Applying for Grad. Schemes 2+ Yrs after you left University

pazza2000

Hoping for some advice here...

I graduated University 2.5 years ago, i am currently looking for employment and i am very keen on grad schemes however truth be told i am not to confident in the grad. scheme route, and as the applications tend to be quite extensive i would not like to waste my time.

I am 24, worked for a year after Uni to save funds to go travelling, and returned in January. Despite the gap between Uni and now, my last job which was a 4month temp job in Australia incedently was a grad job -which i will have a great reference for. I am just curious on how employers would view the gap -and i also sense it will be more competitive than ever now adays...

Thanks for any advice -it will be much appreciated.

Midas

If you can sell yourself as an attractive prospect (good degree, horizon-broadening travel experience, relevant work experience) you should be in a strong position compared to fresh graduates without similar attributes. Make what you have done count (or appears to!)

hazey31

When I graduated years ago I asked the same question to the Prospects team and they told me that it was generally acceptable to apply for a graduate scheme up to 3 years after graduation. I know a couple of people who've done it a couple of years afterwards too.

Agree with the first poster too- you're probably in a better position now than a recent new 21/22 graduate, a bit more mature and ready to knuckle down to some serious work.

Good luck!

MrsManda

I'm a first year so not going to be in your situation for a while however my university organised a careers event for 1st yrs last week where a variety of graduate employers plus a couple of graduates answered questions and gave speeches about their experiences.
One of the main things to come out of the night was the importance of experience outside that of your studies. Students work hard to get their degrees so there is a high number of people with high academic standards applying for graduate jobs. Therefore recruiters have to look at other things to distingush between applicants. Any experiences can be marketed to your advantage.

You've done things with your gap, not simply at home doing nothing and therefore employers will look on your experiences as a plus point. Providing you are willing to explain how your work experience has helped you become a more rounded individual and how what you've learnt is useful in the job you are applying to you'll probably find yourself at an advantage to all those who've just come out of uni.
Plus having a work reference instead of just an academic one won't do you any harm at all.

Blacksheep1979

pazza2000 wrote: »

Hoping for some advice here...

I graduated University 2.5 years ago, i am currently looking for employment and i am very keen on grad schemes however truth be told i am not to confident in the grad. scheme route, and as the applications tend to be quite extensive i would not like to waste my time.

Then don't bother, as with an attitude like that you're only wasting whoever in HR has to read its time.

Grad schemes are slimming down and legal ones are even paying people to defer - if you're not willing to make the effort to be at the top of the pack then you're not going to get in. Time off and traveling isn't a bad thing as long as it's constructive ie not jsut lying on a beach but you've learnt another language/helped people/picked up new skills etc.

MrsManda

Blacksheep1979 wrote: »

Then don't bother, as with an attitude like that you're only wasting whoever in HR has to read its time.

Grad schemes are slimming down and legal ones are even paying people to defer - if you're not willing to make the effort to be at the top of the pack then you're arnot going to get in. Time off and traveling isn't a bad thing as long as it's constructive ie not jsut lying on a beach but you've learnt another language/helped people/picked up new skills etc.

That's a bit harsh, application forms can take hours to fill in properly so all the OP is doing is asking if grad schemes are suitable for her now. By asking the question in the first place, the OP is making sure her time and thus also HR's time (who as you pointed out, also has to read the application) is not wasted.

Blacksheep1979

It may be harsh, but at least it's truthful - yes it's 'wasted time' if you don't get the job, but if you don't currently have a job then what else are you doing? Also each and every application form can be treated as a learning experience (besides, most are 90% the same).

If they're not wanting to do it and not going to throw themselves into it 100% then it is a waste of time. When will people learn that !!!!!footing round the subject and being 'nice' to people isn't always the best thing?

[Deleted User]

I joined my current firm 2 1/2 years after finishing my masters as a graduate. Even managed to persuade them to pay me more than a grad, because of my relevant experience.

pazza2000

Ill test the water with a few. Its unfourtunate as i know with my 2:2 and my large gap between graduating is not going to be in my favour, and rightfully so. However as i mentioned, for the last 6months i have been temping in Australia in what was a grad scheme type role funnily enough and i like to think i excelled at this -however my one glowing reference in retrospect of the above still might not stand me in a very good position.