Finding a Job

Select an apprenticeship or traineeship that suits you

With a choice from over 600 qualifications, you are sure to find one that suits your career goals.

Apprenticeships and traineeships are a great way to get ahead and cover nearly every industry you can think of including: Agriculture, Baking and Cooking, Building and Construction, Engineering, Hairdressing, Business, Information Technology, Retail, Legal, Tourism and Hospitality, and Sport and Recreation. 

Steps to becoming an apprentice or trainee

1. Select your qualification. See a list of available Apprenticeships and Traineeships on the Department of Education and Training website:

• Apprenticeships
• Traineeships

2. Once you have found an apprenticeship or traineeship, enter your qualification of interest on the Queensland Training Information Service (QTIS) website. QTIS will provide you with more information including a vocational summary, nominal durations, course code, available training organisations, list of competencies and other important information. 

Find an employer  

Once you have prepared your resume you are ready to start looking for a position. Send your resume and cover letter addressed to the appropriate person. Make sure that you follow-up, to see that your application has been received. This will also give you an opportunity to ask questions and potentially stand out from other applicants.

There are a number of sources you can use to find a position. These include:

Approach Employers that you are interested in working for. 

You may want to search through the Yellow Pages, the Internet or visit an employer face-to-face.  

Register with a Group Training Organisation (GTO).

GTOs employ apprentices and trainees directly and then host them out to employers for an agreed amount of time and set fee. They can help you by:
 

• arranging and monitoring the on- and off-the-job training
• acting as consultants and trouble-shooters for both you and your host employer throughout the entire period of employment and training
• arranging rotations with other host employers to broaden your training
• arranging alternate work placements when required
• counselling and caring for you throughout your apprenticeship or traineeship
• looking after the paperwork including wage, holiday pay and sick leave

To contact a GTO click here.
 

Register with an Employment Service Provider (ESP)

The Australian Government introduced Job Services Australia to meet the employment and recruitment requirements of both job seekers and employers.
 

Other job seeking methods include:

TAFE or Private Registered Training Organisations

Many of these organisations employ Job Placement Officers who may be aware of apprenticeship or traineeship vacancies. 

Regional or Metropolitan Newspapers

Check out the employment section of your local or regional newspapers. 

Employment Websites

Log on to an employment website. The most popular sites are:
Australian Job Search: www.jobsearch.gov.au
Seek: www.seek.com.au
CareerOne: www.careerone.com.au. 

School

If you are still at school, visit our students page to read more on Australian School-based Apprenticeships and Traineeships.

Australian Apprenticeships Access Program (AAAP)

The AAAP provides pre-vocational training and other forms of assistance for jobseekers who are registered for employment assistance and/or in receipt of income support from Centrelink. This program may help you obtain an apprenticeship or traineeship. For more information contact you local Centrelink office.

Speak to your closest acquaintances

Consider approaching family, friends, relatives, local or family owned businesses for work opportunities.