Graduate schemes provide valuable work experience and skills for students looking to start their careers. But what should you know about the graduate schemes on offer?
Using a graduate scheme as a stepping stone to your dream career is an appealing prospect, and there are plenty of such schemes out there, from accountancy to media. But what criteria should you look for when choosing which graduate scheme is for you? First, there are a number of routes you can take to qualify as a chartered accountant.
What Are Graduate Schemes?
Companies and universities around the world offer graduate schemes. They offer you a real job and the opportunity to earn while you learn. They offer the chance to gain invaluable work experience and the chance to explore new career paths. Graduate schemes are available in a wide range of sectors, including business, marketing, engineering, finance, the public sector, fashion, and logistics.
Most graduates who pursue careers in business are discussing graduate schemes—these only last for a year. The job style differs between sectors, but the general idea is that you need to hit the ground running and gain some vital experience. However, many graduates now rarely apply for these. The tough economic climate has made companies wary of hiring them. But there are plenty of companies who do want to hire. So, what are the benefits of a graduate scheme, and how can you increase your chances of landing one?
Who Offers Them?
There is a perception that it’s hard for graduates to find graduate schemes, but for many, finding your first job can be hard too. Graduate schemes can be a great way for graduates to get a foothold in a career and get there fast. The schemes are usually paid, with employers usually covering your living costs, as well as giving you the opportunity to experience working in a company that interests you.
Graduate schemes are long-term internships for graduates, usually lasting one year. Most schemes are paid, though some are unpaid. A scheme offers them a route into an organization, giving them the opportunity to gain experience and new skills in a professional environment.
When Do Graduate Schemes Open?
Graduate schemes are a popular way of progressing within an organization once you’ve left university. They involve starting on an entry-level job, often in trainee or graduate management, before progressing through a number of different positions to achieve a higher level of expertise. The graduate scheme may be full-time, part-time, or with different working hours.
Graduate schemes are a competitive business. A good scheme will have plenty of applications, and the best ones will have hundreds of applications. Applicants need a really impressive and strong graduate application to stand out from the crowd. This means they need to highlight what they want to achieve from their graduate scheme and articulate clearly how they will contribute to the company. But they often struggle to write the perfect graduate application. These schemes open early in the year, usually in January and February.
What Happens When the Graduate Scheme is Over?
Graduate schemes are a common and popular way of gaining experience, building contacts, and finding opportunities within society. But once you have completed your graduate scheme, what happens next? For many employees, this scheme is their first experience of working outside school, university, or college, and so they might find the transition to working life difficult.
A graduate scheme is a program designed for individuals who plan to work in a particular industry—usually, but not always, specifically within financial services. As a graduate, you’ll be provided with training and the chance to gain real experience in a particular area of the financial services industry, such as investments, mortgages, or pensions.
What If I Decide I Don’t Want to Work There?
The graduate recruitment cycle is in full swing, so I have often been asked for advice on what you should do if you’re offered a place on a graduate scheme but decide you’d rather not be part of it. The trouble with answering this question is that different graduate recruiters and employers have very different criteria for accepting you.
Graduate schemes are advertised almost like they’re a sure thing: employers will generally pay a stipend, provide housing, and give employees the opportunity to gain invaluable work experience. But what happens when things don’t work out? What if you no longer want to work for the company you spent your year at? Or what if you don’t feel that the job is the right fit for you?
A graduate scheme is a career-based work placement that can last up to a couple of years, often with the benefit of graduate pay, benefits, and on-the-job training. The schemes are ideal for students who have just finished their degree or who may want to change careers but are unsure of the best way to do so.
