Thread: Apprenticeship vs Traineeship

Apprenticeships usually cover trades like bricklaying, carpenter, electrician, plumber, cabinetmaker etc whereas traineeships are usually in non-trade areas.

I think as above, but if Eddie millionaire asked me and I couldn't google it. My money would be on apprenticeship is learned on job site with qualified tradie and school for the book stuff. 90/10 A traineeship to me would be all done at school with only the 10 bit done on site.

But it sounds logical that one is for trade qualification and one is for no trade qualification
cheers

Apprenticeships usually involve some form of contract between the apprentice and employer.
In return for a sub-subsistence wage the apprentice undertakes to work for the employer for 2, 3 or 4 years and the employer undertakes to release the apprentice to attend "school" either one day per week during TAFE term time or for a block of time.

Traineeships can be either full time schooling -- often costing tens of thousands of dollars per year -- or with an employer where the employee "learns on the job" the particular skills the employer values and nothing more.


In your case, what skills do you wish to acquire?
The ones that generally allow a person to become independent are the building trades plumbing, carpentry, house building, tiling, electrician, roofing, etc.

Alrighty...that's pretty much what I found too...that the difference on the surface is basically the trade/skill thing.

I've just started doing a little casual work building and restoring furniture with a business (furniture or cabinet making would be title I'd say).

I cold-called the guy asking for an apprenticeship or just a little bit of work experience, and as luck would have it he did have a use for someone but he needed me to earn his trust and show him some real interest and ability first (because he's been burned a number of times by much younger kids before). Fair enough I reckon. And so that's what's happened...outside of us working together, he's quickly become quite happy to leave me alone knowing that I won't be slacking off when he's not there and am able to keep working sensibly on different projects.

He's always said "traineeship" when talking about a future there. I've always thought the correct term would be "apprenticeship" - ie: working most of the time but toddling off to TAFE every once in a while for a few years until the proper certification is achieved.

It does sound like he's using the wrong word but meaning the right thing.

sounds like he has found a good employee and you a preferred employer.
if you do head off to Tech at some stage, take maximum advantage of your pre-existing knowledge/skills.

Sounds like you found a good job that you are interested in. A very rare thing in my experience.
Don't get too caught up in the title. Only a qualified tradesperson can indenture an apprentice. Doing a few modules at TAFE doesn't cut it either. The TAFE must offer a fully certified apprenticeship course for your chosen trade. We tried to put on some Instrumentation apprentices a few years ago but no TAFE within cooee would run the course as there wasn't enough interest. I think from memory they needed 12 enrollments to make it viable and we couldn't employ that many instros. I think cabinet making is still offered as a trade but your employer would need to be a qualified cabinet maker and you would need to have the course offered at a local TAFE unless you were willing to travel to attend school.
That is my understanding of the trade qualification system in Australia anyway. And yes, I did an apprenticeship and am a tradesman.

Yeh, he's a great guy who's very forthcoming with information, answering my screwball questions and even asking for my thoughts on some things. The environment is good, and the work is satisfying...although I've never sanded so much in life!! - the joy of restorations I guess

That's an interesting point about his qualifications. Thanks. I'll subtly slip that question into conversation tomorrow

While I understand the need for certification, I'm not a huge fan of it. In my previous IT career as a programmer I went straight from being self-taught and doing stuff for fun to working in Melbourne for large corporations. I would come across sooo many "qualified" people (uni grads and Microsoft certified) who were completely useless and could only type with their index fingers (I'm not kidding). It was shameful that some of those people were my team leaders.

I've also given music lessons at primary schools with absolutely no formal qualifications other than being able to rock their socks off...and I guess a strong technical knowledge.

I think I got this current work purely from a quick chat and a photo gallery of some of my work at home. He could see and hear that I'm reasonably well versed in the work, have some skill and understand what business and being reliable is about. I'd be pretty confident after a while of doing this with him, that if i needed to apply for a "titled" job elsewhere I'd be able to do the same again, but with higher quality products in my folio.

What's the saying?..."Those that can, do."

"While I understand the need for certification, I'm not a huge fan of it. In my previous IT career as a programmer I went straight from being self-taught and doing stuff for fun to working in Melbourne for large corporations. I would come across sooo many "qualified" people (uni grads and Microsoft certified) who were completely useless and could only type with their index fingers (I'm not kidding). It was shameful that some of those people were my team leaders."

Yep, at times I too am not a fan of the need for certification. Spent 17 yeas as a Motor Mechanic and have seen many talented individuals without qualifications undertake and complete major projects & repairs to a much higher standard than many certified tradesmen.
IMO, if you have a genuine interest in a chosen field, it is possible to become a competent "self-taught" individual capable of quality workmanship.
Great to hear someone has given you a chance.

In your situation, it may also be possible to gain some type of accreditation / qualification on the basis of "Recognised Prior Learning", ..........ie: if you could confidently perform the duties of a 4th year apprentice you may possibly (with the assistance of your employer) be able to demonstrate competency via TAFE etc. Just a thought, however if you're happy enough doing what you enjoy & not concerned about a ticket, good for you !

Swapped my trade for oil and gas field work, the trade is a handy background, yet every day the unexpected awaits.........