After graduating, many of us find ourselves unsure of what the next step may be. This may be especially true if you find yourself wanting to take a career path slightly different to the one you had in mind when you first went to university, or if you are just looking for a way in to a particularly competitive career. Graduate trainee schemes can be a great avenue to explore when looking for a way to start your career. This article will explore the benefits of graduate trainee schemes to help you decide if it is the right avenue for you.
- Full training will be given on the job.
As the position is for a trainee, you can obviously expect full training in your position at the company. This means there is little to worry about in terms of your own experience or expertise within the business or overall industry. It also means you can feel confident when the scheme ends that you will be fully prepared for the position. You could almost consider it to be like
staying in education while earning money. Of course, working in the scheme is likely to be hard work so you will need to prepare yourself for the full-time hours but you can feel assured that you will be supported during your training.
- Most Graduate trainee schemes offer a great salary once the scheme is completed.
Usually a graduate trainee can expect to be paid >£20k per annum for the first year or two whilst the trainee scheme is completed. However, once it ends most companies can promise a great salary and you can be earning upwards of £40,000 per annum if you are offered the job. It’s a hard graft for the first few years, however earning this kind of salary in your mid 20’s is certainly impressive. You’ll also be entering into a career above entry level at this point and will have a solid position within the company. Most companies will advise before entering a graduate trainee scheme the kind of salary the trainee can expect if offered a job on completion of the scheme, so always ask about this before taking on the role.
- It’s a great way to enter into a competitive career.
Some career ladders can be difficult to climb if you start in an entry level position. Graduate trainee schemes take away this difficulty by fast-tracking you to a management or similar position. This can be especially valuable if your chosen career is a competitive one as it gives you the initial edge over your competition by training you within the role. Graduate trainee schemes can often be the best way into a business for this reason, as they give you the foot in the door you need to ease into your chosen career and avoid having to work your way in via a low level position.
- It’s full time, permanent work, leaving you with little to worry about in the job search.
One of the biggest problems for graduates is finding a job quickly after graduating. Often people will find they go for many interviews but can’t find a way into an actual career. This can cause a lot of stress as it means staying unemployed for longer than you might expect while still dealing with the societal pressure to get a job. A graduate trainee scheme will give you the chance to relax in the knowledge that you have a full time permanent position at the very least for the next 1-2 years and can take away a lot of that stress and anxiety while still letting you enter into a career.
- Some companies offer great benefits to graduate trainees.
Companies such as Aldi, for example, offer a company car and promise wages upwards of £60,000 once the scheme is completed. They do warn that the hours are long and the work is hard but if you are willing to put in the graft the payoff can be incredible. Some companies may also offer things like a company pension, holiday/sick pay etc. which are offered to their permanent employees. When looking for a graduate trainee scheme that you like, always look at the benefits they’re willing to offer you to come and work for them and decide for yourself if they are offering enough compared to other companies.
Overall, remember that your career is your decision and decide for yourself if you think graduate trainee schemes are the right direction. If you are willing to put in the hard work for the period asked of you then it could be perfect for you especially once you reap the rewards at the end of the scheme. Remember to always look around for different schemes and choose the one you feel would be best for you and offers the best work/life balance. Good luck!
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