Apprenticeship Assesment Day........at age 30?

elfieb

After job hunting for just over a year, I decided to apply for an apprenticeship with a well known UK company.

I have been out of work for 3 years due to ill health, and have been really struggling to get back into employment....had litteraly a handful of interviews, all of which came to nothing.

Applied for the apprenticeship, not expecting much, and low and behold I have been invited to an assesment day......my initial joy has now turned to panic and self doubt!!

I'm very nearly 30, and Im worried that I am going to stick out like a sore thumb during the assesment. How am I supposed to do group challenges etc with candidates half my age? It mentions on the company website that the assesment days is a "chance to meet with people of your own age to swap ideas".....I've got this awful feeling I'm going to be the eldest there by miles.

soupdragon10

Don't see it as a barrier but an opportunity to show a mature attitude. If everyone is much younger they may not have much experience of the workplace/teamwork etc as this isn't something that's often discussed at school or college.

They wouldn't have invited you if they didn't think you had plenty to offer so be confident that you have the skills that they need and can demonstrate these on the day. These days are their chance to weigh people up, not just for their work related skills, but how they adapt to different situations and handle themselves when meeting and working with new people.

Very best of luck to you.

flutterbyuk25

So what if you are the oldest there? Does it really make a difference? You could get a job in a shop and still be the oldest staff member.

The company obviously want you there so grab this chance. You'll get to show your level of maturity and skills compared to the younger candidates. You never know you may not be the oldest!

And if you don't get the position at least you'll gain some valuable experience in interviews/roleplays etc.

Good luck!

Oldernotwiser

elfieb wrote: »

After job hunting for just over a year, I decided to apply for an apprenticeship with a well known UK company.

I have been out of work for 3 years due to ill health, and have been really struggling to get back into employment....had litteraly a handful of interviews, all of which came to nothing.

Applied for the apprenticeship, not expecting much, and low and behold I have been invited to an assesment day......my initial joy has now turned to panic and self doubt!!

I'm very nearly 30, and Im worried that I am going to stick out like a sore thumb during the assesment. How am I supposed to do group challenges etc with candidates half my age? It mentions on the company website that the assesment days is a "chance to meet with people of your own age to swap ideas".....I've got this awful feeling I'm going to be the eldest there by miles.

The idea of an assessment day is to make sure you stand out - for the right reasons! Good luck!

PaddyPaws

Good for you elfieb!

I had a similar situation on an assessment day with much younger people about 10 years ago. I went to uni as a mature student and graduated at the ripe 'old' age of 35 1/2! I was invited to an assessment day for a place on a large company's graduate recruitment scheme and on the day I was the only 'mature' grad there. (and yes, I got the role, worked for the company for 10 years). There were a couple of other 'mature' grads but I think I was the oldest on that year's graduate intake.

Just go and be yourself, best of luck

PP

DCFC79

I went back to college over years ago and when i started the course i thought "oh christ what have i done, this is going to be bad" and had reservations about doing quite well so i spoke to the CL who said i could do quite well with being mature. It turns out i didnt need to worry as i came out of it with a good mark plus met some new people who i still speak to to this day. I was mid twenties when i started and everyone else was a mixture of having just done gcse's a few months ago to having spent a year at college doing foundation degree. Just be yourself around them, strike up conversation about football (if you know about football then be easier).

Good luck

Lgas

I started my apprenticeship age 26 in a group of 12...youngest was 19, oldest was 34, it was a good mix. Don't worry about it, be yourself!

saintjammyswine

Apprenticeship assessments (depending on the qualification) will be more about literacy & numeracy assessment than standing out.

relic

Being older at these sort of things is a great thing.

When I went to my interviews at University, I was a good 4 years older than everyone else, and I was the only one that was there without my parents.

Everyone else was literally crapping their pants, whilst I was having a good adult conversation with the tutors.

Out of the 5 interviews I had, I was offered 5 places.