The Top 6 Skills You Need to Land an Apprenticeship

Skills are everything. No matter what you do and where you end up, having soft skills will help you.

Employers love soft skills because they are the skills that make you a person. Having these skills can give an employer a look into how you’d be as an apprentice.

If you’ve already started looking for an apprenticeship, good for you! Perhaps you’ve been thinking a little bit more about the kinds of skills you’ll need or even develop when you start. The great thing about these skills is that you 200% already have them.

Read on to find out about six skills you need to land an apprenticeship, plus some examples you can include in your own applications.

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1. Problem-solving

Kicking off, problem-solving is probably one of the most sought-after skills you could have in your professional repertoire. Employers love them and they can make the beginnings of a potential manager or project leader.

A great problem-solver is someone who can analyse issues, think critically and then offer up solutions. Problems arise in the workplace all the time and an apprenticeship is no different. There will be a time when you’ll need to use your problem-solving skills.

Example: Duke of Edinburgh award? Working in a shop/pub – things running out, staff calling in sick how do they manage this etc?

2. Organisation

An apprenticeship is a lot of work. They are full-time jobs where you’ll be given lots to do. You’ll have multiple projects happening at one time, so you’ll need to make sure that you’re on top of things.

Organisational skills can be made up of several other skills. This can include;

• Time management
• Prioritisation
• Creating systems
• Setting goals.

The aim of the game is to make sure that you’re able to do all your tasks in the time you’ve been given to do them and still show up for other aspects of the business you might get involved in (such as meetings, idea sessions and work social events).

Example: Putting together a study timetable during your GCSEs, carrying out multiple tasks during your work experience or summer job.

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Not sure what soft and hard skills are. We’ve broken it all the way down for you.

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3. Teamwork

This is an essential skill that we’ve all been developing since Nursery.

During your apprenticeship, you’ll work as part of a wider team and get involved in a lot of projects along the way. Your colleagues form a huge part of your development, so it’ll do you wonders to work well with them.

Teamwork doesn’t just mean being able to work well in group settings. It’s also giving and receiving feedback, contributing to group discussions allowing people to be heard and being kind.

Example: being part of a sports team, or working as part of a team during an important work or school project.

4. Flexibility

No, an employer isn’t expecting you to be able to land in a split and cross your feet behind your head (although that is very impressive).

Businesses change all the time, which can mean a variety of things. Whether it’s having to switch up ways of working, updating (or even removing) processes, learning new software, or reacting to the current market, you have to show that you can roll with the tide.

Example: making last-minute changes to a project with no issues, learning a new process, or covering a shift for a colleague.

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Confident you have all the skills mentioned in this blog? Great, but how can you show these skills off before you’ve even started? To find out how, click below.

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5. Initiative

Having initiative is important because it shows off your ability to act on situations or tasks without having to be told to do it. It shows that you’re independent, confident and a self-starter. Some examples of taking initiative include,

• Getting on with your weekly tasks
• Offering to help out a colleague with a task they might be struggling with
• Taking on tasks that other people have forgotten to do or avoid
• ASK QUESTIONS. Employers love that
• Resolving small problems before they become big problems.

6. Communication

Being able to communicate is one of the most important skills you’ll ever have. Think of communication as the foundation of the mansion that is your career, so it’s important to make sure those skills are strong. 

You’ll spend the entirety of your apprenticeship communicating with colleagues, managers and clients either face-to-face, over the phone or through email.

Employers are already looking at your communication skills the moment they receive your CV.

Examples: Writing emails and letters, working on a team project, and answering telephone calls.

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If you’ve already started applying for an apprenticeship, why not have a look at our Apprenticeship Toolkit to help you along the way?

Good luck!

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