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Trade apprenticeships can be an excellent gateway into the world of skilled trades, from electrics and carpentry to plumbing and painting. But when you don’t have much hands-on work experience, creating your trade apprenticeship, CV can feel like an impossible task.
Thankfully, that’s where we come in. If you’re a school leaver hoping to apply for an apprenticeship, trust myPerfectCV to help you get started. We’ve got all the top tips, templates, and trade apprenticeship CV examples you need. We make it quick and easy to build your dream CV – whatever your chosen career path.
Learn from our trade apprenticeship CV templates
Learn from the best with our top recruiter tips for your trade apprenticeship CV
Crafting your CV shouldn’t feel like watching paint dry. Follow our top tips to make sure your trade apprenticeship CV ticks every box for UK recruiters.
Show off your enthusiasm
Apprenticeships are always entry-level roles, so you won’t necessarily have work experience to back up your application. That means it’s crucial to show your excitement and passion for the apprentice roles you’re applying for. Start your CV with a personal summary section that outlines your current situation and career goals, making sure to include positive adjectives to describe your work ethic.
Highlight your level of education
Whether you’re a recent school leaver or applying for a graduate apprentice trainee’s role, it’s essential to share your educational history on your CV. A detailed education section will show your recruiter what qualifications you already have and help them assess your suitability for the role.
Share your extra-curricular interests
It’s unnecessary to have hoards of hobbies when applying for an apprentice job role, but it can be helpful to highlight any extra-curricular achievements. There’s a strong learning aspect to any trade apprenticeship, so it’s a good idea to show your recruiter that you can motivate yourself to achieve outside the classroom. Whether you won a local competition, play sport at the weekends, or pursue new hobbies at the weekend.
Proofread your trade apprenticeship CV
If your recruiter receives a CV that’s littered with typos, they might assume that you’re careless and aren’t taking the application seriously. Always proofread your application for spelling mistakes to show your recruiter that you’re an attentive and careful candidate who’s well-qualified to take on apprentice responsibilities.
Demonstrate any relevant training
The majority of trade apprenticeships won’t require any prior experience – but if you have some, it will help your application stand out from the crowd. Practical experience such as mending your car, shadowing an industry professional, or carrying out relevant maintenance at home will show that you have a genuine interest in your craft.
What skills should you include on your trade apprenticeship CV?
The skills you need will ultimately depend on the apprenticeship role you’re applying for. However, there are some key skills that any trade apprenticeship recruiter will be on the lookout for. Discover the must-have skills for your CV below.
Must-have skills for your trade apprenticeship CV
- Practical skill
- Problem-solving
- Teamwork
- Learning
- Attention to detail
- Time management
Nice-to-haves to help your CV stand out
- Self-motivation
- Ability to take the initiative
- Computer skills
- Communication (written and verbal)
- Presentation
Common questions about your trade apprenticeship CV
How do I write a CV for an apprenticeship?
Writing a CV for an apprenticeship can feel overwhelming, especially if you’re fresh out of school. But it doesn’t have to be complicated – you just need to include the following information:
- Your contact details (make sure you have a professional email address that contains your name).
- A personal summary outlines your current employment situation and briefly explains why you could bring to the apprentice job role.
- An experience section outlining any work experience you’ve completed, plus your key achievements.
- An education section that includes your academic qualifications, including your most recent exam results.
- A skills section with a bullet-pointed list of your key qualities and expertise.
How to apply for an apprenticeship
To apply for your trade apprenticeship in the UK, you will need to be at least 16 years old. (You can apply while you’re still at school, although you’ll need to have left by the time your apprenticeship starts). The process of applying for an apprenticeship is similar to applying for any other role – simply find your chosen apprenticeship scheme and submit the necessary documents, usually a CV and cover letter. You can search for apprenticeships on the Gov.uk site.
Do I need a CV for my first job?
If you’re planning to apply for your first job or apprenticeship, you will need a professional CV. This might seem unnecessary as you probably won’t have relevant work experience yet. However, your CV does more than show off your expertise – it also gives recruiters an idea of your personal qualities, skills, and educational history.
When to apply for apprenticeships
Unlike a university degree, an apprenticeship can start at any time of the year. That means there’s no fixed window for when you can apply – it all depends on the start date of your chosen role. UCAS advises that you start applying for apprenticeships around six months before you would ideally want to start. Remember that you’ll have to have finished school by the time you become an apprentice but can apply while you are still a student.
How much do apprenticeships pay UK?
Regardless of your particular apprentice duties and responsibilities, a UK apprenticeship must pay you at least minimum wage (and can pay more). That means you’ll be paid a minimum of £4.15 per hour.
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Hone your craft with a professional trade apprentice CV
To take the first step in your trade career, you’ll need a professional trade apprenticeship CV – and with myPerfectCV, it’s quick and easy! We’ve got all the top tips, templates, and examples you could need. Use our exclusive CV builder tool today to craft an application that perfectly sums out your skills, expertise, and education today.
