If you are looking for a role as an Architectural Apprentice and not sure where to start, here are the key places to try.
RIBA Jobs
If you’re researching becoming an architecture student, then you have probably already heard of RIBA; the Royal Institute of British Architects. This is the British professional body for Architects and those working in the field.
RIBA Jobs is a job listing site specific to roles in the architectural industry and design roles. These jobs can be anything from Architectural Apprenticeships to construction jobs, so it is always worth a search. You can filter your search by job title, location, salary and contract type.
Not only is RIBA Jobs an excellent place to find and apply for roles, but the site also offers CV and Portfolio guidance and interview tips. Have a look at their blog posts for further job-hunting advice, specific to architecture.
LinkedIn is an excellent tool for not just looking for jobs, but also for selling yourself to employers and recruiters. Your LinkedIn page acts as a digital CV, allowing you to add information regarding your education and any previous job roles. The user interface has similarities with Facebook, so it is fairly intuitive to use.
LinkedIn Jobs allows employers to list their vacancies and get seen by those on the site. A great feature of LinkedIn Jobs is being able to see how many applicants have applied for a job. This can be especially helpful when trying to gauge how desirable a company may be to work for.
LinkedIn will also show you what category a potential employer falls into with regard to how many employees they have. If you want to get a varied range of experience with increased opportunities for site visits, then going for a smaller firm may increase this possibility. If you are wanting to experience lots of different departments and a more corporate role with a more rigid structure, then a larger company may be more suited to you.
Not only can you utilise LinkedIn Jobs, but you can also make the most of the networking opportunities available on the site. Try searching for the job title you want (e.g. “Architectural Apprentice”) and see who comes up. You may find they work for a company that you never knew employed apprentices and try to enquire there. You can also reach out to these people with a direct message and introduce yourself. This is an excellent opportunity to make your name known amongst firms and build a rapport with people in the roles you aspire to work.
Website: www.LinkedIn.com
Gov.uk
The Government apprenticeship website is an excellent place to look for apprenticeships in the UK.
This job site allows you to filter your search by job title, job description and employer name. This is a very quick way of seeing if a specific company you wish to work for has listed their vacancies here.
You can also search by apprenticeship level, which is especially important in Architecture. There are only two apprenticeship level options currently available within the Architecture industry; the level 6 Architectural Assistant Apprenticeship (undergraduate degree) and the level 7 Architect Apprenticeship (masters degree).
NGTU
The Not Going to Uni website has an excellent search option for apprenticeships, with providers such as IBM, The Royal Air Force, Sky, DHL and Unilever. As a result, NGTU has a host of different industries and apprenticeship levels available.
To ensure you are making the most out of your NGTU job search, be sure to create a profile on their website. This makes applications faster and allows you to receive notifications on job roles that may be suitable to you, as well as updates on your applications.
Be sure to check out the other NGTU blogs available, written by a host of NGTU ambassadors!
Website: www.notgoingtouni.co.uk
Recruiters
I feel it is also important to mention recruiters when talking about a job search. Recruiters will often hear about job vacancies before they get advertised elsewhere and may be able to get your application seen by companies first. This can be incredibly important in an industry like Architecture, where your application relies heavily on someone looking through your work as opposed to you just meeting qualification and experience criteria.
Best of luck with your search!
