Finding the Right Graduate Scheme
By Foteini Meleti, Career & Employability Officer at LSST Elephant and Castle
Graduate schemes are becoming increasingly well-liked among recent graduates as a method to launch careers. These amazing organised schemes combine professional growth opportunities with on-the-job training. Discovering the perfect graduate scheme that aligns with your interests, goals, and ambitions may appear daunting, but the benefits are substantial. This article will walk you through choosing the ideal graduate scheme to launch your career.
First, you should consider your abilities, credentials, and long-term career goals before beginning your search for a graduate scheme. Consider your areas of interest, shortcomings, and strengths and analyse the most exciting industries or sectors, as well as your preferred work environments and corporate cultures. You can then start looking at businesses and industries that provide graduate schemes. Further, use online tools to obtain information, such as employment boards, business websites, and directories of graduate schemes. As a graduate, pay close attention to elements such as the course duration, the nature of the work, the chance for training and growth, and prospective career advancement.
An effective way to continue your research is to reach out to lecturers, alumni, and professional contacts, and LSST’s career services as these will leverage your power of networking. LSST’s Careers Hub can put you in touch with businesses that offer graduate schemes as well as offer insightful commentary and advice. To further develop your network, you should attend employment fairs, participate in industry events, and join relevant professional organisations.
Graduate Schemes for Business
The right graduate schemes for business management students are those that offer a comprehensive and structured development program, providing opportunities to gain practical experience and build a strong foundation in key business functions. These schemes often include rotations across different departments or divisions, allowing graduates to explore various aspects of business management. Additionally, the ideal graduate scheme provides many opportunities for professional growth, such as mentorship programs, training sessions, and networking events. It is also beneficial if the scheme offers exposure to senior leadership, enabling graduates to learn from experienced professionals and develop leadership skills. Finally, a great graduate scheme for business management students should align with their career goals and provide a clear path for advancement within the organisation.
Graduate Schemes for Health
For Health and Social Science graduates, suitable graduate schemes include Health Policy and Management, Social Work, Public Health, Research and Academia, and Non-profit/International Development. These programs offer training in areas such as healthcare administration, policy analysis, social work, public health, research, and program management. Candidates should assess each scheme based on their career goals, interests, and values, considering factors like specific focus, training opportunities, organisation mission, and potential for growth. Networking and seeking guidance from professionals in the field can provide you with valuable insights.
Why selecting a graduate scheme is important?
1. Graduate schemes provide structured training programs designed to enhance your skills and knowledge in a specific industry or field. They typically include on-the-job training, workshops, mentoring, and formal training sessions. It will help graduates to acquire essential skills, industry-specific knowledge, and a solid foundation to excel in their chosen career path.
2. Graduate schemes provide fantastic networking opportunities. Students get the opportunity to network with seasoned experts, mentors, and like-minded colleagues in your field. All connections may prove invaluable since they give access to insightful counsel, direction, and new employment openings.
3. Graduate schemes frequently provide chances for accelerated career advancement. They offer a planned route for progress, letting graduates move between several positions or divisions within an organisation. Students’ career possibilities can be improved in a shorter amount of time thanks to this fast-track growth, which allows them to get a variety of experiences and exposure to many facets of the industry.
4. Being a part of a graduate scheme allows students to gain first-hand industry insights and exposure as they get to work on real projects, interact with clients, and experience the day-to-day operations of a company. This experience will help students to understand the practical aspects of their chosen field, the challenges it poses, and the skills required to succeed.
5. Employers give graduate schemes a lot of respect. Graduates who tend to start their career with a graduate scheme can become more marketable candidates for jobs as a result, improving their employability. Employers frequently value the specialised training they have received through a graduate scheme as well as the transferable skills and information they can obtain about the sector.
Graduate schemes encompass paid positions, with salaries varying based on the specific company or field of work. The most prestigious graduate schemes may offer annual salaries reaching £38,000. Numerous prominent employers, such as Barclays and the NHS, provide diverse graduate schemes.
You can find some graduate schemes in the links below:
The application process for September/January graduate schemes typically opens during that time. In February, applications are reviewed and filtered. The assessment and offer stage typically takes place in March/April. In some cases, there may be a possibility of re-opening applications for certain positions in May/June. July is usually dedicated to reviewing the overall process and making any necessary adjustments. Finally, successful candidates typically begin their graduate positions in August.
The first step in setting up your career on the proper track is to find the ideal graduate scheme. You may improve your chances of landing a graduate scheme that matches your interests and long-term objectives by doing extensive study, networking successfully, customising your application materials, and taking wise judgements!
To find out more about graduate schemes email: foteini.meleti@lsst.ac