Apprentice: What is the cost of hiring?
2025-10-01
Apprentice: What is the cost of hiring?
As of May 2022, the average number of job seekers per apprentice job in Australia is 18.
an apprentice: What is the cost of hiring?
As of May 2022, the average number of job seekers per apprentice job in Australia is 18.
Why hire an apprentice?
Hiring an apprentice has benefits for both the apprentice and the organisation taking them on. Investing in new skilled workers positively affects your company and your industry as a whole, counteracts skills shortages and ensures that you have productive staff. From your perspective as an employer, you are effectively future-proofing your business by training up a new team member in exactly those processes that are important in your organisation. A good apprentice will be highly motivated and will ultimately be invested in your business, which is handy when it comes to taking them on permanently after the end of their apprenticeship.
Contributions of a great apprentice:
- Actively applies theoretical knowledge in your operations
- Contributes new ideas and a different perspective to the organisation
- Follows directions and instructions as required
Deciding between a full-time vs part-time apprentice
In Australia, apprentices can be hired on a part-time or full-time basis. Finding the right apprentice or trainee for your business is crucial. After all, you will be investing a lot of time and resources into training your team member, so you will want to make sure the outcome is mutually beneficial.
Ideally, your new apprentice or trainee will stay on as a full- or part-time employee once they are fully trained and qualified for the role. Offering good apprentices the opportunity to stay on permanently will make you a desirable employer and benefit your business at the same time.
What are the different types of apprentice?
Many companies in different industry sectors offer apprenticeships. When you hire an apprentice for your business, put your advertisement together carefully to make sure you find a candidate that has the skills you need. Here are some examples of common apprenticeships:
- Business apprentice: Often starts in administration; can progress through customer service or sales all the way to a managerial position.
- Construction apprentice: Learns a trade, including hands-on practical skills and how to operate construction machinery.
- Creative and media apprentice: Applies creative skills in a field such as design, television, public relations or
marketing
.
- Transport and logistics apprentice: Acquires skills in distribution and warehouse management, inventory management, aviation operations or shipping and transport.
- Manufacturing and production apprentice: Involved in the production, assembly, installation and processing of manufactured products in production facilities.
Where to find an apprentice
To find the right apprentice for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:
- Newspaper advertising: Post an ad in your local newspaper to spread awareness of the apprenticeships you are offering.
- Social media: People tend to spend a lot of time on social media, so advertise any vacancies on your social media profiles to attract
talent
.
- Advertise in-house: Your existing employees may be able to recommend someone who fits the bill or may even have a family member who might be interested.
- TAFEs, GTOs and VTECs: Contact your local TAFE, Group Training Organisation or Vocational, Training and Employment Centre; these government agencies help connect employers with suitable trainees.
Post your job online: Try posting your apprentice job on Indeed to find and attract quality apprentice candidates.
Skills to look for in a great apprentice
A great apprentice candidate will have the following skills and attributes as well as work experience that reflects:
- good interpersonal and team-working skills
- motivation, a great work ethic and eagerness to learn
- an aptitude for the skills relevant to your industry
- punctuality, politeness and a professional demeanour
- determination to finish the apprenticeship
Writing an apprentice job description
A thoughtful description is important for finding qualified apprentice candidates. An apprentice job description includes a compelling summary of the role, a detailed list of duties and responsibilities and the required and preferred skills for the position.
When writing your job description for an apprentice, consider including some or all of the following keywords to strengthen the visibility of your job posting. These are the most popular search terms leading to clicks on apprentice jobs, according to Indeed data:
- apprenticeship
- apprentice
- electrical apprentice
- trainee
- electrical apprenticeship
- apprenticeships
- mechanic apprenticeship
Interviewing apprentice candidates
Strong candidates for apprentice positions will be confident answering questions regarding:
- motivation for applying for the apprenticeship
- long-term career goals
- certificates, training or qualifications held
- understanding of the industry, expected duties and tasks
- skills and aptitudes relevant to the role
Need help coming up with interview questions? See our list of apprentice interview questions for examples (with sample answers).
*Indeed provides this information as a courtesy to users of this site. Please note that we are not your recruiting or legal advisor, we are not responsible for the content of your job descriptions, and none of the information provided herein guarantees performance.
