Graduate schemes are set programmes offered by employers that combine work, training and other support (such as mentoring) usually for one to two years. They are offered by larger organisations such as multinational companies and government departments. In some industries such as law and accounting you may also work towards industry-recognized qualifications. Graduate schemes are designed to help companies find and develop employees who will stay with the organisation in the medium to long term. There are usually no guarantees that a graduate scheme will turn into a permanent job (though they often do).

Some graduate schemes allow you to “rotate”, meaning that you spend time in a variety of departments working in different roles. This can be a great way to learn about what you like and don’t like so that you (and your employer) can make choices about your future career.

Graduate schemes are often advertised under different names such as “Future Talent Scheme” and “ Management Training Programme”.

The recruitment process usually involves an application form, psychometric tests, one or two interviews (online, phone and/or face-to-face) and other tasks, often in the form of an assessment centre. Many (but not all) schemes require a 1st or 2:1, some work experience and a strong extracurricular record. For many schemes your degree does not need to be related to the employer’s business (though in others, such as engineering, it’s often essential).

Although exact figures are not available, it has anecdotally been suggested that less than 10% of students in the UK join graduate schemes. The few schemes available receive many applications and it’s very important that you get a good degree result, gain experience and use the support the Careers Service provides to become proficient in the recruitment process. It may also be wise to spread your bets by having some other types of jobs in mind as a back-up plan.

A graduate job is simply a job that requires a degree.

In reality the line between a “graduate scheme” and a “graduate job” is blurry. A graduate job may be permanent (whereas a graduate scheme is for a set period of time with the chance of the employer making the role permanent). The support and training may be less, and less formal, than a graduate scheme. In a graduate job you are unlikely to have the opportunity to “rotate” around departments. That said, it’s important to note that graduate jobs are not necessarily the lesser option. Many tens of thousands of successful Royal Holloway graduates took their first steps into the workplace in graduate jobs.

Although exact figures are not available, it is clear that there are more graduate jobs than there are graduate scheme places. Entry requirements are often lower too. Although many employers request a 2:1, many do not.

For many graduate jobs your degree does not need to be related to the employer’s business (though this may not be the case for specific industries like IT).

All sizes of companies offer graduate jobs, including many small and medium sized companies (SMEs). There are lots of ways to look for graduate jobs, such as the Jobs tab of our Careers Portal and recruitment agency websites.

Although some roles are clearly identified as graduate jobs (e.g. “Graduate Advisor”, “Graduate Consultant”) many will not be (e.g. “Advisor”, “Junior Consultant”), so when you see a role that might be interesting, it’s always a good idea to look at the job advert to see whether you meet the employer’s requirements.

We recommend taking part in our extensive programme of careers events throughout the year, including fairs and employer presentations, where you can get to speak to a wide range of graduate recruiters and find out about their opportunities.

You can also find some helpful recorded workshops here.

Employers can recruit at any time, sometimes many months before and sometimes just a few weeks before they need someone to start. It’s always a good idea to start early.

Some employers offer internships specifically for graduates. These are sometimes considered by the employer to be a long interview (i.e. if you do well your position becomes permanent – though there are no guarantees). One benefit of doing graduate internships is that it gives you the opportunity to try out a job.

If you are a graduate looking for internships it is important to check in the advert that the internship is open to graduates. The majority of internships are targeting students between their second and third years. If you apply to one of those you will most likely be rejected. Make sure they specifically state that the opportunity is open to graduates.