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- 11: This Week On Apprentatips
11: This Week On Apprentatips
Includes A Cover Letter that gets you interviews.
Hey future apprentices, this week’s email contains:
Important news from the previous week (Talk about this in your interviews!)
Weekly advice from our apprentice network.
New apprenticeship news and vacancies.
An important question to ask in your interviews.
Real world Application News
Finance
In recent days, the Federal Reserve (Fed) has significantly altered its monetary policy by slowing the pace of quantitative tightening (QT). Effective April 1, 2025, the Fed will reduce the monthly cap on Treasury securities runoff from $25 billion to $5 billion, while maintaining the $35 billion cap on mortgage-backed securities.
Increased Liquidity: Slower QT means more money in the system, encouraging investment in risky assets like stocks, crypto, and high-yield bonds.
Lower Borrowing Costs: Less pressure on interest rates supports growth investments and raises prices for speculative assets.
Improved Investor Sentiment: Fed's move boosts confidence, particularly in tech and startup sectors, driving more investment in high-risk assets.
Reduced Credit Market Pressure: Slower QT eases liquidity strain on credit markets, making risky assets more attractive.
Inflation Concerns: Continued accommodation may prolong inflation, potentially leading to tighter monetary policy and asset volatility later.
To summarize: This means riskier assets may rally as investors are willing to take on more risk.
Tech Engineering & Ai
Grok 3 Controversy
The viral rise of Elon Musk's AI chatbot, Grok 3, in India after it made controversial, politically charged responses. The chatbot's unfiltered nature sparked debates about free speech and AI's role in politics. The Indian IT ministry has contacted X due to inappropriate language.
Importance:
Grok's impact highlights AI's growing influence on public discourse, which can affect consumer sentiment, brand reputation, and market dynamics. Understanding AI's role in shaping opinions and influencing political stability is crucial for navigating investment risks and regulatory responses.
Legal
Google has agreed to pay $28 million to settle a lawsuit claiming white and Asian employees were given better pay and career opportunities than workers from other ethnic backgrounds. The lawsuit, filed by former employee Ana Cantu in 2021, argued that Hispanic, Latino, Native American, and other employees started with lower salaries and job levels compared to their white and Asian counterparts. The settlement, which has been preliminarily approved by a California court, covers at least 6,632 employees. Google denies any discrimination but stated they reached a resolution. This settlement follows broader trends of U.S. companies rolling back diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, amid political pressure from figures like Donald Trump.
This may be the last lawsuit of its kind due to policies dictating people will be hired on the basis of their skills and nothing else.
Insights from an Incoming Amazon Apprentice:
After applying to 35+ degree apprenticeships and obtaining 2 offers so far, looking back, there were a few unexpected things that made a real difference in my apprenticeship journey. These aren’t the typical "prepare well and be confident" tips—you’ve probably heard those already. Here’s what actually gave me an edge:
1. Reverse-Engineering Successful Applications
Instead of blindly applying, I studied past successful applications. I connected with people who landed top apprenticeships, analysed their LinkedIn profiles, and noted common themes in their experiences. This helped me understand what “great” looked like and shape my own application accordingly.
2. Answering the "Unspoken" Interview Questions
Every interview question has a hidden meaning. When they ask, “Tell me about yourself,” they really mean: “Are you someone we’d want on our team?” When they ask, “What’s your biggest weakness?” they’re checking if you’re self-aware and actively improving. Once I started answering with this mindset, my interviews became much stronger.
3. The "Would You Hire Yourself?" Test
Before submitting an application, I asked myself: "If I were the recruiter, would I be genuinely excited to interview this person?" If the answer wasn’t a clear yes, I revised my responses. Thinking like a recruiter helped me be more critical and refine my application.
4. Treating Every Rejection as an Information-Gathering Mission
Rejections weren’t just “no’s” for me; they were data points. I always asked for feedback (even when it was uncomfortable), tracked patterns in what was going wrong, and adjusted my strategy. Instead of seeing rejection as failure, I saw it as re-calibration.
Final Thought: The biggest shift in my approach was treating the process like a strategy game rather than a checklist. Once I started thinking differently, my applications and interviews became way stronger.
These insights from Rudra leads into a post we shared earlier this week.
So why is this so important?
Any successful firm understands that what gets measured gets achieved.
The advantage when dealing with recruiters? They’re human—and human decisions are driven by emotion and perception. Their judgments aren’t purely objective; they’re shaped by how they feel about you in the moment. By strategically influencing their emotions and leaving a strong impression, you can shape their perception in your favor.
The most important part of this post is the last questions
YOU MUST ASK THEM TO COMMIT VERBALLY
Ask“Is there any reason you wouldn’t consider me a top candidate for this role?”
Then, follow up with: “Why do you FEEL I would be a good fit for this role?”
You must say FEEL instead of think.
By verbalizing their answer, they’re not just affirming your strengths—they’re reinforcing their own belief that you belong at the top.
Here Is A Cover Letter Sent In By One YOU!
Keep in mind that recruiters review numerous applications and often rely on software to identify key terms.
We’ve included a new sample of the original cover letter alongside the original, making it easier to review and clearly highlight what sets this candidate apart.
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Introducing New Tools to Simplify Your Apprenticeship Search…Coming Soon
We Want To Include Tools For You To UseWhat Would You Value Most? |
In case you’re here just for the memes and brain rot
We got you covered 😉
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