So what next?
There are a number of things you can do to find an apprenticeship.
If you're still at school:
- Study the right subjects – English, maths, science or physics in years 11 & 12. For more information about what to study, click on the PDF below.
- Study electronics at school – National Certificate in Electronics Technology [NCET] Level 2 and Level 3.
- Join the Bright Sparks internet club www.brightsparks.org.nz and chat with other young electronics and computer programming enthusiasts from around the country.
- Get practical industry experience, with part-time work, work experience, or by joining the Gateway programme if your school offers it
If you've left school:
- Prepare a CV and a covering letter saying why you want an apprenticeship in this particular trade. If you’d like a hand with this ask your parents, careers advisor or an ETITO training manager
- Look up potential employers online or in the Yellow Pages and ask if you can send them your CV. If they say no, ask them if they know of any other employers in the trade who are looking for an apprentice
- Tell everyone you know that you’re looking for an apprenticeship. Who knows, they could tell an employer or someone who knows one, all about you and you could be on your way!
- Check out your local paper for employers advertising for apprentices
- Contact an ETITO training manager – they may be able to put you in contact with an employer. To find the training manager for your area, click 'contact us' on the navigation bar
- Contact a Modern Apprenticeship Coordinator – they may be able to put you in touch with employers wanting an apprentice. www.modern-apprenticeships.govt.nz
- If you can't get an apprenticeship now, sign up for a pre-trade course at your local polytechnic. This will give you a head start with the theory component of the qualification of your choic
Not sure if you want to start straight into an apprenticeship? Or maybe you like the idea of an electrotechnology or telecommunications apprenticeship, but aren't sure in which field? Then maybe you should consider a pre-employment course.
Pre-employment courses
A pre-employment course is a tech course that gives you the opportunity to work towards the off-job parts of an apprenticeship while learning what working in the industry is all about. By doing work experience you give a potential employer the opportunity to see you at work – many pre-employment students find an apprenticeship this way.
It’s not compulsory to do a pre-employment course, you can enter an apprenticeship directly without one.
Pre-employment courses typically involve:
- Six months to two years of study - covering most of the first year of off-job training requirements for an electrotechnology or telecommunications apprenticeship and sometimes the second year as well. This includes: the principles of electricity and magnetism, simple electrical diagrams, simple mathematics and mechanics, first aid and more
- Time each week to gain work experience out in the field.
To find out more about pre-employment courses, contact the training manager for your region or a customer service administrator. You'll find their details by clicking 'contact us'.