Connecting with employers
An important step in starting a career through an Australian Apprenticeship is sourcing an opportunity with an employer. This is essential as apprenticeships and traineeships require both educational and on-the-job work experience.
Career advisers play an important role connecting prospective apprentices with potential employers. Students may often seek out their career advisers not only as a source of information, but also to leverage networks to help land a job opportunity in their desired field.
To do this, it is important for career advisers to maintain a strong network with local and diverse employers to help promote apprenticeships and traineeships as a viable career path. A strong network helps apprentices to gain access to potential employers and future career or work experience opportunities.
Some simple ways career advisers can create and maintain connections with employers are:
- Engaging with local and national industry events
- Attending webinars that target employers and following up with other attendees
- Using the school community to connect with local employers
- Linking their school with local employers for work experience
- Connecting with Group Training Organisations (GTOs) or Australian Apprenticeship Support Network (AASN) providers
We advise all career advisers to be clear on what they need from employers before connecting with them at events or within the local community. This helps to cement valuable connections and fast-track mutually beneficial employment opportunities. If an individual employer is unable to help directly, we also recommend pursuing any connections they may have who may be a better fit for your potential apprentice or trainee.
Connecting with GTOs and AASNs is an important step in providing Australian Apprenticeships information and opportunities to your students. They can help with careers events at the school and will have live vacancies your students can access. If you have not already connected with your local providers, you should get in touch to ask how they can support you.