Apprentices are a hugely important part of our team at CRA.
We see it as a responsibility and honour to share the knowledge of our senior team members with up-and-coming plasterers and pass on this important trade.
So this month, we’re sharing the advice we give our apprentices for getting the most out of their time in training.
When you’re a fresh face starting an apprenticeship, asking questions can feel extremely intimidating. Many young apprentices are afraid they’ll appear foolish, or they might think that it’s better to appear like they know everything already – but that’s just wrong!
Asking questions for clarity or to learn more is the best way to look switched-on and sensible. You’ll appear a whole lot sillier if you try to bluff your way through something you don’t fully understand and end up making a big mess of the job instead!
Poking your eyeballs might sound like more fun than networking, but networking can make a huge difference to your apprenticeship and career.
Connecting with other tradies will frequently pay off with offers for work down the line, while chatting to senior tradies can be a great way to extract wisdom that sets you apart from other apprentices.
Networking can be as simple as ensuring you’re friendly to every tradie you meet and grabbing their number or connecting with them on a social media so you have a way to contact them again in the future.
You can also look up networking events in your local area.
A few organisations to get you started:
It’s easy to roll your eyes at another safety briefing or workshop, but these topics are incredibly important, especially in your apprenticeship.
Good employers and clients take health and safety seriously and look to employ tradies who care about it too.
It can even lead to opportunities for a career pathway as a Safety Officer or Advisor.
Join a few e-newsletters or subscribe to industry publications to stay updated on industry news. This will help you to be aware of innovative new products, techniques and regulations as they emerge.
This article from Westrac contains a wide range of publications that are worth following: https://www.westrac.com.au/resources/team-next-gen/staying-ahead-in-the-construction-industry
You could coast along in your apprenticeship… Or you could grab it with two hands and truly make it the launchpad of your career.
The choice is yours!
