When leaving university, there are countless paths that you can take, all with pros and cons that you must weigh against each other. One option that is highly sought-after is a graduate scheme.
Graduate schemes act as a useful stepping stone between university and the world of work, rather than jumping right in at the deep end. Because of this, and various other factors, the application process is incredibly competitive.
How do graduate schemes work?
Graduate schemes are programmes facilitated by large companies to ease graduates into the industry that they’ve studied to enter.
Graduate schemes are full-time, but they differ from a graduate job because they offer a structured training regime over the course of 1-4 years.
These schemes offer a great opportunity for graduates to work across departments so that they can assess which aspects of the industry they’d like to specialise in further on in their career.
What to expect from a graduate scheme
Graduate schemes differ slightly from traditional full-time jobs, leaving many unaware of what they entail. From the length of the contract to the experiences it during it, we’re going to dive into the details of a graduate scheme so you know exactly what to expect.
Length
Unlike graduate jobs, which have no set length; graduate jobs typically last between 1 and 4 years. Although the scheme may end after a number of years, there is usually an opportunity to continue the scheme into full-time employment if you’ve impressed your employer enough.
Learning
As much as you might learn on the job during full-time employment, in a graduate scheme it is designed to put learning at the heart of what you’re doing. They can providea taster of a multitude of aspects across a specific industry with the intention of finding the specialism that you’d like to pursue.
Rotation
During a graduate scheme, you won’t be working with just one team throughout your time. You’ll have the chance to experience different departments, spending weeks or months with one team before moving to another. Not only does this allow you to learn different skills from these teams, but it will also give you an appreciation of how the business operates.
Tasks
The tasks you undertake during your graduate scheme will be varied, so that you can build a full picture of the type of work offered throughout the business. This will allow you to decide the path that you’d like to pursue once the graduate scheme is over.
Tasks might involve working closely with senior members of staff to shadow them, completing training tasks, or supporting on large assignments so that you apply your academic knowledge to a practical project.
Experience
Graduate schemes are so competitive because of their ability to give you vast experience over a relatively short period of time. Over 1-4 years, you’ll experience many aspects of a business, applying crucial context to the degree subject that you’ve graduated from.
What to expect post-graduate scheme
Much like your experience once you’ve left university, once you’ve completed a graduate scheme, there are a few options to consider.
The most obvious option is to continue your employment straight through from the graduate scheme. This will usually involve a fast-tracked application process that takes into account your experience gained during the graduate scheme.
Alternatively, you can use the experience gained during the graduate scheme to seek employment somewhere else. The invaluable knowledge and skills you’ve gained during the graduate scheme will surely bulk out a CV, setting you apart from other candidates due to the breadth of opportunities offered during a graduate scheme.
If you’d like to learn more about whether graduate schemes are worth it, read our dedicated blog that lays out the pros and cons.
To find out more about careers at SEFE please visit our homepage.
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