Why you should consider a graduate program for your career 👀

If you keep hearing the phrase ‘graduate program’ thrown about on your job hunt and still unsure exactly what a graduate program is, here are a few key things to help clear this up a bit:

Whilst all employment programs will differ slightly, graduate programs are paid, work-based training programs offered to graduates often straight out of university.

Although typically offered by mainly larger employers, some smaller business do also offer graduate programs.

Most graduate programs offer training, mentoring and hands on experience, often across a range of different departments designed to fast-track a career pathway.

Typically, these programs last between one and three years and, once completed, most programs lead to executive or senior graduate jobs at the same company or organisation.

Now you’re more clued up as to what a graduate program is, here are some of the top benefits and reasons why you should consider a grad program to kickstart your career.

1. Great training opportunities and career development

One of the benefits to joining a graduate program as opposed to a graduate job, is the exposure to several departments of a business.

Often in graduate programs you’ll have entry-level training across multiple sectors of a business, allowing graduates to develop greater knowledge of the industry and gain a wide skillset.

This exposure is also a great opportunity for graduates to discover what sector they enjoy most and which they want to choose as a more specific career path to follow.

Additionally, including if you’ve undertaken a graduate program at a well-renowned organisation on your CV speaks volumes to future employers.

Even if you don’t progress to a senior role in the company you completed the program with, the variety of skills and knowledge graduates learn in graduate programs allows them to branch into several different fields.

2. Structure and stability in your role

With graduate programs, you’ll be signing a fixed contract between one to three years, meaning you’ll benefit from a high level of job security, (once you’ve passed your probation period).

Graduate programs are great in that there is a high likelihood that candidates have undertaken the program before you, perhaps running for a few years, helping to create a well-structured, supported and efficient program for your personal and professional development.

Graduates often join graduate programs as a cohort, meaning that you get to work alongside graduates in the same position, creating a supportive, sociable working environment.

3. Higher earning potential and benefits $$$

Most graduate programs have competitive above-average starting salaries, along with a range of great benefits.

For example, Aldi’s graduate scheme has several perks, with the graduate Area Managers monthly starting salary $8,900 and receiving a fully expensed Audi A4.

Most graduate programs are run by large organisations, often with global offices, meaning there is also opportunity to travel and gain experience working in different locations.

Graduate programs are ideal for those graduates torn between travelling the world and starting a graduate career.

4. The opportunity to make a tangible impact on a company

Graduates looking for real responsibility from the first day should consider graduate programs.

In most programs, graduates are given the opportunity to become an integral part of a team and make a real impact on a company’s direction and development.

In the majority of graduate schemes and programs, you don’t have to work your way up doing basic tasks and prove you’ve earned the responsibility, instead graduates are trained on how to carry out essential and important work from the onset.

Employers are often looking for ambitious graduates to join their programs that can bring a fresh perspective and drive growth into their business, they nurture innovation and welcome new ideas and potential different avenues to explore.

Meaning your voice is appreciated and listened to!

5. Variety of opportunities available

One of the great aspects of graduate programs is that they aren’t limited to specific career paths.

There are graduate programs available in almost every industry, so you can apply to a program you’re whether you’re looking for law graduate jobs, graduate accounting jobs, engineering, even in newer industries such as FinTech!