Your Career. Our Priority.
Hiring an apprentice can be one of the most rewarding steps for your business. But it’s not just about filling a vacancy, you need to make sure you are selecting someone who fits your business culture and has the potential to thrive in your industry.
We’ve put together a small guide to help you identify the right candidate for your business.
Before beginning the recruitment process, take time to assess your business’s needs. What specific skills are you looking to develop within your team? Is there a gap in your workforce that an apprentice can fill? Apprentices can be trained in a wide variety of roles, such as Accountancy, Payroll, Marketing and Data Analysis.
Knowing exactly what you need will allow you to target candidates with the right level of interest and potential in your sector.
Some questions to ask yourself:
· What department or team needs support?
· What specific skills or knowledge should the apprentice learn?
· What long-term role could this apprentice eventually fill?
So, you know what you’re looking for now, and you want to start recruiting a candidate. How do you decide who to hire?
The key quality in any apprentice is a strong willingness to learn. While apprentices usually have little to no experience in the field, their openness to acquiring new skills and adapting to challenges is critical. The ideal apprentice should have a positive attitude towards training and demonstrate enthusiasm for the opportunity to grow with your business.
When interviewing candidates, ask questions that will help you understand their approach to learning:
· Have they taken steps to educate themselves about your industry?
· Are they proactive in seeking out opportunities to learn?
Candidates who can show their willingness to learn and grow will likely be successful in the apprenticeship and beyond.
While technical abilities can be taught, soft skills are often more ingrained and essential in determining a candidate’s fit within your company culture. For an apprentice, qualities like communication, teamwork, problem-solving, and adaptability are crucial.
You should also consider the candidate’s ability to handle feedback, a key part of any learning process. Apprenticeships involve continuous assessment and guidance, so someone who is receptive to constructive criticism will likely adapt better and improve faster.
Key soft skills to look for include:
· Communication: Can the candidate clearly articulate ideas and understand instructions?
· Teamwork: Are they collaborative and willing to work well with others?
· Resilience: Can they stay motivated when facing setbacks?
· Time management: Do they show an ability to balance different tasks effectively?
An apprentice may possess the technical and soft skills needed for the role, but if they don’t fit your company culture, it could cause long-term friction. You need to consider how the apprentice will interact with your existing team and whether they can contribute positively to the workplace environment.
During interviews, get a sense of the candidate’s work style, values, and attitude. Do they share the same passion for the industry? Are they enthusiastic about the work your company does? Can they see themselves growing in the role long-term?
Encouraging candidates to ask questions about your company during the interview can also help reveal whether they have an interest in what makes your business unique.
To be able to identify the right fit for your business, you need to utilise all the tools which are available to you. As a training provider for Apprentices, EMA offers a complimentary Recruitment Service for all employers looking to hire an apprentice for their business.
Recruitment executives sat at shared desk working
Our team works extremely hard to screen potential candidates and provide employers with high-quality candidates tailored to suit the business’s needs.
Because of this, we can quickly match up your needs as a business with an apprentice looking for a career in the specific role which you are looking to recruit, making the recruitment process as seamless as possible for both apprentice and employer.
You can read all about case studies of both employers and apprentice we’ve worked with here.
In summary, by understanding your business needs, evaluating soft skills and cultural fit, you can find candidates who will grow with your company and contribute to your success.
Taking the time to recruit wisely will pay dividends, as apprenticeships can help you build a loyal and skilled workforce tailored to your specific needs.
