Graduate schemes offer great opportunities to explore your options and gain practical employability skills, but did you know that just over one in three graduates don’t know that graduate schemes are even an option? In this blog, we’ve tried to make life as a recent graduate a little easier for you by providing you with an overview of graduate schemes and identifying some great current and upcoming opportunities. If you’re still unsure, why not head over to our careers pages for further support and guidance.

What is a graduate scheme?

Graduate schemes and graduate training programmes are offered by large employers and typically last a year or longer (some extend to 18 months, whilst others can last for two to three years).

The thing that distinguishes them from graduate jobs, is that they have defined time frames and training programmes across various areas of an organisation, whereas the term ‘graduate job’ is generally used to describe an entry-level job for individuals with a graduate-level education.

In short, graduate schemes provide work-based training programmes that allow you to gain practical experience across various roles — giving you the chance to find your feet and get a head-start on the career ladder. The structure of each scheme can vary from company to company, but usually involves training, mentoring, and hands-on experience in different areas of the organisation.

Unlike most internships and work experience opportunities, graduate schemes are paid positions which reflect a full-time job.

What’s the application process like?

Graduate schemes are notoriously competitive; taking you through a tough application process, so you need to ensure you put the effort in from the onset. Again, the process varies, but usually involves an application, phone interview, and a group interview/assessment day — the key is to stand out!

Need more help and guidance on all aspects of the application process? Head on over to the Careers Network website.

Am I still eligible with a 2:2?

A lot of graduate schemes ask for a 2:1 or above, which can often put graduates off applying if they were awarded a 2:2, but don’t give up hope just yet — many companies will still consider graduates with a 2:2, and some companies are even lowering their degree requirements as they recognise that degree class is not necessarily indicative of work performance or talent.

So if you did get a 2:2 and get invited to interview, ensure that you are prepared to articulate your strengths and experience in other areas, such as your extra-curricular activities (e.g. involvement in societies at University).

How do I find out what schemes are available?

There are key websites which list the most up to date opportunities, such as Target Jobs, Milkround and Prospects. For a lot of schemes, if you miss the application opening, you’ll have to wait a year to apply again, so ensure you sign up for alerts! Don’t forget, if you’ve graduated in the last two years, you can also view opportunities using Careers Connect — just ensure you have signed up for your graduate account.

Typical timelines

Graduate Schemes: Although these vary from company to company, most require you to submit your application a year in advance of your start date (September), so be prepared to apply during the autumn term of your final year with the view to start the scheme the following year.

Graduate Jobs: Applications are usually open all year round, depending on company requirements, with seasonal peaks in May to July/September to November.

Internships: Internships for larger schemes will usually open in September the year before.