The post university life is never easy for any student, the uncertainty; the anxiety begins to build on you every time you hear of the recruitment drive. The biggest and the best companies scour the universities looking for the brightest raw talent, but how do you know if you are choosing the right one? Sometimes the career that seems spot on in the beginning may not be one you want to stick to later.
This is where the graduate schemes come in. The graduate training programmes exist in most sectors and are usually for a year. They are quite popular with the students as they offer a chance to work with some top names and gain on hands experience with a decent salary. Though they may not get you as much as a regular job yet it’s a great way to kick start your career. It’s the first step up the ladder of your success.
There are various graduate schemes available across all industries and the public sectors, one can choose to work with IBM or join the HM prison’s service scheme, the opportunities are a plenty and rewarding. The graduate schemes typically offer the rookies a chance to test the water before they plunge fully into it. The training programmes help the students to become more disciplined, responsible and focussed towards their career.
However, graduate schemes aren’t for the faint hearted. Companies invest a lot of money and time in training the new graduates and in return expect dedication and focus. Working on the graduate scheme isn’t normally easy, it requires long hours and you have to work extremely hard to prove yourself. Trainees routinely get pushed around by the senior employees of the company and it’s not easy to withstand the criticism that might come your way.
However if you are resilient and good at your job, the rewards are many. Since you’re still a trainee you can make your mistakes while learning the job and have them corrected by a mentor. You gain a lot of confidence and armed with the experience, getting the next job, at a much higher salary, becomes much easier. The same company, whom you are training with, may discover you as their next find, and decide to retain you. Since they would know your working style, you may be able to negotiate for better salary and benefits.
The International students can also benefit from the graduate schemes. The UK Government allows the overseas students to stay back in UK and work for a year so that they can utilize their University education. It’s a great way for these students to ease their financial burden or study loans and alongside gain valuable experience. It also helps accelerate their career with good companies as they can show their work experience on their CVs.
Before applying for any graduate scheme, one should research extensively; sometimes talking to the faculty also helps you net the right scheme, and there is a deluge of information available online. The graduate jobsite, The Big Choice offers plenty of information on the companies and their schemes. The milk rounds held in summer are also a great help. However do start looking early as graduate schemes are extremely popular and thousand of students apply for them every year.