The degree apprenticeships you can find are pretty specific. We’re talking roles in aerospace engineering, social media marketing and even the police. Sometimes, these roles will need you to have a specific A-Level so you can apply.

Sometimes, you really, really want an apprenticeship.

Maybe you became interested in the industry during your time at school.

Maybe you’ve just started exploring it, and you’re loving it.

No matter the reason, you can still bypass this hurdle and land an apprenticeship you’re passionate about. Let’s go through 5 different ways you can land your dream role, with that specific A-Level or not.

1. Don’t Rule Yourself Out Too Soon

First things first: double check you read the requirements right. There’s a difference between a required or preferred A-Level. It’s definitely worth confirming with the recruiter too if you can't find any info.

What to Do:

Contact the recruiter: Send a polite email or message asking if your application would still be considered without the A-Level.
Highlight your strengths: Show them you’ve got the skills they’re looking for, even if your qualifications don’t tick every box. Back these highlights with proven experience, otherwise you’ll likely get ignored.

Example Email:

“Hi (RECRUITER'S NAME),

I’m very interested in your (DEGREE APPRENTICESHIP NAME), however, I don’t have the required A-Level you listed in the job description. I found my passion for this industry after selecting my A-Levels, and I strongly believe the proven work experience and skills I have gained from it can compensate for this gap. Would you still consider me for the application? Thank you for your time!”

2. Show Your Passion for the Industry

Employers love candidates who can actually walk the talk. Every other person tends to waffle on about how they’ve got the skills. But, employers believe you more when you show them the things you’ve done, rather than say what you can do.

How to Prove Your Passion:

Take online courses: Coursera, Google and Udemy are just a few sites where you can take free or paid online courses to make your CV shine.
Start a personal project: Do it in the industry you’re applying for. If you want to get into marketing, start a blog. If you want to get into software development, build a website or a chatbot.
Get work experience: Seek volunteering or internship opportunities to show you’re serious about working in the industry.

Example:

“Although I did not study finance at A-Level, I have volunteered and developed the balance sheet for one of my local charities. I have also completed a program where I taught business and accounting to Nepalese high school students abroad.”

3. Highlight Transferable Skills

Employers don’t just care about your qualifications. They also want to know what transferable skills you’ve learned from your A-Levels. You can leverage these subjects to account for your specific A-Level gap.

Examples of Transferable Skills:

Communication: From essay writing in English to presenting in Geography.
Problem-solving: From tackling equations in Maths to analysing data in Psychology.
Time management: From balancing multiple subjects to meeting coursework deadlines.

Pro Tip: When writing your CV or personal statement, link your skills back to the role:

“Through studying business and developing my first business plan that scored 2nd in a Young Enterprise competition, I built an analytical and entrepreneurial mindset, where leadership is key.”

4. Look for Equivalent Apprenticeships

If you still can’t land a certain apprenticeship because you don’t have the specific A-Level, there’s usually a similar apprenticeship out there.

Instead of a Software Engineering Degree Apprenticeship requiring Computer Science, look for Digital Technology or IT Degree Apprenticeships.
Instead of an Accounting Degree Apprenticeship requiring Maths, search for Business Degree Apprenticeships.

Make sure to search for other roles through websites such as UCAS and GOV.UK’s ‘Find An Apprenticeship’.

5. Address the Gap in Your Personal Statement

To address an employer head-on about your lack of a certain A-Level, make sure you compensate for it in your CV personal statement.

Example:

“Did not study Physics A-Level, however, won 3 local competitions by developing models that convey the movement of currents in electromagnetism”

Conclusion: Your A-Levels Don’t Define You

It definitely hurts if you’ve found an apprenticeship that you absolutely love, only to find that you need an A-Level that you don’t have. The good thing is, there are ways to go around this hurdle and encourage the employer to give you a chance anyway. Sometimes, you won’t be able to get past it, so we recommend you keep looking for similar apprenticeships, and never give up applying until you find success!

So, what’s next? Start exploring opportunities, build up your skills, and don’t let one missing subject hold you back.

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