Graduate training schemes
Whatever stage you’re at in your studies you may be thinking about the things you can do to move into a new career or progress in your current one. There are different ways of getting into the career of your choice and understanding the differences can help you make the right choice for your career and circumstances.
Exploring different entry points/levels
Graduate trainee schemes can be a great way to start building your career. They tend to be offered by large organisations but more and more small and medium-sized companies (SMEs) are starting to offer similar kinds of roles.
These schemes offer a combination of high quality paid training, often in a professional qualification. You’ll get the chance to experience different areas of the organisation and get involved in a variety of projects as part of your traineeship.
Benefits
- There may be the opportunity and/or financial support to undertake formal professional qualifications if the role requires it.
- Many schemes are open to any degree discipline.
- Some schemes include rotation between different business areas and offer a broad range of experience and skills development with the possibility of working abroad.
Drawbacks
- Some schemes require recruits to relocate to different areas for each six month rotation.
- Competition for these places can be tough and many have a lengthy recruitment process.
Look out for different names of schemes in different sectors. For example ‘Law training contracts or vacation scheme’ in Law and ‘Frontline’ and ‘Step up to Social work’ for Social Work.
You could look at the careers resources in the Succeed tab of your qualification site to find out more in your field.
No age limit for graduate schemes
Whether you’re a recent mature graduate or you graduated a few years ago, it’s never too late to consider applying for a graduate scheme. Whilst a small number of employers may stipulate you should have graduated within a certain time of applying, this is rarely the case. Mature candidates with the relevant qualifications can offer real world experience that many employers value. As well age discrimination being illegal in the UK, the vast majority of organisations are actively trying to increase diversity in their graduate hires.
OU graduate, Andrew Jones describes his experience as a mature graduate on the on the Network Rail Engineering Graduate Scheme.
When to apply for graduate training schemes
Graduate schemes are generally advertised a year in advance of their start date. September to January is an important period in the year in which the majority of schemes open. If you’re looking for a place on a graduate scheme, it’s important that you don’t miss out on the application window or you may not get another opportunity for another twelve months.
While some schemes recruit throughout the year, many of the popular schemes will have closing dates. Competition for these positions is fierce so the key is to research potential recruiters and apply for these schemes early.
Applying for a graduate scheme is a long process, usually with interviews and assessment centres.
Watch Zeeshan Nazar, Business Manager at BT, share insights from his own experience of graduate training schemes and provides advice on what to expect when applying, what you should be looking for and why it’s crucial to find a company that fits your personality, belief and culture.
Where to find graduate schemes
Most schemes are advertised on graduate job sites, such as OpportunityHub and Prospects. It’s also useful to keep an eye on the company’s social media presence for news.
