9781422276815

Famous Apprentices

Many famous people started off as apprentices. World-famous fashion designers Stella McCartney and Steve McQueen both started their careers as apprentices. Stella McCartney is perhaps one of the best-known fashion designers in the world, while Steve McQueen dressed famous people such as Madonna, Kate Moss, and Prince Charles of England. Sir Ian McKellen, the actor who has played film characters such as Magneto and Gandalf, started his career as an apprentice with Belgrade Theatre in Coventry, England. Famous chefs Jamie Oliver and Gordon Ramsay began their careers working as apprentices in the catering industry. Now that they are successful chefs, they offer apprenticeship training programs of their own for up-and-coming chefs and caterers.

Apprentices receive more hands-on training than a college student does. Those who get a job that involves physical labor—working with tools and/or working with compli- cated machinery—will be able to put what they have learned in a book into practice in daily life. Furthermore, an experienced worker can teach a new worker tips and shortcuts that may not be taught in a formal learning environment. Working as an apprentice also makes it easy to find a job when the training is over. In fact, many apprentices receive job offers from the company that provided the apprenticeship training program. This is a great situation for both the apprentice and the company. The apprentice already knows people in the company, is familiar with the job duties, and does not have to spend time and money looking for a job. The company gains a valuable employee who does not need extra training because he or she is already familiar with the company. Not all apprenticeships lead to full-time jobs. However, apprentices who must look for work after their training is over have an advantage over students who do not have hands-on training. Many employers value on-the-job experience and are more likely to hire a worker who has completed an apprenticeship than someone who has no on-the-job experience.

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