Tag: apprenticeship

Amazon, this month, has announced a recruitment drive to hire 100 degree-level apprentices.

In addition, Amazon also has 400 advanced apprenticeships on offer and 500 internal apprenticeships opportunities for current Amazon employees to apply for.

The Amazon apprenticeships, according to Yahoo News, will span across 25 different job roles including engineering, broadcast production, creative design, IT, health, safety, and the environment.

Degree-level apprenticeships are in high demand, so expect tough competition, especially with Amazon offering up to £30,000 salaries.

Before applying for an Amazon apprenticeship it is important to first understand the varying apprenticeship levels:

Intermediate level apprenticeship

• Equivalent to 5 GCSEs grade 4-9 (previously known as grade A*-C)
• Entry requirements – literacy and numeracy Level 2 certificates or Maths and English GCSEs

Advanced level apprenticeship

• Equivalent to A-levels and BTec extended diploma
• Entry requirements – 5 GCSEs grade 4-9 including Maths and English

Higher-level apprenticeship

• Equivalent to a foundation degree
• Entry requirements – A-Levels, Advanced level apprenticeships NVQ Level 3 or a BTec extended diploma

Higher and Degree-level apprenticeship

• Equivalent to a degree. The difference between a higher and degree apprenticeship is that a full bachelor’s or master’s degree can be achieved as part of a degree apprenticeship.
• Entry requirements – HNC, HND, NVQ Level 4 NVQ or any other level 4 qualifications

To be successful in the recruitment job hunters will need to pass an apprenticeship interview process.

Don’t fall into the trap of believing the apprenticeships are only for school leavers. The myth comes from a previous government initiative to increase Level 2 and 3 apprenticeship take up with school and college leavers.

For degree-level apprenticeships, any career professional (school leavers won’t yet have the entry requirements to apply for a degree-level apprenticeship) can apply for the various apprenticeship opportunities, and they will due to Amazon’s competitive salaries.

Amazon Recruitment Process.

With vacancies going live on March 4th, it’s important for job seekers to get familiar with the Amazon recruitment process.

The 3 stages for applying for an Amazon degree-level apprentice include:

1. Online application – this includes uploading a CV and passing an eligibility test
2. Complete a literacy and numeracy test, before taking part in a virtual interview
3. Attend an assessment center to complete a competency-based job interview and group exercises.

Amazon Degree-level apprentice interview questions

The trick to passing a job interview is predicting the job interview questions, as this allows the interviewee to prepare high-scoring answers.

As an example, a candidate applying for an Amazon warehouse apprenticeship is going to be asked questions on health and safety, completing orders and receiving goods, whereas an Amazon applications developer will be asked questions on programming language and creative problem-solving.

This article will teach you how to answer job interview questions relating to degree-level apprenticeships.

What is your career goal?

Degree-level apprenticeship interviews vary from standard job interviews because the employer will invest a lot of time into the development of a successful employee.

Not only do employers fund the degree-level apprenticeship (there is no cost to the apprentice) the employer will also allocate other staff members as mentors, fund additional development and training opportunities, as well as allowing time off work duties to complete assignments.

With this in mind, the employer is looking to recruit an enthusiastic career professional who has a clear career objective.

Why? Because an employer who has spent a large amount of time developing a staff member doesn’t want them, once qualified, to leave for another opportunity.

When answering the career goal question, which can be phrased as ‘why have you applied for an apprenticeship position?’ or ‘what interested you about this role?’ the interviewee must reassure the employer that the job role they are applying for has a direct route to their longer-term career goal.

To score high, when answering this interview question, applicants should:

• Be enthusiastic
• Show confidence
• Give detail

Example Answer

Start by focusing on your passion, which should relate to the job role/career goal being discussed:

‘I am passionate about (add sector related passion – computer design, advanced technology, artificial intelligence, etc)..’

After highlighting a passion, link the subject to your career goal:

‘…since (a young age, leaving school, learning about X) I have wanted to pursue a career in (add job role) …’

Next, add a unique selling point:

‘…my whole life is about (add sector/job role) I attend (fairs, training, clubs – anything that links to the job role). My previous roles were in (add relevant job roles) where I became an expert at (add a skill, quality and unique selling point)…’

End with a summary:

‘…to conclude, I am passionate about (career) and I have applied for the degree-level apprenticeship to increase my sector knowledge while utilising my (unique selling point) while working as a (add apprenticeship job role).

Why did you apply for the Amazon apprenticeship scheme?

The ‘why us?’ interview question asks a hidden question – will you be working for Amazon long-term?

As discussed, there is a great deal of time and money put into the development of a degree-level apprentice. The employer, through the apprenticeship scheme, is upskilling the employee to be a highly competent industry professional.

In addition, the training is focused on the Amazon company culture, shaping the apprentice approach to the values of Amazon.

Anyone candidate that is viewed as a potential job hopper is unlikely to be successful.

Impress the employer by:

• Reassuring the interviewer that you have a long-term goal to work your way up the Amazon career ladder
• Matching your personal values to the culture of Amazon
• Praising Amazons successes

Research is key here. On Amazon’s about me,’ page is a breakdown of their history and Amazon’s vision and values.

Example answer.

State options:

‘When looking at degree-level apprenticeship options, I found several relevant to my career goal. One was with (add competitor) …’

Prase Amazon – use the below as a template but read Amazon culture and talk about the key areas that relate to your personal values:

‘…but I applied for the Amazon apprenticeship because of Amazon’s mission of being ‘customer-centric, what appeals to me is the innovative technology that Amazon brings to market, you can see how the leadership principles are embedded into every decision….(reference other Amazon values that you believe and any other reason why Amazon, as an employer, stood out for you)…’

Discuss what you can offer:

‘…what I can bring to the team is (add skill/quality IE creative thinking) an example of this is (give example of using said skill/quality)..’

How will you balance the apprenticeship assignments and the business as usual in work activities?

The ‘workload’ question isn’t really necessary.

Asking irrelevant questions to wannabe apprentices is important as the employer needs to check the applicant’s time-management skills and if they have an awareness of the workload involved in the undertaking of a degree-level apprenticeship.

The reason that there is no need to ask how a candidate will balance work against study, is due to the fact that Amazon will have an embedded training timetable.

On average, but depending on the apprenticeship role, the apprentices will attend a monthly, often online, lesson. Between each lesson, the apprentice will have to complete the accompanying assignment and collect relevant work-based evidence.

In most cases, employers will allow the apprentices time in work to complete the assignments, while still completing the day-to-day operational tasks.

Therefore, to answer the ‘time-management’ questions ensure you cover:

• Recognising the workload involved in undertaking a degree-level apprenticeship
• Working while studying
• Time management techniques

Example interview answer.

Show excitement

‘I’m really enthusiastic about returning to study….

Give detail

‘…I am really keen on developing my skills in (add a specific area relevant to the apprenticeship role)…’

Show understanding

‘… a friend of mine recently finished their degree-level apprenticeship and told me about the workload….’

Explain time-management approach

‘….as a very organised person I use (explain time-management model IE time management matrix)

Summarise

‘….in summary, I understand the additional workload and timeframe and the competing requirements of the day-to-day in-work tasks. As someone who always achieves deadlines and who is keen to pass the qualification, I will be able to plan workload and assignments to ensure that all tasks are complete to a high standard while being on time.’

The remaining questions will be job role related. For ideas what the type of job interview questions you will be asked use the Employment King search bar.

In addition to the above interview questions, interviewees will also be able to ask the interview panel a set of questions.

Job Interview Advice

According to Bury Times, Aldi has announced the launch of 96 store apprenticeships across Greater Manchester.

Since 2012 Aldi has recruited over 200 apprentices in their head office, distribution centers and stores with a starting salary of, on average, £190 per week rising to £283 following the completion of a 3 year apprenticeship scheme.

Aldi’s apprenticeship website explains the two pathways to access a store apprenticeship:

Career Starter – For applicants with no previous qualifications you can apply for a Level 2 Retailer Apprenticeship which takes around 12-15 months to complete. You will also complete Functional Skills at Level 2 alongside this.

Store Management Apprenticeship  – For applicants that already have their GCSE’s in Maths and English at Grade C or above (or equivalents) you can apply for our Store Management Apprenticeship programme. You will complete both Level 2 Retailer and Level 3 Retail Team Leader which  takes up to 36 months to complete.

Check your level of perceived experience here: predict the job interview outcome.

Unlike a higher education course, apprentices, to be successful in the recruitment process, are required to pass an apprenticeship interview. This article will give you a list of questions and answers Aldi may ask applicants.

It is also important to remember that during the lockdown, the apprenticeship recruitment process is likely to be an online job interview.

Aldi Apprentice Interview Questions

5 commonly asked retail apprenticeship interview questions:

Tell me what you know about Aldi?

The ‘about us’ question is asked to check if applicants are on the same level as Aldis business plan – to have 1200 UK stores by 2025

What this vision requires to achieve this goal is a diverse workforce made up of hardworking and ambitious staff members.

When answering the ‘about us’ interview question, first state your knowledge of Aldi – one of the UK’s fastest-growing supermarket chains, who recently opened their 900th store. Originally started as a small grocery store in Germany back in 1913. Eventually, Aldi gained a liquor license to overcome the challenges of the great depression and built up customer loyalty by allowing customers to buy now, pay later.

By 1954 their innovation had not stopped, with the very first self-service checkout. Now Aldi has stores worldwide and is always looking at creative ways to build upon the business, such as their apprenticeship scheme.

End the interview answer by stating why you applied for this role:

‘..this is why I applied for the apprenticeship role. Not only do I want a career in retail management, but I also want to work for an innovative company that sets high standards and I believe Aldi will be the go-to supermarket for customers who want quality goods at cheap prices.

Why did you apply for the Aldi apprenticeship scheme?

Aldi recruitment director, Kelly Stokes, said: “Aldi Apprentices are trained and mentored by some of the most experienced people in the retail sector, so all new colleagues receive the best training possible.”

This statement can become the basis of the interview answer ‘I want to be the best retail manager I can, with Aldi apprentices being trained and mentored by highly skilled and experienced sector professionals I want to increase my skill set, knowledge, and experience to ensure I will become a success Aldi manager.’

In addition to stating what you the apprentices want out of the relationship, explain what you can bring to the team:

‘As a (add experience, skill or qualification) gained from (give example) I will (state what you can offer the Aldi family)

Skills required for an apprentice retail manager or store assistant include:

• Determination
• Creative problem-solving
• IT and mathematical skills
• Target driven
• Customer service skills

Walk me through what you believe a standard working day will look like?

This question, sometimes worded as ‘give me an overview of the role you are applying for?’ or ‘what do you think your main duties will be?’ is a question to check each applicant’s understanding of the day-to-day task.

The employer here is checking suitability. If you know the job duties and are enthusiastic about them, you are likely to be applying for a suitable job role.

On the other hand, if you dislike some or all of the retail tasks or have no awareness of the essential job duties it is unlikely that you would last long as an apprentice.

To show understanding simple list the job duties in order;

1. Preparing the store for opening; stacking shelves, stocktaking, cleaning the isles, checking the temperature of the fridges, getting the tills ready
2. Customer service; operating the tills, assisting customers, re-stocking the shelves, taking deliveries, cleaning up
3. 3 End of the day; closing the store, checking security, stock-taking, filling up the stores, stock rotation

To stand out during the interview answer, end the answer with what you would most enjoy about this role:

‘Out of all these duties, I am most looking forward to (add duty) as I know this would give me a great deal of job satisfaction.’

Give me an example of great customer service

Aldi value customer service.

When answering this interview question use an example that highlights how you go above and beyond to help a customer.

Also, be enthusiasm and communicate with words that motivate .

At the start of the answer set the scene;

• where were you?
• what was the customers problem?
• who was the customer?

Next, explain what action you took to support the customer to overcome their problem:

• gave advice
• source additional support
• find a creative solution

End the interview answer with positive success:

• the customer was happy
• increase in repeat business
• gave an online review

Are you a team player?

Sometimes, the question is framed as ‘give an example of working within a team?’ or ‘why is teamwork so important in retail?’

No matter how the interview question is worded, the wannabe apprentice has to ensure that the interviewer knows that they excel in team.

Start the answer confidently ‘I’m an excellent team player, in all my previous roles I have had to work within a team.’

Next, show sector awareness by stating how the Aldi team work together:

‘I know that for an Aldi store to be successful all colleagues and departments have to work collectively. As an example, if the warehouse team hasn’t been informed about a well-selling product they are unlikely to have the goods ready to refill the shelves, which could result in a loss in sales, or if the tills are busy and a colleague decides not to help out this could result in poor customer satisfaction.’

End the answer, by expaining the type of ‘team player’ you are:

‘As a team player I always look at the big picture and proactively help colleagues out whenever I can with the goal of ensuring customers are well looked after.’

In addition to the above interview questions, interviewees will also be able to ask the interview panel a set of questions.

Job Interview Advice