Apprenticeship Interview Questions: Tips for Employers

Hiring an apprentice is a big opportunity, not just for the candidate, but also for your business.  

With 96% of businesses that hire an apprentice reporting benefits to their business, apprenticeships can bring in fresh energy, mouldable talent, and long-term loyalty.  

But to find the right person, you need an interview process that’s fair, effective, and tailored to the role. That starts with asking the right questions. 

This guide offers practical interview questions for apprenticeships, from general conversation starters to job-specific prompts, with advice on how to use them and what to look for in the answers.  

Whether you're hiring your first apprentice or looking to improve your existing apprenticeship recruitment process, this blog will help you figure out which questions to ask during an apprenticeship interview. 

Interview questions for apprenticeships 

Question: Ice breaker question: “Tell me about yourself” 

Why ask this? 
This is a simple, open-ended question that helps break the ice and get the candidate talking. Many apprentices may be interviewing for the first time, so starting with something broad and familiar can reduce nerves and build rapport. It also gives you the opportunity to get to know what they're about, so you can ask further questions if needed. 

What to listen for: 

You're not looking for a perfect pitch. Focus on how they communicate, what they prioritise, and how they present their experiences or interests. Do they mention school, part-time jobs, hobbies, or interests relevant to the role? Are they confident or shy? This question sets the tone for the rest of the interview. 

Question: “Why did you apply for this apprenticeship?” 

Why ask this? 
This helps you understand their motivation and figure out if they are genuinely interested in the role and your company, or are they applying to everything without much thought? It also gives you a chance to understand if they’re passionate about the industry they’re trying to get into.  

What to listen for: 
Look for signs that they’ve considered how the role fits their interests or goals. Strong answers might reference something about your business, the industry, or the skills they hope to learn. Weak answers will be vague or generic (“I just need a job”) or (“I’m simply interested the *blank* industry”) with no further elaboration as to why. 

Follow-up prompt: 

"What about this apprenticeship stood out to you compared to others?" - this will help you understand how they think they are fit for the role and company. 

Question: “What do you know about our company and what we do?” 

Why ask this? 
This tests how prepared they are. Apprentices don’t need to know every detail, but they should show basic initiative. 

What to listen for: 
Have they visited your website? Do they understand your products or services? Do they mention your values, recent projects, or industry? If they’ve done their homework, it’s a good sign of commitment and professionalism. 

Question: “What skills or strengths do you think you can bring to this role?” 

Why ask this? 
You want to know how they see themselves contributing, even with limited work experience. Apprenticeships are about potential, so this is your chance to spot transferable and soft skills. For younger apprentices, you might find they may not have many transferable skills, in which case, look out for enthusiasm and passion. 

What to listen for: 
Answers might include communication, problem-solving, organisation, or being a fast learner. Ask for examples if they’re vague - “Can you give me an example of when you used that skill?” 

Question: “Tell me about a time you had to learn something new - how did you approach it?” 

Why ask this? 
Every apprentice will be learning on the job, so this question helps you assess how they handle new challenges and whether they’re proactive about self-development. It’s also a great question, because it works for more experienced apprentices and those who have just left school, as we are all always learning. 

What to listen for: 
Look for curiosity, resilience, and a structured approach. A strong answer might mention how they learned software in school, picked up a new hobby, or overcame a challenge with coursework or group work. 

Tip: Don’t expect workplace examples - school, sports, or hobbies are just as valid for apprentices. Don’t always look out for extreme independence, rather, a structured approach to new learning is much more effective, especially during a training programme.  

Learn more: Training an Apprentice: Best Practices for Supporting Their Development 

Question: “What interests you about this industry?” 

Why ask this? 
Long-term interest often leads to long-term success. Apprentices who care about the field are more likely to stay engaged, learn quickly, and grow within your company. 

What to listen for: 
Answers could include personal interests, family connections, or projects they’ve worked on. Some answers could simply be because it is a good industry to go into. You're looking for authenticity, not textbook definitions. If they struggle to answer, it may mean they're not sure what they’re signing up for. 

Question: “What are your career goals?” 

Why ask this? 
Even if they’re unsure, this question helps you understand their ambition and whether they see the apprenticeship as a stepping stone - or a placeholder. 

What to listen for: 
Look for some sense of direction: “I’d like to get into engineering,” “I’m interested in working with people,” or “I want to learn more before deciding.” Even broad answers can be useful if they’re thoughtful. 

Question: “Can you give an example of when you worked as part of a team?” 

Why ask this? 
Teamwork is crucial in most work environments, and this question helps you evaluate how they communicate, support others, and take responsibility. 

What to listen for: 

Examples might come from school or uni projects, sports teams, clubs, or part-time work. Listen for specifics - what was their role, how did the group work together, and what did they learn? 

Learn more: How to Recruit an Apprentice 

Question: “How do you handle feedback or criticism?” 

Why ask this? 
Apprentices will be learning from mistakes, so you need someone who can take feedback constructively and stay motivated throughout their learning journey. 

What to listen for: 
Strong answers will show they understand the value of feedback and have used it to improve. If they’ve struggled with criticism in the past but learned from it, that’s still a positive sign. 

Job-specific apprenticeship interview questions 

You also need to assess practical fit for the specific industry you are recruiting for. Here are some job-specific interview questions tailored to different types of apprenticeships: 

For technical or trade apprenticeships: 

• “Have you ever worked with tools or built something from scratch?” 

• “What safety procedures do you know about or have been trained in?” 

• “Can you describe a hands-on project you’ve worked on?” 

These questions help you gauge comfort with physical work, basic technical awareness, and attention to safety. 

For office or admin apprenticeships: 

• “How do you stay organised when managing tasks?” 

• “Have you used tools like Microsoft Word, Excel, or Google Drive?” 

• “Describe a time you had to complete a project or meet a deadline.” 

Look for attention to detail, communication skills, and familiarity with basic tools. 

For customer service or retail apprenticeships: 

• “What does good customer service mean to you?” 

• “How would you deal with a difficult or unhappy customer?” 

• “Tell me about a time you helped someone solve a problem.” 
   

These questions reveal emotional intelligence, patience, and problem-solving ability. 

Choose Total People as your apprenticeship training provider 

Choose Total People as your apprenticeship training provider and get support at every stage of the process. We help employers with everything from creating and promoting job postings to finding and shortlisting the right candidates.  

Our team guides you through the interview process, assists with securing apprenticeship funding, and delivers high-quality training programmes tailored to your business needs.  

Whether you're new to apprenticeships or looking to grow your current programme, we make the process straightforward and effective, so you can focus on developing talent that truly fits your team. Contact us now to get started.