Finding an Apprenticeship Program that is Right for You
With the ever-changing job market, people are looking for innovative, alternative ways to get training and build skills they can use to get a good job in a growing industry. A great way to do this is by joining an apprenticeship program, which includes both on-the-job training and classroom training. This allows you to earn money and learn great new skills that will help you land a great job.
You can find apprenticeship programs in many different career fields, such as Manufacturing, Healthcare, Transportation, the Financial Sector, and more. Not only will you have the opportunity to earn while you learn, but you will also get experience working in a particular field and be able to determine if it is the right fit for you. In addition, you will be able to work with employees who have many years of experience and find mentors that can help you along the way.
Apprenticeships continue to grow in popularity among people seeking training for growing jobs. In order to stand out in the competitive process be sure to take the right steps to be prepared:
- Research the apprenticeship,
- Find out the program expectations,
- Find out the length of training,
- Find out if there are any benefits,
- Find out how much it costs, and
- Learn what the outcomes are.
Once you’ve done the research, make sure you meet the acceptance requirements and apply before the deadline. Make sure to check out the Illinois workNet article Get Into an Apprenticeship Program to help you prepare for the process.
There are many different ways you can locate apprenticeship programs:
- Apprenticeship.gov offers an Apprenticeship Opportunities Search which allows you to search for registered apprenticeships in Illinois near you.
The Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) Apprenticeship page provides the Apprenticeship Application form you can complete in order to apply for an IDES Registered Apprenticeship, they also offer information on selecting which apprenticeship would be best for you.
- Finally, the Department of Labor’s Apprenticeship page offers advice on funding, finding an apprenticeship and more.