Apprenticeships CV: What Employers Look for in an Apprentice Candidate

Landing an apprenticeship can be a fantastic way to kickstart your career. But with competition often high - with around 340,000 people starting an apprenticeship each year 340,000 people starting an apprenticeship each year - it's crucial to have a CV that stands out.  

In this blog post, we'll explore what employers look for in an apprentice candidate, focusing on both hard and soft skills. 

We'll also provide tips on how to customise your CV for different apprenticeship applications, including how to showcase your skills effectively, even if you have limited work experience. 

What soft skills are needed for an apprenticeship? 

Employers highly value soft skills, which are personal attributes and interpersonal abilities. These skills are essential for success in any role, including apprenticeships. 

Communication 

As an apprentice, you’ll be interacting with multiple people on a daily basis. Effective communication, both written and verbal, is crucial for building relationships with colleagues, supervisors, and clients.  

Time management  

Apprenticeships often involve juggling multiple tasks and deadlines, not to mention your coursework schedule. Strong time management skills are essential for meeting deadlines, prioritising tasks, and staying organised. 

Drive and motivation 

Highly motivated individuals are proactive, eager to learn, and willing to put in the effort to succeed in the workplace. Employers want to hire apprentices who’ll benefit the company in the long run, so they want to choose people who are extremely motivated and want to succeed. 

Adaptability 

The ability to adapt to new situations, challenges, and feedback is essential in the workplace, especially as an apprentice, where you’ll be faced with new tasks on a daily basis.  

Problem solving 

Apprenticeships often present unexpected challenges. Strong problem-solving skills enable you to identify issues and come up with effective solutions. This can help you develop initiative in the workplace.  

What are the hard skills needed for an apprenticeship? 

Hard skills are the technical abilities and knowledge specific to a particular trade or industry.  

Hard skills differ between various industries, and employers recognise that you may not already have industry-specific hard skills, as that is what an apprenticeship programme will teach you! 

For example, a hard skill for a software development apprentice is proficiency in programming languages. You might not have this exact skill, and that’s okay - in this instance, highlight what your IT grade is in your CV, what you learned and your passion to learn more. 

Employers understand that apprentices will not have all of the hard skills they need upon application. However, try to highlight your grades, experience and passions that show you have potential to develop this hard skill.  

Which skills you need to mention in your apprenticeship CV 

Even if you're applying for your first apprenticeship and have limited or no direct work experience, you still possess valuable skills that are worth mentioning.  

Transferable skills 

Focus on highlighting transferable skills you've developed through education, volunteering, hobbies, or even personal projects. These might involve things like time management, teamwork, or organisational abilities. 

Academic skills 

Academic skills like strong grades in relevant subjects, research and analytical skills gained through coursework, and successful completion of challenging projects are all valuable.  

Good grades in relevant subjects show employers that you have potential for further learning. 

Life experience 

Life skills such as communication, teamwork, problem-solving, time management, and adaptability, developed through experiences like group projects, sports, or clubs, are highly sought after.  

Work experience 

If you've volunteered, describe your contributions and how they demonstrate skills like customer service, communication, and teamwork.  

Don't underestimate the value of hobbies! Skills like creativity, perseverance, and attention to detail developed through hobbies like art, music, sports, or gaming can be highly valuable in the workplace.  

If you’re changing career paths, and your previous experience seems unrelated to the apprenticeship, analyse the skills you acquired in those roles. Highlight these transferable skills and connect them to the requirements of the apprenticeship.  

Remember to tailor your skills section to each specific apprenticeship by carefully reviewing the job description and identifying the key skills and qualities the employer is seeking.  

Tips to make your apprenticeship CV stand out 

Depending on how competitive your apprenticeship programme is, you want to make sure your CV stands out from the crowd and is impressive to the employer. Here at some tips: 

• Start strong: Craft a compelling summary/profile and tailor it to each application. 

• Showcase transferable skills: Highlight skills from education, volunteering, hobbies, and quantify achievements whenever possible. 

• Highlight relevant education: Include key coursework, grades, and significant projects. 

• Keywords are key: Incorporate relevant keywords from the job description. 

• Concise and professional: Keep it one page (if possible), use a professional format, and proofread carefully. 

• Get feedback: Have someone review your CV for improvement. 

• Consider a cover letter: A well-written cover letter can significantly enhance your application. Use it to expand on your CV, explain your interest in the specific apprenticeship and company, and demonstrate your enthusiasm for the role. 

How to customise your CV for different apprentice employers 

To effectively customise your CV, tailor your skills and experience sections to each employer by prioritising those most relevant to the specific job description.  

Rewrite your personal statement and cover letter for each application to directly address the role and company, highlighting relevant skills and expressing genuine interest. 

Apprenticeship CV template example 

[Your Name] [Your Phone Number] [Your Email Address] 

Personal Statement 

• A concise and impactful summary of your key skills and career goals. 

• Highlight your enthusiasm for the specific apprenticeship and the industry. 

• Showcase your relevant skills and experiences (even if they're not directly related to the role). 

• Demonstrate your motivation and commitment to learning and professional development. 

• Customise your statement for every apprenticeship you apply for by mentioning specific aspects of the role or company that interest you. 

Education 

• [School Name] 

[Relevant GCSEs/A-Levels] - [Grades] 

[Relevant coursework or projects] 

• [Any other relevant qualifications e.g., BTECs, diplomas] 

Skills 

• Technical Skills: 

[List any relevant technical skills e.g., software proficiency, specific software, equipment operation] 

Transferable Skills: 

• Communication (written and verbal) 

• Teamwork 

• Problem-solving 

• Time management 

• Adaptability 

• [Add any other relevant skills e.g., customer service, leadership, initiative] 

Experience 

• [Relevant Work Experience (if any)] 

[Job Title], [Company Name], [Dates of Employment] 

[Briefly describe responsibilities and achievements using action verbs. Try to tailor them to your apprenticeship.] 

• [Relevant Volunteering Experience (if any)] 

[Role], [Organisation Name], [Dates of Volunteering] 

[Briefly describe contributions and skills gained] 

• [Relevant Personal Projects/Hobbies/Interests] 

[Describe any projects or hobbies that demonstrate relevant skills] 

References 

[Available upon request.] 

What to do if you don’t have previous work experience 

Typically, if you have previous work experience, you can use some key skills that you’ve developed from this role, even if the previous role isn’t directly relevant to the new role you’re applying for.  

However, many apprentices are young and might not have previous work experience. Not to worry! Many employers understand this. You can focus on transferable skills gained through education, extracurricular activities, volunteering, or personal projects.  

Highlight academic achievements, relevant coursework, and skills developed in clubs, sports, or hobbies. Tailor your CV to each application, emphasising skills relevant to the specific apprenticeship. 

Apply for apprenticeships with Total People 

Ready to launch your career?  

Total People connects talented individuals with exciting apprenticeship opportunities at top employers across the North of England. We offer high-quality apprenticeships and dedicated support to help you succeed.  

Visit our website today to explore current apprenticeship sectors and learn more about how we can help you achieve your career goals. Contact us today to start your dream career.