How to get an apprenticeship in Queensland with no experience

You do not need work experience to get an apprenticeship in Queensland. You need an employer willing to take you on, a signed training contract and a training provider, and most employers hiring first year apprentices are looking at your attitude and reliability more than your history. This guide walks through each step, including what to say to an employer when you have nothing on your resume yet.

What a first year apprentice actually is

An apprenticeship is a job and a qualification at the same time. You are employed and paid, you learn on the job from people already in the trade, and you complete formal training with a registered training organisation (RTO), which can be TAFE or a private provider. Queensland Government information says an apprenticeship typically takes about 3 to 4 years, depending on the trade.

Being a first year apprentice means you are at the start of that time. Nobody expects you to know the trade. They expect you to turn up, ask questions and follow safety rules.

Finding a vacancy is not the same as starting an apprenticeship

This trips up a lot of people. An employer saying "yes, come and work with us" is the start of the process, not the end of it. In Queensland, an apprenticeship becomes official in a few steps:

1. You find an employer. You can be employed directly by a business, or by a group training organisation that places you with one or more host employers.

2. You and the employer choose an Apprentice Connect Australia Provider. This is a free service that signs you up, helps you choose a training provider, arranges registration of your training contract and tells you about support payments you may be eligible for. Queensland Government information says you cannot start without one. You can search the Australian Apprenticeships website or call 1800 020 108 to find one near you.

3. You choose a training provider (RTO) to deliver the formal training.

4. You and your employer sign a training contract. It is separate from your employment contract. If you are under 18 and still under the care of a parent or guardian, their consent is needed.

5. You start a probation period. For apprenticeships it is 90 days, counted from the day the apprenticeship starts. It gives you and your employer time to see whether it works before committing.

Enrolling in a course on its own does not guarantee an apprenticeship. The employer comes first, because an apprenticeship is a job.

A few basic requirements apply. You must be an Australian citizen, a New Zealand citizen or hold a visa that allows you to work, and the employer must be able to offer regular work. Casual or irregular work generally does not qualify. Full time apprentices work about 38 hours a week, and part time apprentices at least 15.

What employers look for in a first year apprentice

There is no single checklist, and each employer is different. Looking at carpentry apprenticeship ads on the MEGT job board in 2025 (these are examples, not rules), the same things kept appearing: willingness to learn, being on time, getting along with a team and following safety procedures. Some listed a white card or willingness to get one. Some asked for a P1 licence or reliable transport. At least one said no prior experience was required.

Two of those are worth understanding:

• White card. Under Queensland law, anyone doing construction work needs a general construction induction card, usually called a white card. You get it by completing a short course with an approved RTO, and it generally has to be done in person. Course prices vary by provider.

• Licence and transport. A licence is usually an employer preference, not a legal requirement for starting an apprenticeship. If you do not drive yet, say how you will get to work. Sites change, so employers want to know.

Showing you are reliable when you have no work history

You have more to show than you think. Think about what proves you show up and keep going:

• Sport or a club where you turn up every week, and a coach or manager who can vouch for you

• Helping on a family job, renovating, mowing, fixing bikes or cars

• School subjects like Design, Industrial Technology, Maths or Engineering

• Volunteering, caring for someone, or looking after younger siblings

• Attendance. A good school attendance record is something you can honestly mention

Ask two people who know you (a teacher, coach or supervisor) to be referees, and tell them an employer might call.

Where to look

Most people use more than one of these:

• Contact local businesses directly. Search for builders, electricians, plumbers or mechanics near you and make contact. Queensland Government guidance lists this as a way to find an employer.

• Group training organisations (GTOs). A GTO employs you and places you with host employers, organising training and handling the paperwork. You might stay with one host or rotate between several. The Apprentice Employment Network can point you to Queensland GTOs.

• Job boards. Queensland Government lists Apprenticeship Central, the MEGT and MAS job boards, Seek, Workforce Australia, Skillsroad and others. Search for "apprentice" with your trade.

• Apprentice Connect Australia Providers and TAFE. They may know of employers looking for apprentices.

• Your school. Many schools have a careers or industry liaison person who hears about local opportunities.

• People you know. Ask friends, family and neighbours who work in a trade.

How to approach an employer

Keep it short, specific and easy to answer. A message like this works by email, text or in person:

Hi [name], I'm [your name], finishing Year 12 at [school]. I'd like to start a carpentry apprenticeship and I'm looking for a first year spot. I don't have trade experience yet, but I've done [work experience, a Certificate II, helped renovate a house]. I can start [date] and I can get to your sites by [how]. Could I drop in a resume, or would a quick phone call suit you better?

Only mention a white card if you hold one. Follow up politely after about a week if you hear nothing. Calling or dropping in can feel awkward, but small employers often respond to a direct approach.

Your resume and the interview

Your first resume can be one page: contact details, a short profile, your education, skills, sport or volunteering, any short courses and two referees. If you want help getting started, RooKi's resume tools can help (resume writer link to be confirmed by the RooKi team).

At the interview, arrive early, wear clean work appropriate clothes and bring your resume. Employers commonly ask why you want this trade, how you would get to site and what you would do if you did not understand an instruction. An honest answer such as "I'd ask" is a good one.

Try the trade before you apply

Not sure which trade? Queensland has ways to test it:

• Try'a** Trade**, run by Construction Skills Queensland with WorldSkills Australia, gives students hands on experience of trades like carpentry, electrical and plumbing.

• Pre apprenticeship courses, such as the Certificate I in Construction at TAFE Queensland, let you try a career before committing. Some students may then move into an apprenticeship, though it is not guaranteed.

• School based apprenticeships let Year 10, 11 and 12 students work and train while finishing school. Because you work fewer hours they usually take about twice as long as a full time one, and you cannot complete an apprenticeship within high school.

• Work experience, through your school or a family contact.

What does it cost, and what do you earn?

Apprentices are paid for their work. The rate depends on the trade, the award or agreement that covers you, your year of apprenticeship and your circumstances, so check the Fair Work Ombudsman for your situation rather than relying on a figure from a blog. Queensland's Free Apprenticeships for Under 25s can cover tuition fees for apprentices in priority qualifications. Eligibility depends on the qualification and your circumstances, so ask your Apprentice Connect provider.

Mistakes to avoid

• Waiting until the end of Year 12. Many employers recruit before school finishes.

• Applying only to advertised jobs and ignoring local businesses.

• Sending the same message to everyone without naming the trade or business.

• Assuming the apprenticeship has started when an employer says yes. Check that the training contract is signed and registered.

• Not asking what the first year looks like: hours, travel, training days and who supervises you.

Your next step

Pick one trade you are curious about and contact three local employers this week. If you are not sure which trade fits, RooKi's free career assessment takes about 10 minutes and can help you compare options, including apprenticeships and training pathways.

Explore trades and other pathways with RooKi's free career assessment: For Students and the career assessment.