Leaving school can be a strange experience. On the one hand you feel a great sense of freedom, but on the other is a realisation that you need to get on and find something to do. This might mean more study or perhaps looking for a job or an apprenticeship.
But what happens if, for example, you find that your grades weren’t as good as you might have hoped and you are struggling to find work or an apprenticeship? It’s an age-old problem, employers prefer employees with experience, but how are you supposed to get that experience if nobody will give you a job in the first place? If you find yourself in a situation like this it might be time to consider a traineeship.
Traineeships are aimed at young people aged 16-24 with potential but perhaps lacking exam results and work experience. A traineeship will include work preparation training, some high-quality work experience, and English and Maths for those who may need it.
A traineeship will last between six weeks and six months and should see you gain the skills and experience you need to get to the next level and find work or an apprenticeship. Not only will the time spent offer you some extra skills and training, but it will also provide some genuine on-the-job work experience that you can point to when looking for your next move.
Offering confidence and a way of proving that you are a dedicated employee, a traineeship is a way for employers to help you get the skills you need to start your own career. In fact, at the end of the work experience placement trainees will be offered a job interview if there is a suitable position available. If there isn’t a role available trainees will still get a reference or an exit interview offering invaluable feedback.
On the down side, traineeships are unpaid, although employers will often cover costs such as transport and meals, so at least you are not left out of pocket while training. Some trainees may find that they are eligible to apply for extra financial support from their training provider through the 16-19 Bursary Fund or the 19+ Discretionary Learner Support Fund. Also, eligible trainees will still receive child benefit, and all training costs are funded by the government – so at least you won’t be asked to pay for the training.
If you have found that a lack of skills and experience have stopped you finding an apprenticeship you can boost your chances by taking a traineeship first.
To get a traineeship you need to be working less than 16 hours a week and be motivated to work. You also need to be aged 16-18 and qualified under Level 3 or aged 19 - 23 and qualified under Level 2. If you haven’t already tried, it might be worth looking for an apprenticeship first, but if you find that isn’t getting you far, there are plenty of traineeships available to boost your skills and set you up for your first steps on the career ladder
