Graduate : training scheme, vacancy information and advice

Whether you're a graduate looking forward to new training scheme or you're just entering the workplace and are horrified at the thought of being independent and responsible at last, there are a few things you ought to be aware of when embarking on your career. Here are some tips on what you should expect from your graduate job.

Whether expectations are met or not depends on a variety of factors: the type of industry you're entering, your goals and ambitions and the changes taking place within large organisations today, to name just a few.

For most graduates, however, they concern: the position itself, salary, continual skill development, level of responsibility, qualifications to be gained, the reputation of the company and opportunities to progress.

In addition, you should expect good working conditions and possibly other benefits such as a pension scheme, private healthcare, relocation expenses, personal loans and even mortgage support or a cash bonus.

Larger organisations recruiting graduates will also offer graduate development programmes geared towards individual needs, typically running for between two to five years.

However, economic and organisational shifts have brought changes. Companies are leaner and more efficient, with responsibility passed further down the organisation, providing satisfying jobs for many employees. There are now more graduates but fewer traditional graduate jobs. Therefore, you need to be prepared to take a non-graduate job within an organisation.

Don't expect to be promoted quickly; reduced management hierarchies mean fewer opportunities for vertical promotion than there used to be. Today's opportunities for career development are subtler, and horizontal promotion is more likely.

It's important for you to maintain your employability by continuing your training and development. You will need to manage your own career, so make sure you know how to do this. Remaining marketable in a competitive and sometimes unstable environment is the best way to guarantee long-term success.