Choose your career pathway
Choosing the industry or trade you are interested in is the first step in your journey to becoming an apprentice. Take the time to research various industries or skilled trades to determine which one you would like to explore and pursue an apprenticeship in.
See the Apprenticeship Finder link below to explore potential apprenticeships.
“I think there really is an appetite not only from students but from parents and schools to really provide a relevant, meaningful career opportunity.”
-Jenny Winkelaar, Local 49, Director of Workforce and Development
Search for an opportunity
It is important to find the apprenticeship that you want. Search for apprenticeships in the industry that interests you, or with companies you would like to work for. It may be beneficial to apply for several apprenticeships to increase your chances of getting the one you want.
For example, CW Matthews integrated Cat Simulators and SimScholars curriculum into its apprenticeship program to recruit and train new heavy equipment operator apprentices. Alternatively, consider an apprenticeship program through a community college. Many colleges work with local companies to establish partnerships. Upon program completion, students can be hired into apprenticeships with local companies. Ivy Tech is an example of a college that offers a heavy equipment operator apprenticeship program.
Research the apprenticeship
When you find an apprenticeship that you’re interested in, research the company or person offering it. You may want to consider the type of training provided, such as classroom learning, hands-on simulator-based training or on-the-job training.
“We were able to go to the jobsite and break down what we were learning from the book. We could see it in real life and implement that into our learning. I went from having no job, to having four job offers in one day.”
–Angel Ortiz, Laurel Ridge Community College, Heavy Equipment Operator Program
Complete your application
Once you’ve researched the position, it’s time to fill out the application. Try to customize it for the specific apprenticeship as much as possible by using some of the keywords you found during your research. Apprenticeship applications may contain unique questions, so make sure to read the entire application before applying.
Before submitting your apprenticeship application, review it carefully once, twice, and even three times to ensure it is neatly organized and has proper spelling and grammar. Then, consider asking someone you trust to review it. A second set of eyes never hurts and can find additional errors.
Explain past work experience
When applying for apprenticeships, include your relevant work experience and activities demonstrating your fit for the position. Tailor your answers to reflect your research on the apprenticeship and emphasize the skills that make you an ideal candidate.
Some organizations are establishing pathways to apprenticeships through high schools and community colleges. For students, the opportunity for work experience may come in the form of class projects. In Georgia, 31 high schools and career technical centers are part of an HEO Pathway to heavy equipment operation. The final project of the course, a.k.a. the capstone, takes learners into the field for an on-the-iron experience where they demonstrate the skills they learned on Cat Simulators.
Know the statistics
90%
of apprentices who complete an apprenticeship retain employment
$80,000
average annual salary upon completion of an apprenticeship
$300,000+
more an apprentice earns over their career than a non-apprentice
64%
increase in new apprentices over the past 10 years and is expected to continue to grow as demand increases.
Check out this U.S. map that shows the need for heavy equipment operators. Pay ranges will depend on location and operator demand.
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, apprenticeship.gov
