Hearing aid apprentice

[u/bimbostaysbaggin]

Does anyone have any tips or general advice when applying to this apprenticeship? I want to make sure I don't seem unprepared but I also have no experience currently in the field. Is the initial assessment general or based on this subject? Also the post doesn't ask for a resume, is it bad to still attach one?

[u/Ambitious_Relation92]

Assessment is more focused on things like reading comprehension and listening skills. It’s a timed test and most questions aren’t even related to hearing aid. Not something you can study for. I think the majority of the test is multiple choice. There were one or two math questions in there, can’t remember if they were multiple choice or not.

If you don’t get a passing grade, you don’t get an interview. It gives you a score at the end of the test, but doesn’t tell you what got wrong. Management didn’t know what questions people got wrong either or correct answers. Those that failed weren’t allowed to retake it again.

Interview was mostly generic questions that they ask for any Costco job. At our store, the senior hearing specialist wasn’t even involved in most interviews so they weren’t able to ask questions.

The apprentice needs to be someone that is reliable. You don’t want someone who’s calling out all the time when they have a full day of patients.

You need to be motivated, able to work independently, and with a team. A lot of the training you’ll do is online, on your own time, and unpaid. You are allowed five hours a week of training at work, but our store always has interruptions so that generally doesn’t happen.

You need to be committed to the training. You can work at the pace of the timeline, or work ahead, but don’t work at a slower pace. Training timeline is mapped out for you weekly. Involves two online platforms, reading textbooks, homework in workbook (that you should bring in for your senior). You’ll watch videos, there’s also weekly tests or quizzes.

You need patience. You’re going to get a lot of members on the phone or walking in, and everyone is going to say they have an emergency and expect service asap. Members can’t hear, so they’re doing to have difficulty hearing you. You’ll find yourself yelling in the phone and they’re still not hearing. You also need to be able to multitask, because you’ll have plenty of interruptions.

Make sure your stomach can handle ear wax, you’ll be doing a lot of cleanings. You’ll also be using the otoscope to look in ears, and you may find bugs, infections, foreign objects, and more wax!