Smart career strategy

Apprenticeship/Traineeship qualifications and Tertiary qualifications can complement each other.

Acclaim continues to attract applicants that have completed a university qualification and find it difficult to obtain work in their field or do not enjoy the field of work for which they are qualified. Unfortunately there are restrictions to access Apprenticeships and Traineeships when the applicant already has a higher qualification.

A smart strategy is to plan a long term career path utilising Apprenticeships and Traineeships to launch their career, gain a nationally recognised qualification and receive credits for competencies towards university studies.

Some of the key benefits of this are:

• Ability to decide if this is the Industry that they want to continue to train in.
• Better suited and readily accepted into universities as adult learners.
• Gain credits and reduce HECs (HELP) debt and training time.
• Able to work full time or part time to fund training in their industry further complimenting their employment and studies.
• Better understand theoretical concepts and readily apply them.
• Become more attractive to employers as they put themselves. in demand with both practical skills and knowledge to support the higher qualification.

Below are two excellent examples of this strategy in practice:

Example 1

While at school in year 11, Sarah commenced a School Based Traineeship studying Certificate 2 in Business. Sarah completed this during mid way through year 12, then took on a Certificate 3 in Business which she received several credits for. At the end of school Sarah converted her employment to full time and completed her qualification in June. She continued working full time with her employer for another 3 months while sorting out the application with university. Sarah was readily accepted into university as an adult learner, holding a Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE, the old Senior Certificate) and her Certificate 2 and 3 in Business qualifications, this gave her several credits and a higher Tertiary Education (OP) ranking. Sarah is now studying full time in her Bachelor of Business (Management).

Example 2

After leaving school in year 11, Bradley completed a Pre-Vocational course Certificate 1 in General Construction at TAFE where he was able to try various construction trade areas, learn the basics, choose a trade direction and gain valuable skills and knowledge that employers are looking for. Bradley was employed by Acclaim and placed with various Host Employers gaining the full scope of the Carpentry Trade. Bradley commenced his study while he was in level 4 of his apprenticeship to become a registered builder. When Bradley completed his Apprenticeship he soon had his builders licence and was heading to university to study a Bachelor of Engineering (Construction Management) part time, while earning a respectable income in his trade area.

These strategies give you an advantage over other school leavers waiting to find out if they are accepted into university to study their first preference or obtaining any job just to make some money to get by.

Why not take every opportunity to be successful and get a head start in life with a great career plan.