Direct entry roles will also offer training and support but are usually less structured than a graduate scheme. Although you can expect some training, they will normally expect you to already have a certain level of knowledge of the job to begin the role straight away.
These types of application can be submitted all year round. You could expect to graduate and start this type of role almost immediately.
An internship is a great way to gain valuable experience in a competitive sector. They are often fixed for a specific amount of time, ranging from a couple of weeks to years. Internships are usually paid and enable you to gain experience, and build connections in different areas of your chosen field. Many students apply for internships if they lack relevant experience in a particular field and therefore looking for opportunities to develop their skills.
Up to 40% of the larger employers recruit into graduate roles directly from their internship roles. Therefore gaining experience before applying for the graduate scheme route would give you a major advantage. It’s not just about applying earlier, but gaining the work experience and employer insight early.
Internships normally have shorter application periods which you can look for much closer to the end of your studies.
Who you know is just as important as what you know. Use the connections you have made through university - whether it's friends, work colleagues or academics. Professional bodies are a great source of contacts. Become a member of a body linked to your field and show that you are serious about your career and professional development and to help to build your brand.
Take a look at our networking tool to discover companies in a specific sector, find people who work at a specific company and identify people in certain roles. Finally check out our what’s on page to see our upcoming activities; from networking events and workshops, to career fairs and competitions.
These events are a great way to converse with potential employers.
Another way to stand out is by organising work experience in your field of interest. It's a great way to test out a career in your chosen field and is essential in a competitive market for securing a job. The more experience you already have, the more appealing you will be to an employer. Check out the Prospects website for some more work experience ideas.
Connect with people on LinkedIn whose job or company interests you. Ask them questions, demonstrate your enthusiasm and find out the possibility of gaining some valuable work experience.
You may need to send out some speculative applications. Being proactive in this way opens you up to more opportunities that others aren’t aware of and even if there aren’t positions available at that particular time the employer may be impressed by your approach and keep you in mind for future positions. Take a look at the Prospects webpage on speculative applications.
Signing up to recruitment agencies can be a useful way of finding job opportunities. The agencies act as the middle man between job seekers and employers. They work on behalf of an employer to find suitable candidates for jobs. Not only this but they can even provide access to jobs that aren’t advertised anywhere else!
Here are some of our top tips for getting the most out of a recruitment agency:
Remember: It’s not all about the big names! The backbone of the UK economy is made up of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)
The size of a business is based on their annual turnover or how many staff they employ. A ‘big company’ will have more than 250 employees. A business with less than 250 employees is classified as a SME (Small to Medium Enterprise). Companies in this category have a turnover of up to £50 million and/or employ up to 250 people. Also there are ‘micro SMEs’ with up to 10 employees and/or less than £2 million turnover.
Big companies with recognisable brand names will be extremely popular to a large number of graduates across the country meaning heavy competition for each role available. Recruitment usually opens in September/October and will close as early as December, with interviews in January, so you have to be ‘on it’ and organised with your search as soon as your final year starts. Companies in this category will normally offer graduate schemes and the interview process will often have an assessment centre, some form of a test and a face to face interview. Once you’re in a big company your role will normally be within one particular area of the business for a period of time, with some exposure to other departments over a structured programme.
A smaller business will also offer fantastic career opportunities and development. Did you know there are more smaller businesses than big ones? SMEs tend to offer ‘graduate jobs’ and the interview process is usually more traditional with a face to face interview and a possible test. In a small business you’ll typically get to see more of the business quickly and your role will normally be more varied from the start, meaning you’ll collaborate with colleagues from other areas and develop new skills quickly. In a smaller business, progression might be less immediate but when opportunities do become available you can climb the ladder more quickly.
Watch this video to hear from graduates and current employers on how to stand out as a candidate when looking for a graduate role.
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