Graduate schemes vs graduate jobs - which one is right for you?

What is a graduate scheme?

A graduate scheme is a structuredtraining programme that can fasttrack your career. You are exposedto many different parts of a job role

and the company.

What is a graduate job?

A graduate job is simply any jobopen to graduates. It tends to beless structured and there areplenty more opportunitiesavailable than for graduate

schemes.

5 greatreasons tochoose agraduatescheme

1) Rotations

2) Training

3) Support

4) Reputation

5) Professional qualifications

1) Rotations

You are placed in differentdepartments and carry outdifferent roles for 6 months at atime. So by then end of atypical 2 – 3 year graduatescheme, you have a variety ofexperience.

Pretty great, eh?

2) Training

There is a combination of onthe job learning as well asworkplace training, such asproject management, decisionmaking and communication.

Expect superhero styletraining!

3) Support

There is a great deal of supportand guidance available, oftenin the form of a mentor. Amentor is someone who ismore senior in the organisationwho you can meet withregularly for advice.

Instant friend, yay!

4) Reputation

The very best, globalcompanies offer graduateschemes and they tend to bevery competitive. So if you aresuccessful in getting a place,this will be highly regarded onyour CV.

Shhh, don't say it but you arethe bees knees.

5) Professionalqualifications

As well as workplace trainingyou will likely have the chanceto work towards gaining aprofessional qualification, suchas the ACCA for accounting.

Being paid to do exams? Hellyeah.

5 greatreasons tochoose agraduate job

1) Flexibility

2) Available to graduates

3) Early responsibility

4) Develop expertise

5) Less competition

1) FlexibilityUnlike graduate schemes, graduatejobs are more flexible. This does notnecessarily mean the company willnot invest in you, that depends on thecompany and the job role.

You will have tailored, flexibletraining.

Flexible = more freedom

2) Available tograduates

One key difference is they are availableto those who have already graduatedand the application process tends tobe shorter and much faster.

Shorter applications, yes please!

3) Earlyresponsibility

You have to hit the ground running.Rather than long inductions andtraining, you start learning to do the jobstraight away.

Are you ready to run?

4) Developexpertise

Having a permanent job in one areaallows you to build up a great deal ofexpertise. Being based in onedepartment will also give you a chanceto form strategic relationships, peoplecan get to really know you.

Specialising = special. Fact.

5) Lesscompetition

The positive side is there is not as muchcompetition for these positions as they areless heavily advertised. Less competitiondoesn’t mean easy!

Slightly less pressure, but still quite a lot.

So which oneis right foryou?

If you wish to gain experience in different

departments of a large organisation and

want to have a professional qualification

then choose a graduate scheme.

If you want to get stuck in, learn on the

job and have flexible training then

potentially a graduate job is best for you.

If you aren't interested in either, then you

can go back to sleep.

Top tip for allgraduates

Whatever you decide, do your

research into the company and

decide if the culture, job role and

training is right for you.

Remember, it's your future so

choose what's right for you!

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