As the end of your apprenticeship draws closer you will have to start thinking about what you are going to do when it ends. When you started you probably weren’t thinking much further than the apprenticeship, so the prospect can feel a bit daunting.

The good news is that there are lots of options available to you, you just have to decide what is right for you. The great thing about apprenticeships is that you gain a qualification as well as practical experience and skills and you can use them in a number of different ways.

Know Your Options

The first thing to do is to know what is available to you that you can make an informed decision. There are a lot of places that can help you find this information. Talk to your local jobcentre about what jobs might be out there, make an appointment with the careers advisor at your college or ask you boss what opportunities there are the company. Once you have found everything out you can think about what would suit you and what you want to do once your apprenticeship come to an end.

Finding a Job

If you started your apprenticeship straight after school, or haven’t had a job in a while then the thought of finding a job can be a bit scary. Think practically about the skills that you have learnt and what jobs you could use them in.

Is there a similar job in a different company? Can you transfer your skills to a new industry? Do you want to change role? Explore the market and see what is available before putting together a good CV that you can use to approach new employers.

Permanent Position

Another option which may be appealing is to stay within the company that you have done your apprenticeship with. This may not always be possible so you need to find out if they are doing any permanent recruitment or if they would be willing to keep you on. If they are not doing any permanent recruitment you need to convince them why they should find a place for you. Be able to give clear, concrete examples of how you are an asset to the company.

Further Education

When your apprenticeship ends you may not want to find a job but decide that you want to study further. Having built a good base with your NVQ there re lots of choices. You may want to do further study in the same subject to try and gain an HND or a degree. Or you may decide to study different subjects that build on what you have already learnt. Talk to your college about all the different options and what would suit you best.

Finishing an apprenticeship is only the beginning of your career and there are lots of options open to you. Do your research and find out all the information so you can make an informed decision. Consider whether you want to continue working or study more. Then look at what jobs are available or whether you could find a permanent position with your current company.