Graduation is only the beginning
Graduate training schemes are offered by most sectors and are a fantastic opportunity for dedicated and focused graduates to gain experience whilst earning a respectable salary.
Unlike starting out in a new job, you’ll be mentored to ensure you get the best training possible to kick start a successful career.
Graduates who are resilient and work hard are often rewarded with full-time positions within the company upon successful completion of the training.
Graduate schemes also have excellent benefits for international students as they are allowed to stay in the UK for up to a year to work and make use of their university education.
No student support
Joe Cronin, 21, graduated last year with a 2:1 in Business Management from Cardiff University. Joe claims that university didn’t prepare him for the terrifying life of a graduate and offered no support for students once they had left.
“I feel as though universities should offer some kind of guidance and support service for students in the initial few months after their graduation.
"All I received from my university was a student feedback survey which claimed I could win an iPod if completed. I just thought ‘I want a job not an iPod.'”
Joe applied for more than 50 graduate schemes with high profile companies such as Microsoft, Fujitsu and Logica.
Facebook saves the day
After more than four months of gruelling job searching he found a graduate scheme at Brando, a PR company who represent brands such as Sony Ericson, through Facebook.
“Networking sites are an excellent source of career opportunities.
"There is a hidden job market online. These schemes are not advertised, you need to go looking for them”.
Joe knew he needed grab Brando’s attention and stand out. “At the end of the application form there was a tie-breaker question which simply said ‘Past, present and future. Discuss in less than 200 words.’ so I bought a clock which I put in a box along with my form and wrote: ‘The past is the time I wrote this application form, the present is the time you are reading my application and my future is in your hands.’”
Five hundred candidates for the position were picked from the applicants, followed by a telephone interview and a two hour one-to-one with the managing director.
Grad day
Joe and eleven others were selected to take part in a ‘grad day’, in which they participated in various tasks including a creating an iPhone app and marketing chocolate bars based on politicians.
“I had great fun. It was like an episode of The Apprentice, a lot of back stabbing when it came to critiquing each others work, but it was a fantastic experience”.
Joe’s individuality and drive impressed Brando as he successfully earnt the position of accounts executive in a 12 month graduate scheme in which he’ll explore the company before becoming a fully qualified member of the team.
Joe’s story is a perfect example of what can happen when you take a fresh approach to job hunting.
“I was feeling disheartened after applying to so many jobs and graduate schemes, I thought I might never end up doing what I love. I booked three months travelling just to break away from the job search, but now I have a fantastic opportunity to return to.
"It has all fallen into place”.
Places to look: PR Schemes, Advice blog, and University advice sites
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