Career Tips: Get Experience through Apprenticeship after Graduation

Right after completing academics, thought of getting a job in a reputed organization comes into every youngster's mind. Generally, educational institutions conduct placement drives and job fairs for freshers. However, they may or may not find the job profile suitable to their liking, in that scenario they face the open job market to get their dream career start.

As a fresher, candidates apart from other difficulties, face the question of experience while applying for jobs especially through the direct requirement in PSU sector.  Candidates may have acquired the skills through internship programs, however, technically only post qualification work experience is considered by most organizations.  

In order to address the issue of providing experience to the fresh graduates,  Govt of India has drafted  the Apprenticeship Act in 1969 and later amended in the year 2014, which directs all companies to make provision to hire Apprentices and The Act states that every employer shall make suitable arrangements in his workshop for imparting practical training to apprentices.  Act also states the minimum compensation, minimum age, working hours and details for the benefit of the apprentice.

Apart from the provisions made through the Act above, govt has also allocated a huge budget of almost 10000 crores for implementing and promoting apprenticeship program in PSU and private sector too. Employers will be given incentives for hiring apprentices.

Apprentice training allows candidates’ exposure to the practical implementation their theoretical knowledge and further increases their scope in the future career.  An apprentice holder will be given preference over a fresher due to their understanding of the domain.

Trade apprentices are required to take proficiency test conducted by the National Council for Vocational Training (NCVT), on completion of his training, they are granted certificates on successfully passing the examination. 

The selection process for the Apprenticeship programmes differs for Graduate/Diploma and ITI apprentice and from organization to organisation. The usual selection process includes a written examination, skill test and Interview, medical tests are also mandatory for certain job profiles.

Public Sector Units, on regular basis, invite applications from the young graduates for their Apprenticeship programmes.  Candidates should visit the official websites of the organisations or can keep track of thousands of apprentice program opportunities through the Jagranjosh Sarkari Naukri section.