Graduate jobs

Graduate jobs are roles for university leavers and can be found in every sector and at a huge range of employers. You’ll typically join an employer in a specific role and progress within a team. Most graduate jobs are permanent contracts, but some are offered on a fixed-term contract. After your initial induction, training is likely to be delivered on the job and focused on the requirements for the role.

Whilst a graduate job can differ from a graduate programme, you can accomplish many of the same goals with either one. Below we list out the key differences between a graduate job and a graduate programme:

Graduate jobs:

• Graduate jobs are more likely to be permanent, but they can be fixed term or temporary. This is dependent on employers' needs.
• There are more of them – only a select number of companies run graduate schemes or programmes, but many businesses need talented graduate hires.
• Your graduate job options are more varied: you can find positions in businesses across all industries. Also, they will all have slightly different hiring practices, which may not be quite so rigorous as the standard grad programme application process.
• You can expect training but in a less lengthy, structured way. You will probably be put to hands-on work more quickly.

Graduate programmes:

• Graduate programmes are fixed term. Typically a graduate programme will last at least a year; some last 18 months, while others extend to two or three years.
• Set application windows - You typically need to be applying from September of your final year at university, ready for the following year's intake in July or September.
• Graduate programmes offer structured training over the course of your time there.
• Grad programmes are very competitive and highly sought-after for the reasons listed above. This means the application process can be tough and quite rigid, as there are a limited number of places available each year.

The prospect of a less-structured, permanent position that offers more hands-on training can lead to students opting for graduate jobs over graduate schemes.