Graduate Training Schemes

1940sGal

This is something I never considered before. I think it was because I thought you'd have to have a relevant degree but most simply ask that you have a minimum of a 2:1 in whatever degree.

Anyway, can anyone recommend some good Graduate Trainee Programmes? I'm interested in anything that will allow me to be creative, I like the idea of retail management, I've also been looking at MI5. Basically anything that's a challenge; something that will really test me.

This job I'm in now is soul destroying to say the least

phill99

There are loads of graduate training schemes. We can't tell you what will be good for you. Each role will present it's own challenges. Some may challenge your analytical skills, some your team management skills, some your physical skills.

How are we supposed to know how you want to be challenged?

miduck

Google is your friend ...

1940sGal

phill99 wrote: »

There are loads of graduate training schemes. We can't tell you what will be good for you. Each role will present it's own challenges. Some may challenge your analytical skills, some your team management skills, some your physical skills.

How are we supposed to know how you want to be challenged?

I did say 'anything that will allow me to be creative'

denla

1940sGal wrote: »

I did say 'anything that will allow me to be creative'

Until you know exactly what you're looking for, it's best you don't apply for graduate schemes. They all ask for really passionate graduates, not someone who's applying just any 'creative' graduate scheme. It's also difficult getting a place even if you got a 1st class degree. The minimum is 2:1 but you'll be competing with hundreds/thousands of perfect A graduates who graduated with 1st class degree.

Dunroamin

A good place to start.

http://www.prospects.ac.uk/

Daedalus

The advice I would give about graduate schemes is do your research thoroughly. Many are terrible, and just stick 'graduate scheme' on a job title to get graduates with no intention of providing any meaningful training/experiences.

Creative wise I would imagine they are more degree specific. You would need to demonstrate that you are creative. Unless by creative you mean 'think outside the box' more than 'make patterns for Next's children's clothes', in which case many of the legit ones will be that.

dizzyrascal

denla wrote: »

Until you know exactly what you're looking for, it's best you don't apply for graduate schemes. They all ask for really passionate graduates, not someone who's applying just any 'creative' graduate scheme. It's also difficult getting a place even if you got a 1st class degree. The minimum is 2:1 but you'll be competing with hundreds/thousands of perfect A graduates who graduated with 1st class degree.

Graduate schemes set a minimum entry, usually 2.1 or above. If you get through to the interview stage they do not then sub divide into who got a first and who got a 2.1 , you are then judged on how suitable you are for the role.
In general graduate schemes are looking for company leaders or heads of department, (eventually).
You need to jump through a lot of hoops to get on these schemes and they are looking for people who are passionate about the company
You then are usually rotated around a few departments over 2 -3 years and then choose the area of work that suits you best.
If you are a creative person you might enjoy say marketing over finance.
For the OP I think it might help to do a Types Dynamic Indicator test to help you see your working type.
There is lots of help and information on the https://www.prospects.ac.uk site

1940sGal

denla wrote: »

Until you know exactly what you're looking for, it's best you don't apply for graduate schemes. They all ask for really passionate graduates, not someone who's applying just any 'creative' graduate scheme. It's also difficult getting a place even if you got a 1st class degree. The minimum is 2:1 but you'll be competing with hundreds/thousands of perfect A graduates who graduated with 1st class degree.

Thanks for that. As if I'm not feeling low enough thanks to the awful job I'm in. I was looking for help but thanks for being oh so optimistic! :cool:

denla

1940sGal wrote: »

Thanks for that. As if I'm not feeling low enough thanks to the awful job I'm in. I was looking for help but thanks for being oh so optimistic! :cool:

Just being realistic. Yes the 2:1 is a 'minimum' but when hundreds/thousands of graduates compete for that one place, companies won't realistically bother with anyone lower than a 1st class degree unless they really stand out, as in pass a competency test much higher than others, or have work experience to compensate.

InsideInsurance

dizzyrascal wrote: »

In general graduate schemes are looking for company leaders or heads of department, (eventually).

I would strongly disagree with the above, in my experience of working with at least a dozen blue chip organisations and people on their graduate schemes the organisation are looking for cheap labour from highly motivated people.

Don't get me wrong, they can be a good thing to do but dont think that if you get on the scheme with a bank that at the end of it you are going to walk into a £40k lower management job and automatically be in a £120k upper management job in 3 years after that.

With all the companies I've worked for with the schemes the majority of graduates were not offered significant roles after the scheme (I'd argue being a call centre team leader is not significant given I became one at 18 having worked part time there for 2 years whilst at school) and many weren't offered any jobs.

Of those that did get better jobs I can think of only one or two that ever went on to do anything more with the majority languishing where they'd gone into after the scheme.

As others have said, most schemes require you to do rotations and with some schemes certain rotations are compulsory (eg at the scheme I applied for many moons ago it was compulsory to do a stint as a call centre team leader). Make sure you understand exactly what the scheme involves and be sure you are happy to do at least a significant share of the rotations.

With my current client we can request to have a graduate placed with our team. We get their CVs, they have an informalish interview and we have a choice who we accept (if anyone).

Remember to build networks and contacts whilst you are on the scheme ensuring those that you work for know where you want to be at the end of it etc. Don't blindly rely on "the scheme" to sort the job at the end.