Prospective employers may seek information about your background, skills, and interest relevant to the position during apprenticeship interviews. Your responses can help you highlight your personal experiences, along with your willingness to learn. Getting a better understanding of common apprenticeship interview questions may help you craft thoughtful answers that might further convince hiring managers to employ you. In this article, Pritish Kumar Halder discusses apprenticeships and their benefits and reviews some questions that interviewers might ask you to determine your suitability and provide sample answers.
What are Apprentice Interview Questions?
To understand apprentice interview questions, learning what apprenticeship means is essential. These interview questions typically help recruiters decide if you are a strong candidate for an apprenticeship position. Apprenticeship training is a type of training that you can find in any sector or establishment. Apprentices usually study theoretical concepts and undergo functional on-the-job training simultaneously.
During an apprenticeship, an individual learns skills from a specialist in their industry to prepare for a successful career in a specialized vocation. This might take them six months to three-four years. They may also take additional training or enroll in certificate courses to help them gain an enhanced understanding of the field.
Benefits of Apprenticeship training
There are many advantages to training as an apprentice. Listed below are some of them:
. Apprentices can learn on the job and gain exposure to real-world situations.
. They often work with the latest tools and equipment.
. They can explore their field better and learn about the industry standards that regulate its principles and practices.
. Apprentices might turn into highly trained professionals once they master the abilities and expertise necessary to get their desired remuneration or self-employment in a trade or occupation.
. Apprentices also receive a stipend during their training at the established rates, which means they can earn while they learn.
Industries that hire Apprentices
Given below are some of the industries that may employ apprentices:
. Agriculture
. Agrochemicals
. Beauty
. Wellness
. Automobile and ancillaries
. Manufacture and engineering
. Electrical engineering
. Plumbing
. Retail
. Information technology
Examples of interview questions and their answers
Following is a list of sample interview questions with their answers that can guide you when preparing for your interview as an apprentice:
1. Tell me a little about yourself.
Potential employers might ask this question at the beginning of your interview. Your interviewer may ask this question to learn more about your education and professional experience. They might also want to understand more about your skills and the technical know-how you possess. For example, things you like to do in your leisure time, any abilities or traits you possess or anything about your personality that can be important to the position. Consider preparing a brief statement about yourself that highlights your qualities and your interest in the role and includes things from your resume.
Example: ‘I am Rajan Sarmah. I grew up in a small town in Assam. Living with my extended family in my childhood helped me a lot. As I was the oldest cousin, I took care of my younger siblings, tutored them and helped around the house with daily chores and fixed computers. This made me self-reliant, which helped me when I left my town for further studies. It enabled me to learn many useful skills, such as empathy, organisation, problem-solving and discipline. A knack and interest in coding and innovating persuaded me to pursue a career in information technology.’
2. What made you apply for the position of an apprentice here?
Hiring managers may want to discover your reasons for choosing the trade or to evaluate your knowledge of the industry. They might also ask you this question to learn why you chose their organisation for completing your apprenticeship. You can describe how the apprenticeship might assist you in achieving your career goals and the steps you took to qualify yourself for the position. Demonstrating your preparation can assist the employer in learning more about how you plan for long-term objectives.
Example: ‘I think this apprenticeship can provide me with the requisite skills and experience to advance in the industry. The knowledge that I earned through courses and previous work educated me in the fundamentals of the profession. I also admire the work your company does and want to work for your company on a long-term basis. When I was researching apprenticeship positions, I noticed that you frequently provide full-time positions to those who successfully complete apprenticeships with your company.’
3. How do your skills help you contribute to the company as an apprentice?
Your interviewers may enquire about your applicable skills to understand more about your experience in the field. This question allows you to talk about your past work experience and any events that may help you establish valuable talents. Consider mentioning your skills briefly while replying to indicate that you can be a great asset to the organisation to your prospective employer.
Example: ‘Though I am new to this industry, I possess significant customer service experience. I saw in your job listing that maintaining client relations is a key element of this role. I used to be involved in fundraising campaigns for the local club that organised neighbourhood clean-up initiatives and puja ceremonies. During my time with these organisations, I found how much I enjoy assisting others, ensuring that guests enjoy their experience and that they leave with a positive impression of their visit. I think my skills make me a suitable candidate for the beauty sector.’
4. Where do you see yourself five years into the future?
Hiring managers may ask this question to understand how you intend to utilise the opportunities presented by the apprenticeship. Communicating your expectations and perceptions might help demonstrate your capacity to organise and devise a strategy to reach a common goal.
Example: ‘I see myself as a successful professional in five years. I intend to work in this field full-time once I complete my apprenticeship. While I enjoyed working in other fields and appreciate the skills that I gained because of my past jobs, I hope to use my talents to advance in this field. I think I might train apprentices in the future and help them grow and succeed after working in this area for a few years and earning sufficient expertise.’
5. What, according to you, are your biggest strengths and weaknesses?
Interviewers may pose this question to assist them in determining the aspects which make you suitable for the position and also test your ability to self-analyse. This question might also aid recruiters in learning which abilities you perceive to be your strongest. Linking your present capabilities to the apprenticeship you are seeking can help a recruiter see how you fit into the role. When answering this question, ensure that you address both your strengths and shortcomings and how the apprenticeship may help you progress in those areas.
Example: ‘One of my weaknesses is not seeking assistance when I require it. I often try to do multiple projects simultaneously, which can sometimes require help. I prefer to overcome problems on my own, but I realize that sometimes a teammate or supervisor can provide a better or faster solution. This apprenticeship can teach me how to depend on others. I consider myself a people person who possesses outstanding customer service skills. I am highly empathetic and my work in the local club involved engaging with a wide range of people. This improved my ability to communicate effectively.’
6. Do you want to ask us anything?
This is usually the last question the interviewers might ask you. This is an opportunity for both you and your potential employer to learn more about each other and to determine if the role might suit you. You may seek clarification about your duties, prospects for advancement, the work culture or whether there are any specific certifications or training you might pursue.
Example: ‘Yes, thank you for the opportunity. If possible, can you show me the most critical projects that you might require me to work on immediately if selected for the apprenticeship position? I also wish to learn about the day-to-day responsibilities of the role besides the information in the job description.’
Reference: https://in.indeed.com/career-advice/interviewing/apprentice-interview-questions
