Upon leaving school, it can be difficult to know exactly where you want to take your career. Especially as there are a range of different options to choose from.

For example, it may be that you want to learn more about a chosen topic at University, enter the world of work and start earning money,or, do a combination of both through an apprenticeship.

Apprenticeships have increased in popularity in recent years and the government is dedicated to investing more money than ever before into these schemes.

But how do you know if an apprenticeship is right for you? Read on for our insights to help you decide.

What is an apprenticeship?

An apprenticeship is a great option if you want to combine your studies with on-the-job training and the ability to earn money. You’ll do a real job, in a real company, while attending college one day a week and studying for a formal qualification.

At the end of the apprenticeship, you may be fortunate enough to gain a full-time role in your current company. Alternatively, armed with your new skills and qualification, you can search for a new role with a different employer.

Typical types of apprenticeships

Traditionally, apprenticeships only existed in blue-collar jobs, such as engineering, construction, electrics, plumbing and so on.Nowadays, apprenticeships are available in all sorts of industries, from banking and IT, to healthcare and media.

This means, if you know what career path you’d like to go down, you could benefit from starting an apprenticeship in order to train up quicker. Think about your interests and where you see yourself in the future.This can help to pick an apprenticeship that suits your needs.

Apprenticeships can also vary by level, with each having different entry-requirements. For example, level 2 is intermediate, level 3 is advanced, level 4 and above is higher and level 5 and 7 is equivalent to a degree. It’s worth familiarising yourself with the different types available if you are interested.

Day-to-day responsibilities

Deciding if an apprenticeship is right for you could comedown to your learning styles. For example, if you’re more of an academic person that loves studying, you may be better suited to going to University.

If you’re more of a hands-on learner who likes to get stuck in with a task, an apprenticeship could be your best bet.

As an apprentice, your day-to-day responsibilities will fit in line with the industry or role that you’re training in. It’s most likely that you’ll do a lot of admin in the early stages, which can be hugely beneficial to your colleagues.

In doing this, you’ll develop your transferable, soft skills. These are highly valued by employers and include teamwork,problem solving, communication, knowledge of IT and so on.

The perks (and pitfalls)

The most important consideration when undertaking an apprenticeship is the connection it will have to a career path which matches your aspirations as this will provide you with the basis fora satisfying future at work. Another key benefit of apprenticeships is that you’ll immediately start earning money and won’t be riddled with student loan debts. In addition, you’ll gain a valuable qualification, which can improve your employability in the future.

However, some suggest that University can offer more life experience,given that people usually tend to move away from home and fend for themselves over a three-year period. What’s more, some employers specifically look that have a specific degree.

That said, this isn’t as much of a requirement as it used to be, with other employers favouring experience over education.

Whichever option you take, there will always be perks and pitfalls to both. So, it’s important to think about what is going to work for you.

Weighing up your options

Deciding whether an apprenticeship is right for you isn’t the easiest of tasks. After all, you may be torn between going to university and living the student life, and learning on the job while earning money.

The good news is there are a range of options available to you and apprenticeships aren’t just limited to school leavers. Try to think about what you’d like to achieve in your career and what areas interest you.

Finding a job that you’re passionate about should be your number one priority, so do your research and you’ll be able to kick-start your career, in no time at all.

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This blog was created for Careers in Depth by CV Library - www.cv-library.co.uk

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