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If you are interested in becoming a butcher you may want to start off with a butcher apprenticeship. This will enable you to get the kind of experience that you will require to enable you work in a food service facility or in a meat shop. Generally, the apprenticeship will require you to work under the supervision of a qualified butcher while you assist him in selecting, trimming, cutting as well as preparing meat for supply or sale.

While undertaking a butchers apprenticeship, there are various tasks that you will be required to perform some of which include:

• Cutting and shaping to size standard meat.
• Processing of carcasses into both secondary and primary cuts.
• Assembling and operating mixers and grinders in addition to many other tools that you may be required to use when processing meat.
• Thorough cleaning of the workplace to ensure food health and safety policies are upheld.

There are various industries in which you can undertake your training. These may range from small to large scale supermarkets, retail businesses, export and wholesale businesses among many others. Before taking up a butcher apprenticeship, it will be necessary to do some research in order to ensure that you end up in an industry that you will enjoy working in.

Apprentice butcher wages are generally good although this will vary from one industry to another. Also, there are good prospects for employment as Australia is a nation of meat eaters and quality meat is always in demand. Apprentice butcher wages also vary depending on how far you are into your apprenticeship, as someone in their third year of training tends to earn more than those in their first year.

Once you have identified the industry in which you would like to work, you can then proceed to apply for a job as an apprentice butcher. Be sure to indicate in your cover letter why you want to start a butcher apprenticeship and your commitment to pursue this career over the long term career. Indicate in your resume the skills that you have that may be relevant to the apprenticeship as this is what will make you stand out from the many people that are also seeking an apprenticeship as a butcher.