For the longest time, when the conversation turns to getting a qualification, the traditional route of going to university has been the only response. However, with the advancement of technology and the ever-evolving job market, there are now other ways to go about it. 

Many people are eager to get into building their experience and honing practical skills. In those cases, Australia's workforce can meet this through its many available apprenticeships as well as opportunities for a traineeship.

Learning While You Work or Earning While You Learn!

Taking on an apprenticeship or traineeship option will help you improve your skills to be more "job-ready.” Consider apprenticeship and traineeships as training and employment at a hands-on level, enabling you to earn workplace experience that will fill your resume and give you new learnings all at once. At KEEN Partners, we’re actively beside you to help you get quality experience. 

Our focus on growing people with industry means that you’ll have great foundations to continue working on the KEEN workforce or you’ll be an asset to a lot of employers with valuable knowledge and skills.

A year or so ago, government statistics showed that 1 in 50 workers across all occupations used to be apprentices or trainees. Out of that number, 1 in 10 were trade workers. It's safe to say that the numbers have likely grown more impressive since then, especially with pandemic lockdown orders (luckily not so much in Tasmania) giving people more time to start looking for apprenticeships in their fields of interest. 

The Federal government's Digital Transformation Agency even put up its own Digital Apprenticeship Program!

Read on to learn more about what makes doing an apprenticeship or traineeship ideal:

• You Can Build Your Soft Skills

Working within a team is practically guaranteed no matter what industry you're in. There will also likely be interactions that are client-facing, typically within the customer service realm. You'll also be put in positions where you need to make a quick judgment call on the spot. All of those are 'soft skills' that are highly valued across all industries.

• You’ll Learn More about Your Chosen Industry

As previously mentioned, doing an apprenticeship or traineeship will help you gain a bird's eye view of every single aspect of your chosen industry. You'll also be able to get the first-hand experience. Degrees from the traditional university route tend to zero in on learning based on knowledge and theories. On the other hand, apprenticeships help with practical application. That way, existing skills can be honed, and new ones can be developed, widening and improving your job skills as a whole.

• You’ll Get a Boost in Employability

Apprenticeships and traineeships are all about gaining experience in what's referred to as the "real world" to ultimately land a job in the field or industry you're in. Having a practical, hands-on understanding of what goes on every day, including responsibilities and tasks, will be much more appealing to employers. Our focus is to help you complete your accreditation so you have an advantage as being highly employable and can continue working with KEEN or the employer you’ve been with, or anyone you choose!

The world will be your oyster with skilled trades in high demand!

Conclusion

Going to university isn't the only way to get qualified for work. Some people fare better when they forge ahead into practical skills and gaining experience, so they go with apprenticeships or traineeships. Benefits of this path include boosting your employability, gaining more industry knowledge and having a chance to build soft skills. 

Struggling to find available apprenticeships in Tasmania? Reach out to KEEN (Key Employment and Education Network)! We’re an industry-led organisation focused on upskilling the technical capability of all Tasmanians.