Recruiting an Australian Apprentice is as easy as recruiting any other employee. Using your normal hiring procedure is one way but there are a number of other options too.

Job Network

Job Network is a national network of around 200 private, community and government organisations dedicated to finding jobs for unemployed people. Contact a Job Network service provider in your area to help you find potential candidates for your position.

Advertise

You can advertise the position in your local paper or on the Australian Job Search website. If you are looking specifically for Indigenous employees, access the Indigenous Employment Service website.

Word of mouth

Word of mouth can be a powerful recruitment tool. Let people in your industry or community know that you are looking for an Australian Apprentice. It can often result in a recommendation. Have prospective Australian Apprentices contact you directly.

If you are a member of a business or trade association it should be even easier to find an Australian Apprentice by word of mouth.

Schools and registered training providers

Contact your local schools to let them know that you have a position available. Many will offer school-based Australian Apprenticeships training programs or they may be able to advertise the position to the school community.

You can also contact your local registered training organisation (RTO) to see if they have anyone suitable. Many RTOs provide prevocational or pre-employment courses where students already have some very useful skills.

The interview

Be prepared with a list of questions to help you assess the candidate's suitability for the position. Depending on your requirements you might want to ascertain whether the candidate:

• can work effectively with others
• has goals and aspirations
• has the personal qualities that suit your business
• can work efficiently under pressure
• has good judgment and work ethic
• has integrity.

Ask them to bring all necessary paperwork such as certificates and resumes to the interview.

Contact your local Australian Apprenticeships Centre

Once you have found the suitable candidate you must, contact your local Australian Apprenticeships Centre (AAC) to negotiate and sign the Australian Apprenticeship/Traineeship Training Contract. This is a legal requirement.

Your AAC is also responsible for administering any government incentives that you are entitled to.