Graduate programmes: Structured jobs run by large companies
Many large organisations take graduates into graduate training schemes. As part of these schemes, graduates are trained and may have the opportunity to rotate through different areas of the organisation. Some organisations support their graduates through professional qualifications. Recruitment into these schemes usually takes place before or during the autumn term of your final year. Deadlines in some sectors (especially finance and consultancy) can be as early as August. Many schemes will also accept applications from recent graduates.
Adrian: Ocado Grad Scheme
Adrian is doing his MSc in Computing after completing a BSc in Physics also at Imperial. He is planning for his next steps and thinks that a graduate scheme will be the best place for him to start to understand how software engineering fits into business. While working through AA in September before his MSc starts, he applies for an Accenture graduate programme but is unsuccessful. On reflection he thinks it might be because his application documents weren’t tailored to the skills that Accenture were asking for. He wants to learn how to do this.
While looking on Gradcracker he realised that most of the big supermarkets offer graduate schemes with software engineering streams. He finds the Ocado Grad Scheme on their website and carefully analyses the job advertisement and webpage, so he fully understands what skills he’ll need to prove. To apply Adrian needs to provide a CV and a cover letter.
To create a tailored CV for this role Adrian realises that he will need to create a software development related section where he will include projects that he has done highlighting his coding and analytical skills. He feels confident he can do this so has decided to focus on his cover letter. He has started by brainstorming why he would like to work at Ocado and attempted to link this his experiences.
Top things that attract Adrian to Ocado
Focus on learning and development – Loves learning as proven by shift from physics undergraduate to computing masters. To help himself upskill before starting his master’s he did 4 online learning courses and began to teach himself C++. He is interested in learning more about the Walnut, Ocado’s online learning platform.
Software development with a tangible outcome – Unlike Finance related roles, Ocado have products and processes which he can see and follow easily. He knows he gets satisfaction out of seeing an outcome from his work, for example, the website he helped launch during his Unilever internship.
Smaller community with a team focus – From his previous experiences in the army, doing projects at university and Unilever, Adrian knows he works best when he feels like he part of a team. He enjoys when people with different perspectives work with him, challenging him on his decisions and helping him to create a better output, like his squash coach used to do to help him improve.
After this initial brainstorm, Adrian feels ready to shape these ideas into a full cover letter. For examples of cover letters, please visit the cover letter webpage.