2012 graduate schemes

FosterK · 13 Jan 2012 at 17:07

I know there's a lot of uni students on here, so who's applied to graduate schemes, and how's it going?

I've applied to LOADS of them. Had an assessment centre with ASDA yesterday for their retail management scheme, think it went really well, waiting to hear if I'm through to the final round now!

How's everyone else getting on?

Kristoph · 13 Jan 2012 at 20:59

Waiting to hear from Magnox!

Don't hold a lot of hope though until I do my 2nd degree.

Tolmekian · 13 Jan 2012 at 21:06

Is it too late to apply for the majority of these now? I missed the ball tbh...

I'll post here what I just posted in the "What was your first job out of uni?" thread...

Tolmekian said:
I did a placement last year working at a games studio doing a billing/data analyst role. I've had an unconditional offer to return when I graduate this year although I'm not sure if I want to go there. It's great fun but only ~£20k compared to another fella on the same course as me who's been offered a grad scheme at RBS with £35k starting.

I haven't even looked at grad schemes yet as it's all too easy to go back where I was last year. Starting to think I should if I really want to make something of my career.

FYI I'm on an Accounting & Finance course, half of the year done with 84% average so far.

King Damager · 13 Jan 2012 at 21:27

Some of them are just opening, but plenty of them have now closed.

Applied for the big four + Grant Thornton. Through to final stage in two.

kd

alx · 13 Jan 2012 at 21:53

Applied to ADTI to be a graduate Well Engineer, need to pass the online aptitude tests first though before getting an interview.

Also got an interview with Total E&P on the 23rd but that's not a grad scheme (I graduated in 2010 and am currently working).

Pate · 13 Jan 2012 at 22:02

I'm graduating this year, and have yet to apply anywhere. I'm going for army as numero uno though.

I'm afraid of just getting a "job" which will take over me, and not allow me to develop more as a person.

Tolmekian · 13 Jan 2012 at 22:14

alx said:
Applied to ADTI to be a graduate Well Engineer, need to pass the online aptitude tests first though before getting an interview.

Also got an interview with Total E&P on the 23rd but that's not a grad scheme (I graduated in 2010 and am currently working).

One quick question, is there a specific length on how long you're able to apply for graduate schemes after graduating?

I'm under the impression that this is at the discretion of the company and generally 0 - 3 years? If you applied for a graduate scheme and are only at that level of job 10 years after completing your degree I'm sure there'd be questions asked.

I only ask as I'm now wishing I'd applied although all of my top choices have already exceeded the deadline date, so if it's possible to apply for next year despite graduating this summer I will.

physichull · 13 Jan 2012 at 22:29

Kristoph said:
Waiting to hear from Magnox!

Don't hold a lot of hope though until I do my 2nd degree.

Which station do you want to work at and which role?

I'm a contractor to Magnox and worked at many of their sites, more recently Bradwell. Got a friend who went through the Magnox grad scheme and is now in the waste section at Chapelcross.

alx · 13 Jan 2012 at 22:50

Tolmekian said:
One quick question, is there a specific length on how long you're able to apply for graduate schemes after graduating?

I'm under the impression that this is at the discretion of the company and generally 0 - 3 years? If you applied for a graduate scheme and are only at that level of job 10 years after completing your degree I'm sure there'd be questions asked.

I only ask as I'm now wishing I'd applied although all of my top choices have already exceeded the deadline date, so if it's possible to apply for next year despite graduating this summer I will.

The cut off is usually 2 years, sometimes 3 - although it does depend on the company. If you apply next year you'll be fine, I've never seen or heard a company rejecting someone because they're not immediately just out of uni.

You are right though, I imagine some companies would find it odd if you applied 10 years after you graduated! One of the reasons is that companies often like to mould people to their liking (not in a bad way) and it's much easier to do when someone is young than when they are older.

King Damager · 13 Jan 2012 at 22:51

Tolmekian said:
One quick question, is there a specific length on how long you're able to apply for graduate schemes after graduating?

I'm under the impression that this is at the discretion of the company and generally 0 - 3 years? If you applied for a graduate scheme and are only at that level of job 10 years after completing your degree I'm sure there'd be questions asked.

I only ask as I'm now wishing I'd applied although all of my top choices have already exceeded the deadline date, so if it's possible to apply for next year despite graduating this summer I will.

I was at PWC assessment day on a graduate scheme. There was a 40 ish Maths teacher there.... Admittedly he could be a student recently... But yeah.... Shocked me a bit.

kd

FosterK · 13 Jan 2012 at 23:13

King Damager said:
I was at PWC assessment day on a graduate scheme. There was a 40 ish Maths teacher there.... Admittedly he could be a student recently... But yeah.... Shocked me a bit.

kd

Had a ~35 year old Turkish bloke at ours! Shocked me a bit too haha.

Anyway, moving on - I got a phone call shortly after posting this thread, I'm through to the final round

Got an interview, date and location to be confirmed. The feedback they gave me was awesome; friendly, confident, excellent retail knowledge, great customer service etc etc etc. Chuffed!

Tolmekian · 13 Jan 2012 at 23:22

alx said:
The cut off is usually 2 years, sometimes 3 - although it does depend on the company. If you apply next year you'll be fine, I've never seen or heard a company rejecting someone because they're not immediately just out of uni.

You are right though, I imagine some companies would find it odd if you applied 10 years after you graduated! One of the reasons is that companies often like to mould people to their liking (not in a bad way) and it's much easier to do when someone is young than when they are older.

King Damager said:
I was at PWC assessment day on a graduate scheme. There was a 40 ish Maths teacher there.... Admittedly he could be a student recently... But yeah.... Shocked me a bit.

kd

Thanks for the replies

I expected as much and it's understandable that they'd prefer to mould you to their liking rather than have someone who has been in the industry 10 years+ and is set in their ways.

Good to know there were quite a few there who weren't fresh out of uni too, I'll definitely apply to the ones I'm interested in next year. Another years experience in the analyst job I have lined up couldn't hurt! I learnt a staggering amount in the 15 months I worked there on my placement year.

FosterK said:
Had a ~35 year old Turkish bloke at ours! Shocked me a bit too haha.

Anyway, moving on - I got a phone call shortly after posting this thread, I'm through to the final round Got an interview, date and location to be confirmed. The feedback they gave me was awesome; friendly, confident, excellent retail knowledge, great customer service etc etc etc. Chuffed!

Congratulations!

Kristoph · 21 Jan 2012 at 15:52

physichull said:
Which station do you want to work at and which role?

I'm a contractor to Magnox and worked at many of their sites, more recently Bradwell. Got a friend who went through the Magnox grad scheme and is now in the waste section at Chapelcross.

Missed this reply!

I'd like to work locally, maybe Oldbury. Hinkley A or Berkeley would be good too.

Rad protection/health physics/environmental work take my interest but I'm open to anything. I'm just about to get security cleared and may have a placement at a site in the summer if nothing on the Grad Scheme comes up.

If I don't get into the industry before September I should hopefully have a place on a nuclear degree (decom/or powergen).

physichull · 21 Jan 2012 at 16:56

Kristoph said:
Missed this reply!

I'd like to work locally, maybe Oldbury. Hinkley A or Berkeley would be good too.

Rad protection/health physics/environmental work take my interest but I'm open to anything. I'm just about to get security cleared and may have a placement at a site in the summer if nothing on the Grad Scheme comes up.

If I don't get into the industry before September I should hopefully have a place on a nuclear degree (decom/or powergen).

The following depends on your background, but I did this course at Birmingham University, fully funded MSc and it was excellent and lead me almost seamlessly into employment:

http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/student...sics/physics-technology-nuclear-reactors.aspx

When I did the course there were no fees to pay at the time, but that may have changed since.

There are many areas you can move into within the bounds of health physics/rad protection/envir. Radiaition shielding, waste characterisation, decommissioning (can be a very interest subject), all sorts of radiation monitoring etc. I would advise you strongly to stay away from becoming a safety case engineer or anything like that, it can tend to be VERY dull.

Working for a site license company can provide you with great opportunities, that you wouldn't ordinarily get working for a contracting company, such as AMEC, Serco etc. But contracting companies can offer a lot more variation and not tie you down as much. There's quite a lot to think about.

Logistiks · 28 Feb 2012 at 22:40

physichull said:
The following depends on your background, but I did this course at Birmingham University, fully funded MSc and it was excellent and lead me almost seamlessly into employment:

http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/student...sics/physics-technology-nuclear-reactors.aspx

When I did the course there were no fees to pay at the time, but that may have changed since.

There are many areas you can move into within the bounds of health physics/rad protection/envir. Radiaition shielding, waste characterisation, decommissioning (can be a very interest subject), all sorts of radiation monitoring etc. I would advise you strongly to stay away from becoming a safety case engineer or anything like that, it can tend to be VERY dull.

Working for a site license company can provide you with great opportunities, that you wouldn't ordinarily get working for a contracting company, such as AMEC, Serco etc. But contracting companies can offer a lot more variation and not tie you down as much. There's quite a lot to think about.

Why is safety case engineering boring? It's what I applied for

sigma · 28 Feb 2012 at 22:52

Edit - just noticed, bit of a thread bump?

Logistiks · 28 Feb 2012 at 22:53

sigma said:
I've been put off grad schemes. The application/selection process is such a nightmare.

I only made two; Magnox & Nuclear Graduates. Doubt I'll be making any more to be honest.. with dissertations and exams, there's hardly any time to make the application!

sigma · 28 Feb 2012 at 22:55

I'm sure I read about a two-day assessment centre somewhere too!

All for pesky grad jobs, of which half are dressed up to appear to be much better than they actually are.

Logistiks · 28 Feb 2012 at 22:57

sigma said:
I'm sure I read about a two-day assessment centre somewhere too!

All for pesky grad jobs, of which half are dressed up to appear to be much better than they actually are.

The Magnox assessment centre I had was a two day event. Well, one and a half... and the first day was literally an informal chat, presentation, then an open bar with a gorgeous meal! Idealllllllllllll!!

Volcs · 28 Feb 2012 at 22:59

I'm pretty sure there's no cut off for grad jobs (internships are another matter) as it's illegal under employment law. There's definitely not one for ours anyway (Accenture).