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Apprenticeships, even today, are still viewed as the less obvious choice despite them becoming increasingly popular with each passing year. Schools and colleges mostly educate students about the benefits of earning a university degree, and why it’s a must to complete, but never even mention anything about the apprenticeship path.
On the other side of the bank, companies are waiting to engage apprentices, to provide them with classroom training and on-the-job training, allowing them to gain both theoretical and practical experience and become the superstars of tomorrow.
What are the Benefits of Apprenticeship?
Along with a structured pathway to a career, apprenticeships also offer diverse benefits to colleges and businesses alike, contributing to the development of a skilled workforce, stronger industry connections, and improved educational outcomes. Eventually, apprenticeship helps build a stable and prosperous economy.
Since schools and colleges rarely make a mention of the role of apprenticeship in career building, the onus also falls on businesses to market their apprenticeship program. But before they do this, they must first identify the people who would be a best fit for apprenticeship. The good news is that it can benefit anyone at any stage of their career.
Who Can Benefit from Apprenticeship?
Apprenticeships have been around for a long time in human history, and they were the primary source of recruitment in ancient times. Today apprenticeships are once again being recognized as a feasible and intelligent way of building a great workforce. Apprenticeships are for one and all regardless of their age, background etc. It is for those who:
- Completed a basic level of education are yet to be employed
- Have a degree but want to upskill for better career opportunities
- Have career gaps due to unforeseen circumstances
- Are older and now are returning to work
Tips for Businesses to Market Their Apprenticeship Program
As employers, there are several strategies and practices you can implement to promote their firm’s apprenticeship program. From leveraging digital platforms to partnering with educational institutions there are numerous ways for businesses to expand their reach out to candidates to join their apprenticeship programs. Here are some of the most effective ways-
1. Know your target audience
It’s important to know your audience before you create a marketing strategy to attract the right ones for your program. Your apprenticeship must appeal to individuals who have just finished their education or graduates seeking practical experience to get better job opportunities or as alternative to higher education.
You can highlight the skills apprentices can gain out of your apprenticeship programs and how it could align with their career goals. Also, in order to appeal to potential applicants, you can answer some of the frequent questions they ask when they are looking for apprenticeships’ programs.
- How will the apprenticeship program help me progress in my career?
- What’s the duration of the program?
- What would my typical week look like during the tenure?
- What happens when I am done with the program?
Addressing these questions with the right marketing materials can help apprentices gain the information they need to decide about the program they want to go for.
2. Create the right apprentice job description
Your apprentices must know what they are in for. It’s imperative for you to carefully create a job description that maps out the responsibilities, opportunities, benefits and potential career paths post the apprenticeship program.
Some of the essentials that you must include in the job description-
- A clear title with all the responsibilities
State the job title and provide a detailed description of the role the apprentice will be playing during their apprenticeship tenure. Details like tasks, responsibilities and duration of the apprenticeship.
- What they’ll be learning during their time in the program
Define the skills the apprentices will be acquiring through the program, and how these skills will align with the job role.
- Qualifications and experience required
List the basic qualifications and experience (if any) required of the applicant to attract the right individuals to the program.
- Highlight your support to apprentices during the program
It’s important that employers showcase the extra and ongoing support during the program whether its mentoring, supervising providing access to resources. Not only does this instil a sense of reassurance in candidates but also helps enhances the brand name.
- Prospective career opportunities
Outline their opportunities of career advancement withing the company, details about career progression.
- Ease of applying for the role
Ensure that the application process is easy for applicants. Explain clearly about specific requirements from candidates such as submission of resume, cover letter etc.
3. Online channels
Promote apprenticeships online. Use digital channels to target a diverse audience, from various locations and backgrounds increasing the visibility of apprenticeship opportunities.
Use your website as a central platform for candidates to get full access for the information they need. Include a page or section that describes the opportunities and benefits of the program. Use it as a landing page for your advertising campaign.
4. Social Media
Social media is a powerful tool, especially with the Gen Z and Millennials. And they happen to be one of the major target audiences for apprenticeships. Through social media platforms you can effectively engage and connect with them and communicate the apprenticeship opportunities. The platforms can include LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook etc where their high user engagement.
5. Market your content
Create informative videos, articles, or other engaging kind of content to help candidates understand better about your apprenticeship programs. Not only does this build brand credibility but also shows the details of your apprenticeship program that apprentices need, to make an informed decision.
Success stories, testimonials, content related to daily life of an apprentice etc. could be some of the engaging pieces of content you can share.
6. Paid search
In general, most people look for upcoming career opportunities through online search engines such as Google and Bing, creating an opportunity for PPC and search marketing. This is also one effective way of giving more visibility to your apprenticeship program.
7. Video marketing
In an era where visual content dominates consumption and sharing, video marketing significantly boosts the visibility of apprenticeship openings. It also offers a memorable and impactful method to convey key messages to your target audience. This visual storytelling helps potential candidates gain a genuine sense of what it’s like to work for your organisation, fostering a stronger connection and attracting individuals who resonate with the company values.
8. Offline advertising
While online advertising has gained popularity over the years, the traditional advertising that that adds a personal touch can never go wrong.
You can try-
- Connecting and collaborating with schools, colleges, universities and training Give presentations, workshops etc, or other sessions that you think would best highlight your apprenticeship program.
- Attend networking events like job fairs, conferences or trade fairs provide to introduce your apprenticeship program to potential audiences.
- You can even partner with industry related associations to tap into their networks and gain exposure among professionals.
- Use traditional advertising methods such as newspapers, magazines etc outlining details of your apprenticeship and the benefits it provides.
Conclusion
To successfully market and promote apprenticeships within your company, you need a strategic approach. By leveraging digital marketing tools, creating engaging visual content, and actively participating in community outreach, you can attract top talent and build a robust apprenticeship program.
Remember to highlight the unique benefits and opportunities your apprenticeships offer while you start promoting your program as it helps foster strong partnerships with educational institutions. Consistent evaluation and adaptation of your strategies will ensure your apprenticeship program remains relevant and effective. By investing in these efforts, you’ll not only enhance your company’s talent pipeline but also contribute to the growth and development of the future workforce.
