Trade apprentice CV example
Trade apprenticeships can be an excellent gateway into the world of skilled trades, from electrics and carpentry to plumbing and painting. But when you don’t have much hands-on work experience, creating your trade apprenticeship, CV can feel like an impossible task.
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Approaching a CV for a trade apprentice can feel tough, but with the right resources, you’ll be able to make a CV that shines. That’s where we come in. If you’re a school leaver hoping to apply for an apprenticeship, trust myPerfectCV to help you get started. We’ve got all the top tips, templates, and trade apprenticeship CV examples you need. We make it quick and easy to build your dream CV – whatever your chosen career path.
Our CV examples are a great way to kickstart the writing process, showing you what’s expected throughout every section of your CV.
Read on as we cover some of the following:
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Sample trade apprentice CV
Martin Jones
84 Round Walk
Glasgow G1 3GU
(555)555-5555
martin.jones@example.com
Professional summary
Highly-motivated Plumber working tirelessly to achieve exceptional quality standards. Delivers reliable, cost-effective plumbing support. Adept at boiler and heating installation.
Work history
April 2023 – Current
H.K.B systems ltd – Kilmaurs, Scotland
Plumber Apprentice
- Installed and repaired water heaters, dishwashers, sinks, and toilets according to work orders.
- Assisted in the installation of gas appliances, flues, and pressure regulating devices.
- Used hand and power tools to install gas appliances.
Dug trenches and laid pipes to form sewers, drains, and water pipes.
July 2022 – March 2023
Building Technical Services – Luton, Bedfordshire
Plumber Apprentice
- Tackled a variety of complex plumbing problems in a timely and professional manner.
- Set out and installed hot and cold water systems and associated equipment using power drills and hand tools.
- Designed and installed sanitary plumbing and water supply systems, discharge pipes, and fixtures.
- Inspected plumbing infrastructure to detect and resolve faults.
Skills
- Hard worker
- Team player
- Expert in communication with others
- Can get along with others
- Organised
- Dedicated
- Multitasking
- Pipework layout design
- System repair
Education
2022
Cardonald College Glasgow, Cardonald
Apprentice course Plumbing
2020
East Sussex coast college Hastings, East Sussex
NVQ Level 2 Plumbing
Trade apprentice CV template
You might not have a lot of professional experience, but that doesn’t mean your CV can’t look professional! Don’t make do with an apprentice CV template from Word – browse our range of templates below to find the perfect trade apprenticeship CV template to show off your skills, expertise, and education.
Which format is right on a CV for trade apprentice applicants?
You might want to jump right into writing the content of your CV – but there are a few things to decide first! An important first step is to find an effective format for your CV. What’s a format? You can think of it as the skeleton or structure of your CV – the foundation upon which all of your skills, qualifications, and experience will be built.
As a trade apprentice, you’re likely to not have that much practical experience as it is a junior role. While this might seem like a hurdle, it’s not uncommon and an employer will be expecting this. You’ll need to find a format that showcases the best of the skills and experience you have. There are two main CV formats you can use to do this.
The first is a reverse-chronological CV. This is a good choice if you have some experience that you can use in your work history section. It works by listing all of this experience from your current or recent job and then working backwards through time.
If you have little to no experience, you should opt for a skills-based CV. This will focus on skills you’ve picked up through education or other jobs and explains how they are transferable to the trade you are looking to find an apprenticeship in. This is a great alternative choice if you are lacking in experience.
Here are some extra tips for your format:
- Keep your CV as one or two pages in length
- Break up large chunks of text with bullet points and section breaks.
- Use a professional font like Arial or Times New Roman
- Send your CV as a Word or PDF file
How to write a CV for a trade apprentice
In the sections that follow, we’re going to go through everything you’ll need to know for how to write a CV for a trade apprentice. It’s important to cover all of your most important content – including your qualifications, personal statement, and top skills!
We’re going to go in-depth on these, including:
- What contact details should I include in my trade apprentice CV
- Trade apprentice CV personal statement
- How to present your work history on a trade apprentice CV
- Great skills to add on your trade apprentice CV
- Get education right on your trade apprentice CV
What contact details should I include in my trade apprentice CV
When you apply for a trade apprenticeship – you’ll want to make sure the hiring manager will be able to get hold of you right away. This is why it’s so important to include a clear set of contact details. While this might seem obvious, many people stumble at the first hurdle, missing these and losing out on important opportunities.
You need to write this section near the top of your document, preferably in a larger or bolder font from the rest of your content. Here’s a short checklist of what you need to include when listing your contact details:
- Full name – don’t include your middle name
- Location – so the reader knows where you’re based
- Phone number – use a mobile number if possible
- Email address – this should be a professional email address
Example of contact section for a trade apprentice CV
Aiden Leonard
11 Guild Street, N190NB, London
07912345678
Leonard.a@example-example.co.uk
Trade apprentice CV personal statement
Let’s get started on content. The first thing you need to write is a strong personal statement. This is where you can introduce yourself to the reader, letting them know who you are and why you should be considered for the apprenticeship. This section can be thought of as a firm handshake and an introduction. The challenge is that you’ll only have three to four sentences to do so – which can feel tough!
Thankfully, by following a simple formula, you can make this process a lot easier. Begin with a sentence that introduces you to the reader. It should be snappy and explain who you are to the reader, outlining your work history and a little about your career objective. For example, you need to state that you are an apprentice and that you are looking to get your foot in the door in the trade you are hoping to gain experience in.
Your second sentence should give a real-world example of something you have achieved. Let’s say you worked on 5 or 6 building sites in the past – this would be the time to mention that. By using a specific number, you will lend a sense of authority to your article that will help to get you noticed.
Your third and fourth sentences should explore any skills or specialisms you have. Add anything that makes you unique! For example, you might have great team-building skills, or be adept at using specific trade equipment. This would be the time to mention it.
Here are some other important things to keep in mind:
- Write in the third person for a professional touch.
- Use a clear font like Times New Roman or Arial.
- Use keywords from the job ad.
- Check your statement for errors.
Motivated Apprentice keen to learn the building trade. Expert in using equipment, hand tools and power tools to complete tasks quickly and accurately. Ready to bring a hard-working mentality and mechanical skills to my new role.
OR
Passionate apprentice looking for guidance in the building trade. Experienced in general site work, assisting with over 10 projects across the South West. Adept in team building, material manipulations, and brickwork on both residential and commercial properties.
How to present your work history on a trade apprentice CV
Your work experience section is a cornerstone of your application, particularly crucial for showcasing your hands-on experience as a trade apprentice. This segment holds substantial weight, as employers often turn to it to gauge your practical skills. This means it’s important to craft a good work history section!
Start by closely examining the job advertisement to identify key terms, using them as focal points to explore your experience. Present this section in an organised way. If employing the reverse-chronological format, start with your current or most recent role and chronologically list your apprenticeships backward from there. Aim to outline up to 6 responsibilities for each role.
Keep the language positive and professional. Use words that show you’re a great fit, like “led” or “organised”, instead of just saying you were “responsible for”. Remember, this section is your chance to show off your experience in a way that’s easy for employers to understand.
Example of work experience for a trade apprentice CV
Good Foundations Ltd – Apprentice Builder
London
04/2022 – Current
- Maintained excellent quality standards throughout construction work for high levels of customer satisfaction.
- Loaded and unloaded materials from suppliers, continually adhering to site safety protocols.
- Carried out general day-to-day site work including cement mixing and removal of waste materials.
- Maintained a clean and tidy site, minimising risk and optimising staff wellbeing.
- Reported to site management, ascertaining daily requirements and working effectively and efficiently to meet them.
Family & Son Builders – Building Assistant
London
01/2019 – 03/2022
- Effectively used hand and power tools, such as drills and mixers, to successfully fulfil tasks.
- Minimised material loss or damage by verifying that materials were protected according to site material storage policies.
- Consistently met project goals, performing preparatory work, such as unpacking materials to ensure optimal project outcome.
- Obtained documents, clearances, certificates and approvals from locals. State and federal agencies.
- Supported senior builders in improving operations and resolving issues to deliver top-notch customer service.
Great skills to add on your trade apprentice CV
You should split the skills on your CV between hard and soft skills. What is the difference between these? In short, hard skills are anything you’ve learned on the job or through education. Soft skills are more like positive traits.
The CV skills you need will ultimately depend on the apprenticeship role you’re applying for. However, there are some key skills that any trade apprenticeship recruiter will be on the lookout for. Discover the must-have skills for your CV below.
Must-have skills for your trade apprenticeship CV
- Practical skill
- Problem-solving
- Teamwork
- Learning
- Attention to detail
- Time management
Nice-to-haves to help your CV stand out
- Self-motivation
- Ability to take the initiative
- Computer skills
- Communication (written and verbal)
- Presentation
Get education right on your trade apprentice CV
The final extended section on your CV should be your education section. This is where you show you have the educational background to back up your experience and skills. While you might not need any specific qualifications to become a trade apprentice, you should still include all of the most impressive qualifications you have to let the hiring manager know you have the brains as well as the skills for the job.
So, what’s important to add when writing this section? Make sure you include relevant qualifications. You should leave out any qualifications that don’t add to your application – for example, incomplete courses or bad grades. You can also add any relevant professional training courses you’ve taken that link to the trade you’re applying for, such as a health and safety course or certificate!
Always include the following:
- The school or college you attended or awarding body.
- Include the study start and end dates.
- Subject title.
- Qualification level
- Qualification result!
Example of education for a trade apprentice CV
06/2023
West London Community College
London
NVQ Level 1: Building and Construction
08/2022
Hammersmith High School
London
GCSEs in Maths, English, French, DT, Science
A, A, B, B, C
Your trade apprentice CV questions answered
How do I write a CV for an apprenticeship?
Writing a CV for an apprenticeship can feel overwhelming, especially if you’re fresh out of school. But it doesn’t have to be complicated – you just need to include the following information:
- Your contact details (make sure you have a professional email address that contains your name).
- A personal summary outlines your current employment situation and briefly explains why you could bring to the apprentice job role.
- An experience section outlining any work experience you’ve completed, plus your key achievements.
- An education section that includes your academic qualifications, including your most recent exam results.
- A skills section with a bullet-pointed list of your key qualities and expertise.
How to apply for an apprenticeship?
To apply for your trade apprenticeship in the UK, you will need to be at least 16 years old. (You can apply while you’re still at school, although you’ll need to have left by the time your apprenticeship starts). The process of applying for an apprenticeship is similar to applying for any other role – simply find your chosen apprenticeship scheme and submit the necessary documents, usually a CV and cover letter. You can search for apprenticeships on the Gov.uk site.
Do I need a CV for my first job?
If you’re planning to apply for your first job or apprenticeship, you will need a professional CV. This might seem unnecessary as you probably won’t have relevant work experience yet. However, your CV does more than show off your expertise – it also gives recruiters an idea of your personal qualities, skills, and educational history.
When to apply for apprenticeships?
Unlike a university degree, an apprenticeship can start at any time of the year. That means there’s no fixed window for when you can apply – it all depends on the start date of your chosen role. UCAS advises that you start applying for apprenticeships around six months before you would ideally want to start. Remember that you’ll have to have finished school by the time you become an apprentice but can apply while you are still a student.
How much do apprenticeships pay in the UK?
Regardless of your particular apprentice duties and responsibilities, a UK apprenticeship must pay you at least minimum wage (and can pay more). That means you’ll be paid a minimum of £4.81 per hour.
Hone your craft with a professional trade apprentice CV
To take the first step in your trade career, you’ll need a professional trade apprenticeship CV – and with myPerfectCV, it’s quick and easy! We’ve got all the CV writing tips, CV templates, and examples you could need. Use our exclusive CV builder tool today to craft an application that perfectly sums out your skills, expertise, and education today.
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