The Careers Blog
Many students and recent graduates may think graduate schemes are the only career options available to them, they aren’t! It is a popular misconception. There are also graduate entry level jobs which also remain highly popular and even oversubscribed. Understanding what a graduate scheme is and what it offers can help you make a better decision about whether you want to apply for one. It’s important to know the range of resources available to you to help you make the most of your decisions regarding graduate schemes. You can attend fairs, employer events or workshops on how to complete your applications.
What is a graduate scheme?
Many of the biggest UK companies offer what they term ‘graduate schemes’ to train graduates for their organisations. Whilst on the grad programme you will be given various rotations across the business functions. Simply put, this means working in different teams (and possibly different locations) on projects within the company. Grad schemes are located throughout the UK but they may be sited in new locations to you, flexibility is an expectation of the schemes and you might need to think about how willing you are to geographically relocate.
On a graduate scheme you will be trained to meet the needs of the company and the role. Here you will gain hands on experience. The aim is to develop as broad an understanding of the area that you’re entering and you’ll be given supervision and support in developing your skill set. Your soft skills are vital in the application process. So, before starting to complete the application, review what you have done in terms of communication, problem solving, team working etc to answer those questions.
Who offers graduate schemes?
These are usually offered by the larger recruiters, national and transnational organisations. They will run across various sectors and some companies will offer a multitude of graduate schemes for example: business function, HR, IT and finance.
Where can I find these schemes?
Obviously, you will find many of these on My advantage, but you can also search for them on Prospects Bright network , Target jobs and on sector specific websites such as Gradcracker
When should I start to think about applying for graduate schemes?
These schemes start a year after they’re advertised. So the role will begin in September 2024 and are aimed at masters and final year students. Once you have passed the application part you will have a chance to go through the range of application procedures such as Psychometric Tests, Video interviews and Assessment centres. So, if you want a graduate scheme job you have to start thinking about them from the September before your course finally ends. That means if you are a master’s student you need to start thinking of applying as soon as you begin your course. Being aware of all of the options gives you more choices. When applying the quality of your application trumps the quantity of them!
When are the closing dates for graduate schemes?
These vary by the sector and the company. It’s a good idea to know what you want to apply for before you start and to know when the closing dates are. Get yourself organised, these applications may involve more than just sending off a CV. You may have to complete application questions that demonstrate your soft skills. It’s important to be organised Bright network offers a list of closing deadlines that they are aware of.
Can I only apply for graduate schemes directly linked to my degree?
For the vast majority of graduate schemes, recruiters don’t specify degree disciplines that they accept. They typically a good degree, work experience and the ability to explain the soft skills you have. You need to be able to explain your motivation for the job and the company involved. But there’s nothing to stop a History graduate, for example, applying for a grad scheme in Marketing or an Engineer applying for Finance. This is about you working out what is best for you, what you have to offer and explaining that on an application.
How much will I be paid?
Well, this depends on the industry that you are going into and the job role itself. It’s worth looking at the Prospects website in their detailed job profiles to see what the standard salaries in that sector are. This might help you make decisions about which companies you’re most interested in, or you might be interested in other aspects such as a company car, health insurance, relocation support and any other additional benefits you might get from your role.
Is there a separate Master’s scheme?
No, masters graduates can apply for grad schemes and are treated just the same as undergraduates. Research suggests that a masters graduate will earn more over the length of their career and be promoted more rapidly.
What help is there for completing applications?
There is a lot of support from careers to help you with your applications such as the Apply Moodle course You may want to book a job search appointment once you have started an application before you send it off. If you’re not sure of the grad scheme or even the sector that you want to go into then a careers guidance appointment will really help you to get to the heart of what is best for you. There are no right or wrong answers, it is just what feels right for you. Understanding yourself, your career needs and your values are always going to help you make a really well-informed choice.
Hopefully this has answered many of your questions regarding graduate schemes. Attending careers fairs will give you an opportunity to speak to recruiters and find out even more. You can also pick up copies of the Times top 100 graduate recruiters book from the career stand. This will give you an overview of some of the graduate recruiters available and the sectors that they cover.
My top tip is never to leave it too long, you are going to have to make decisions as you can’t apply for everything. What motivates you? Who do you know is offering a grad scheme? Think carefully about who and when you make your applications and get help from the Careers team.
Good luck!
Source link
Siobhan Qadir
#graduate #schemes