Stage 7 · Lesson 1 of 8

Apprenticeships and trainee roles

and roles pay you while you learn on the job, with structured training. Many are open to adults changing career, often without a degree. What exists depends heavily on your country.

Some countries have national apprenticeship schemes. Elsewhere, and large companies run trainee or associate programmes. Search your country's official apprenticeship service if one exists.

Also check the careers pages of large local employers for words such as apprentice, trainee, associate and graduate. Competition can be strong, so a finished project and a clear story help.

Common trapassuming these routes are only for school leavers and never checking whether they exist where you live.

A question to check yourself, an AI practice session and 1 cheat sheet entry come when you add the roadmap to your account. Add it

Resources for this stage

Start with

GuideFree
The Complete Freelance Web Developer Guide
freeCodeCamp · Beginner
Free guide to finding and handling first freelance clients, useful for a freelance-first route

Practise

Google Developer Groups
Free local and online developer communities in many countries, to meet people regularly
Sefism 1:1 Mentorship
Talk your routes and story through with a mentor before you start approaching people

Keep handy

Job Scams (FTC Consumer Advice)
Clear list of job scam signs; the tactics are the same worldwide
iRelaunch
Employers that run returnships, if your switch follows a career break

Also worth your time

OutreachyGo deeper
Paid remote open source internships open to people from groups underrepresented in tech