:1 interview after passing the assessment centre; for some IBM candidates, this may be more than two.

Tips

  • Invest in yourself – spend time attending insight days, completing certifications, extra learning related to your desired career path, etc.
  • Create an answer bank – this will help save time when answering skill-based questions and during interviews. Make sure to perfect these
  • Create an example bank – this will also save time when answering skill/competency questions and will be useful later on in interviews
  • Create an application tracker – this will help keep you accountable and allow you to see which stage you went wrong at; then ask for feedback
  • Regularly look out for new apprenticeships – new apprenticeships are opening all the time; some close earlier than expected due to demand
  • Allocate time weekly – the above task takes a while, as does filling in application forms; allocate a minimum of 2-3 hours per week
  • Research the company & role – I can’t stress enough how important this is, especially when writing a cover letter
  • Use the STAR technique for your answers both in interviews and when answering the application questions where suitable
  • Create a saved job search on LinkedIn for keyword(s) + ‘apprenticeship’
  • Follow early career talent recruiters, early career managers and their likes on LinkedIn
  • Teamwork – the most critical part of group activities is how you work as a team, try to refer to your peers and facilitators by name
  • Break the ice – not all assessment centres begin with ice-breakers, even when they do, it may be a good idea to have another in mind
  • Reach out to current apprentices – can be useful before attending an interview/AC as you’ll gain a better insight into the company & process
  • Have questions ready to ask – this shows you are actively engaged in the company’s culture and eager to know more
  • Practice! – practice makes perfect but it also improves your confidence and this is exactly what employers are looking for

If you’re looking for extra 1:1 support, whether that be mock interviews, collaborative answer building, confidence booster sessions, mindset shifts, more exclusive tips, access to my five bundled templates or all of the above and more, then check out the assessment centre bundle.

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