What advice do you have for people who want to do what you do?
If you are a practical person, like cars and are willing to join an apprenticeship scheme, then I can totally recommend it. Through a school work placement with a local company I learned about hydraulics and mechanical systems and knew then I was the kind of person that liked to understand how things work. If you are willing to learn new things, have a positive attitude and enjoy training, this is the job for you.
What are the common apprenticeship interview questions?
You have written the perfect CV and cover letter and now you are only one step away from securing your dream apprenticeship at the interview. No matter how old you are, interviews can be scary. They can make you feel nervous and anxious. Yet if you go to an interview prepared as best you can, you have every chance of succeeding.
To help you prepare, we’ve put together a list of the most common apprentice interview questions, as well as some advice on how best to answer them.
What would you say is your biggest weakness?
Don’t answer this question with answers such as ‘I work too hard, so I’m always running out of work to do’ – the interviewer isn’t trying to catch you out with this type of question. This is a perfect opportunity to demonstrate that you’re honest and can evaluate your own performance.
The ability to identify your own weaknesses is considered a strength.
Top Tip: Make a list of all your weaknesses and if you haven’t already, start to come up with ways to improve on them. This will not only better prepare you for your interviewer, but it will also help you improve on a personal level.
What’s the best thing about your job?
I love working with a premium brand. Not only is there a certain amount of kudos but I genuinely am very impressed with the quality of the product.
I was very proud to recently have been named as Lookers Apprentice of the Year. The awards ceremony was held in Palma, Spain and there I met the CEO of the company as well as other senior team members. It was great to feel so appreciated.
What is a typical day like?
My days are very varied. I live only a few miles away so the daily commute is fairly straightforward which is great!
After I clock in I will check in with my manager who will assign me jobs for that day. This could involve working on more basic tasks such as servicing or changing brakes through to more challenging ones involving full diagnosis of a cars problems.
Now that I have been here for two years the jobs I undertake tend to be more challenging which I enjoy as I know I have the backing of a great team.
Is there anything that you would like to ask us?
So the interview is nearly finished and you’re ready to get out of there fast. This is your final interview question so make sure to end on a high.
Don’t respond to this question with a simple NO. There are always questions to ask. This is a great opportunity to get to understand the apprenticeship more – and even see if it is a good fit for you. You could ask questions relating to the responsibilities of the role, opportunities for progression, what the company culture is like, or if there are any additional qualifications or training you could take.
Even if it’s just simple questions such as: “what is the next stage of the apprenticeship interview process?” is better than walking out without saying anything.
Top Tip: It is a good idea to research the company beforehand and come up with questions you would like to ask at the end of the interview. We would recommend thoroughly going over the job description and responsibilities too and hopefully there will naturally be some questions that come to mind that you would like to know the answers to before you start the apprenticeship.