How to Kickstart Your Next Career With An Apprenticeship

An apprenticeship (or internship) is a great way for students or those making a career change to gain valuable work experience. Most apprenticeships are offered for a short period of time, so it’s important to make the most of your time.

It’s an extremely valuable opportunity to be able to learn from those who are where you want to be in the future. You’ll not only learn job skills, but you’ll also gain exposure to life lessons like how to work with people, how to take feedback, and what to do when you need help. Create your job plan of action by following these practical steps for learning and growing.

Set Expectations

Before you begin your apprenticeship, be sure you know what tasks and duties you are expected to complete. If your manager doesn’t give this information to you, feel free to ask. Having a clear set of goals and expectations will set you up for success.

Follow Through

If you offer to complete a task by a certain date, it’s important you follow through with that commitment. Don’t be afraid to ask for more time or for guidance. Communication is key to your follow-through. Your team would rather you ask for help than overcommit and fail to complete the task.

Be a Team Player

Everyone loves a team player, but it might take a little practice if you don’t have experience being on a team. Try jumping in whenever you can to help, but also recognizing when you need to back away and let someone else take over. Support your team members by doing your part and being kind.

Reach Beyond Your Team

Don’t sit with just your team members at lunch because you might fall into a habit of not talking to other people. Try to mingle with other teams too and be open to learning about other positions that might interest you.

Show Up

Obviously you have to show up on time for work every day, but it’s also important to show up to other work functions as well. As much as you can show your face in front of the company, you’ll gain valuable exposure and people will start to learn your name. This could lead to a potential permanent job opportunity.

Where to To Look For a Job After An Apprenticeship

Goodwill is a resource and partner for anyone seeking employment or a higher-paying job. We work with job seekers and local employers to place tens of thousands of individuals in jobs each year, funded by the donations of generous people like you. Goodwill’s My Career Advisor is the best place to start if you’re looking for a job. Signing up is quick, easy, and free.

Searching for a job is a great undertaking, whether you’re looking for seasonal part-time employment or a career position. A lot of time and effort goes into finding a job. We’re here to help you get the process started.

Search For A Job Online

If you’re looking to enter the workforce or seeking a career change – a computer is a great resource to begin your search. Job search engines are catalogs of available opportunities that span virtually any industry, skill level or pay grade. If you know how to use a computer, your job search will become that much easier! The internet gives you access to company websites and other job search engines where you can submit a resume, cover letter, and application. There are many other tools for job seekers that are also available online and may save you a lot of time.

Searching for a job online is where you’ll most likely find openings for remote jobs or work from home positions. Many job search engines allow you to filter job types for those that allow you to work from home and not in an office. Other preferences like salary or hourly range, title, and location are available as well.

Here are some of the most helpful online job search websites we’ve found:

• Goodwill My Career Advisor
• LinkedIn
• CareerBuilder
• ZipRecruiter
• Indeed
• Glassdoor

Once you select your job search filters, you can type in the job title you’re interested in. Then a list of open job positions will appear on the screen. You can simply click on the job post to learn more about the position and how to apply. You might be redirected to a different website to apply. Most applications require a resume and cover letter, so it’s important to have those documents ready and saved so you can easily upload them to your application.

We highly recommend applying for more than one job at a time. It’s important to note that you might not hear back from all the jobs you apply to. This doesn’t always mean it’s because you’re not qualified. Many companies receive hundreds and even thousands of job applications, so it’s sometimes impossible to get back to every applicant.

By providing education, training, placement services, and other resources, we equip individuals with the knowledge, skills, and confidence they need to secure sustainable employment and achieve self-sufficiency. Find out more about our mission and how we can help you with your job search.