Group of apprentices listen to a speaker

Degree apprenticeships application process

Intro

1. Sourcing and application

Two students sat down during a seminar or class.

Sourcing

In order to secure an apprenticeship you need to apply to employers who are advertising these opportunities either by applying directly to their advertisements or through the National Apprenticeship Service.

It is also important to start looking at apprenticeship websites to familiarise yourself with how they are structured and what they look like. These resources will also allow you to filter, register and set alerts.

  • Sourcing tips

    • Candidates are advised to check the find an apprenticeship website. All of the UK-wide apprenticeships appear on this site. Opportunities appear all year round, however some employers will release vacancies once or twice a year.
    • Employers advertise their vacancies on their websites (in addition to the government website listed above). Candidates can look at employers' websites to learn about the company, vacancies and register their interest. 
    • LinkedIn is a good platform to look for vacancies. Candidates can display their experience, skills, and aspirations on their profile. Increasingly employers advertise their vacancies on LinkedIn, while candidates can also set up filters and job alerts.  
    • Job websites are a good place to look for vacancies and you can also set up alerts. Again these vacancies will also appear on the government website.
    • Other platforms such as Get my First Job, Not going to Uni, and the UCAS Apprenticeships website also have further information and vacancies.
A student with a green hoodie on, smiling while he works on his laptop.

Application

The application stage often leads to many rejections. This is usually because of the large volume of applications that have been made. Employers report that they will reject applications because of:

  • Poor presentation – spelling and grammar
  • Questions not being addressed
  • No indication of interest in the company or job
  • Overall, not enough information

  • Application tips

    • Make sure you know all of the details about the job including the deadline, salary, location and duration of the apprenticeship, whether it is remote work, on-site or hybrid, and the hours of work or shift patterns.
    • Ask yourself, will this fit in with your lifestyle, personal commitments and/or financial needs? How far are you willing to travel and how much will that cost?
    • Check what you will be learning as part of your degree - is this what you want to learn and do as a job afterwards?
    • Make sure you follow the employers' application methods, eg their application form or CV attachment - sometimes employers ask you to include specific information.
    • Whether it is a CV or an application form, ensure you include the skills you have that match the job description. For example, if they ask for good communication, you should have something in your personal statement, personal profile or answers to questions that reflect this. There will be several skills the employer will specify so make sure you cover them all. Link the application to the language used in the job description.
    • If you are not sure, talk to friends, family, teachers, colleagues etc about your skills. They may give you some good examples of your key skills.
    • Research the company – what is their business? Where are they based? Are they international? Who do they work with? Most company websites are designed to showcase their achievements.
    • Make sure that you have used correct grammar and spelling. This is vital as your responses can be misinterpreted or rejected. Ask a friend to check your application or use a spelling and grammar checker.

  • CV tips

    A CV (curriculum vitae) is a document that displays your education history, qualifications, skills and work experience. It should be tailored to fit with each vacancy. A CV should also be:

    • No longer than 2 sides of A4
    • A personal profile that showcases your skills and aspirations.
    • Relevant work experience in chronological order.
    • School and professional qualifications.
    • There are many CV templates on employers and job websites that you can use. Find out more on the applying for jobs page.

2. Shortlisting

Two students walking through campus, smiling and in conversation.
An employer will use various strategies to find the right candidate to fill their vacancy. They will be paying the candidate's salary and tuition fees, and want to make sure the person is the right fit. Assessments used can vary from an individual test to a group activity (in-person or online) with a number of other candidates.
 
  • An online assessment is usually a timed event that gives the candidate a set amount of time (usually minutes) for their response. This process usually records answers live. 
  • A group activity usually involves working with other candidates to find a solution to a problem set by the employer. These are held at training centres or virtual training centres.
  • Assessments can be done all day or during a half-day event, while many employers will interview on the same day.

Find out more on the applying for jobs page.

  • Individual online assessments

    These are usually recorded with a set number of questions the candidate has to answer, taking approximately 15 - 30 minutes. You will be notified if you are going to have one, and it will usually be at a mutually agreed time. You will also be notified of the subject of the questions, eg technical questions using Excel, so that you can do some preparation.

    If you know the subject of the assessment, you will need to start revising immediately. You may be able to find some practice questions online for this and you should try to time your responses as extra preparation. If you are not given any subject, then you can look at the job description and try to judge what you may be asked, eg data heavy job descriptions may have some technical questions, while customer service job descriptions may require communication skills and/or problem-solving.

    Refer to interview preparation tips for 

  • Group assessments

    Group assessments are a very popular method of shortlisting. Candidates are put in groups with a specific case study or problem to work on. Candidates are observed whilst they work together with a group presentation at the end. This allows employers to see how people interact with each other and cooperate to find a solution. Employers can also better understand who best fits into their team. This process is not always about finding a leader - if you do naturally take to this role then it is still important to remain courteous and considerate and take on board the views and ideas of the other group members. 

    Note, that these assessments can take place either in person or virtually. In both cases, employers refer to the environment as ‘The Assessment Centre’. Candidates should be prepared for this process to take a whole or half day and will be notified of start and finish times. If it is a long process, you will be given a break.

    These may not be easy to prepare for however you can try to judge by using the job description as indicated above. You can also:

    • Look at the company website to see if they offer any help or guidance. 
    • Find out if anybody you know has done a similar assessment and if they can give you some guidance. Remember companies will not use the same assessment every time. 
    • There are many sources of information and guidance from reputable employment websites and LinkedIn can also offer you some valuable support.

  • Online assessment tips

    • Once again, check your tech! If you have unreliable tech then you may need to find alternative arrangements, whether it is at a school, or through a family member or friend.
    • Find a quiet space - make sure you won't be interrupted. Give those you live with plenty of notice that you will be doing an assessment and give them the date and time. Put notices up around the house (especially on the door of the room you will be working in) to remind them.
    • Have a practice run to make sure everything is working. You can then check your background, camera and microphone. As a rule, make sure your background is plain or if that is not possible, blurred.
    • Decide what you will wear. Employers report that poorly dressed individuals is one reason for eliminating candidates at the online assessment stage. If you dress reasonably smartly, it will also put you in a better frame of mind for the interview process. However, make sure that you will be comfortable as it may be a long day.

3. Interview

A woman shaking someone's hand
The interview is usually the final part of the process. This is an opportunity to make a good impression on your prospective line manager or employer. Candidates may feel anxious during this stage, but with careful planning and preparation, this can be a positive and successful experience and lead to securing a degree apprenticeship placement.

  • Interview preparation tips

    Preparing for an interview is vital. You will usually be notified about an interview by email, however, some employers choose to call, text or even send a letter. From the moment you know you have an interview you should start your preparation. Read the information several times so that you are sure of what you need to do. 

    Here are some things you can do immediately:

    • Find out where and when the interview will take place.
    • Check your diary and see what arrangements you need to make so that you can attend the interview.
    • If you are unable to make the interview (there needs to be a good reason for this, eg travel, an appointment, or attending an event you cannot miss) contact the company and see if you can reschedule.

    You can prepare for the next stages when you have more time. These will include:

    • If the interview is online, check your tech! Make sure everything is working and ensure you have a quiet space where you will not be disturbed. Refer to our online assessment tips for more information.
    • If the interview is in person, make sure you know the route and work out how you will get there. Have a contingency plan in the event of a car breakdown or public transport issues.
    • Research the company and re-read the job description/specification.
    • Start to prepare for any technical questions which may be asked.
    • Check the job description and highlight any skills that are essential and desired and consider what questions may be asked.
    • Work on interview techniques (see below).
    • Consider some questions you can ask at the end of the interview.

  • Interview techniques

    You can anticipate what interview questions might be based on the skills highlighted in the job description. You might be asked about specific areas including equal opportunities, confidentiality, or child protection if the job is supporting any of these areas.

    Types of questions can include:

    • Personality questions - "What are you passionate about?"
    • Qualification-related questions - "What part of your course did you enjoy most?"
    • Competency-based questions - “Tell me about a time when you had to manage your time efficiently and what was the outcome?"
    • Opinion questions – “What do you think is the best skill you need to be a good manager?

    The STAR Technique 

    Of the above questions, competency-based questions can be the hardest to answer succinctly. When mastered, the STAR technique is an ideal tool to help you to answer these questions. The question below is about equal opportunities.

    There four basic steps: 

     

    • Situation - Tell the interviewer about the basic situation. Make it straight and to the point.
    • Task - What was your part in the process? What was your job in this particular situation?
    • Action - What action did you take? Describe what you did which helped to improve the situation.
    • Result- What was the result? Any feedback or stats that you can remember can help to bring home the point.

    Using this method for competency-based questions will give you some structure and prevent you from waffling.

    There are also things you can do to help buy you some time during an interview. For example, ask for the question to be repeated so you can think of an answer, or ask if you can come back to the question at the end of the interview.

A student in a blue sweatshirt smiling during group study.

In summary

  • Practising and preparing for an interview is key to being successful.
  • Trying to make a judgement about what sorts of questions you may expect will help you to focus.
  • Think about some scenarios that you have experienced relating to communication, difficult situations, time management etc to help with competency-based questions.
  • Make sure you have studied and practised any technical questions you may be asked.
  • If you are asked an opinion-based question, you will need to back it up with an example. You can also use STAR for this (see above).
a man with his hands folded over a laptop. You can only see his arms and the laptop keyboard.

AI interviews

Some employers use AI as a shortlisting technique before the final interview. This involves logging into a virtual interview which records not only your answers but also your body language. In many cases, you will be greeted by a blank screen, which can be challenging. The process is recorded and then analysed either by a person or by an AI tool, later selecting the most suitable candidates.

  • AI interview tips

    Although this can be quite a clinical process, there are things that you can do which can help you:

    • You can use an online tool such as Google’s Interview Warmup which offers a set of interview questions as well as feedback.
    • During the interview, try to behave exactly as you would in a face-to-face interview. Remember to smile, use hand gestures, and nod your head as you would normally.
    • In terms of verbal answers, you should avoid too many silences and the use of ‘ums’ and ‘errs'. In addition, you should avoid using ‘upspeak’, where you raise your voice's pitch at the end of the sentence. This can be interpreted as a question as an answer to a question.
    • Practice is the best way to prepare for this type of interview. Practice your answers out loud, write them down and practice with others. This will give you more confidence when you tackle the AI interview.

4. Success and reflection

A woman celebrating in front of her laptop
Congratulations to the successful candidates! However, not all candidates are successful on their first few attempts due to the competition for degree apprenticeships. Reflection is therefore a vital part of the process; candidates are advised to take time to consider what has happened and what they can do to improve their chances in the future.
An employer meeting a potential employee or student

Feedback from the employer

Feedback after an interview from an employer is your guidebook going forward. 

Constructive feedback may include the following:

  • Work experience

    Not having enough work experience is often a reason given for an unsuccessful interview.

    • You can change this by volunteering at UWL. You can also try to get work experience in your chosen industry or field by directly approaching a company.
    • Look at voluntary organisations online or utilise LinkedIn to search for contacts who might be able to help you.
    • Get good at networking! Talk to friends, family, colleagues etc and see if they have any contacts that can help you.

  • Poor interview performance

    This is another common reason for not getting the job. The good news is that this can be improved with research and practice. Working on your questions and answers, relaxation techniques and body language can help to improve your interview technique.

  • Candidate not passionate or interested in the job

    It may not have been the impression you wished to portray – you may have simply been nervous. But doing enough research into the job and company will help counter this. For example, ask a specific question about the company or job which indicates your interest. You can also show your interest in your answers by talking about things you enjoy doing, eg meeting people or using data, which will be a part of the job. An employer will want to know you are aware of their business and what you can offer to the role.

Student working on a laptop with headphones in a cafe

When you don’t get feedback

Send a follow-up email if you don't get a response from an employer to emphasise the importance of feedback.

If you do not receive feedback you may not know where you went wrong. However, follow our feedback reflection tips to better understand how you can improve:

  • Feedback reflection tips

    • Keep track of your applications. Note which stages you were shortlisted for and see if you can spot a pattern.
    • Taking notes directly after each stage of the process can help you to understand your strengths and weaknesses. A quick note to reflect on what was hard or unexpected can help you pinpoint what you need to work on.
    • Talk to a friend or mentor about the process - sometimes friends can help you understand how you can improve your performance.
    • Look at the types of jobs you are applying for. Are you sure you are interested or suited to these positions? Do you feel excited about each job and do you feel motivated to pursue them?
    • Consider talking to a career mentor or adviser. You can talk to an adviser free of charge at the National Careers Service.
    • Use a platform such as LinkedIn to increase your network and get help from others.

Contact us

To find out how we can support your business, contact Janet Rowson, Head of Degree Apprenticeships at the University of West London. 

Janet Rowson, Head of Apprenticeships at the University of West London

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