Jobs in the UK (full time)

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• Graduate training schemes

  Graduate training schemes are highly competitive, structured programmes with an organisation. They can include in-house training or study for an external qualification.

  Graduate training schemes tend to:

  • last for a fixed period, usually between one to three years
  • be with larger organisations
  • have application deadlines between September and January, though some organisations have a rolling recruitment process
  • start in the August or September following graduation
  • involve a lengthy application process, including interviews and assessments centres.

• Graduate jobs

  Graduate jobs are less structured, and usually less competitive, than graduate training schemes. You will immediately be part of a company and learn on the job.

  Graduate jobs tend to:

  • exist across many career sectors, including a wide variety of job roles
  • be with many different sizes of organisation, including smaller organisations which recruit fewer graduates
  • have application deadlines that can be at any time of year
  • be permanent positions.

• Knowledge Transfer Partnerships

  Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs) are some of the largest graduate employment programmes in the UK. Partly funded by the Government, KTPs brings together a business, academic institution, and a graduate or postgraduate (known as a ‘KTP associate’) in a three-way collaboration.

  The KTP associate will work on a project for the business while being employed directly by the academic institution. KTPs are available in a wide variety of sectors, and there are usually about 300 opportunities available a year.

  KTP projects usually last between one to three years. After completing the KTP, the business will often offer you a permanent job for a more senior position.

  For further information on KTPs, see Prospects’ Knowledge Transfer Partnerships page. To search for KTPs, visit the KTP Find a Job page.

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• Recruitment agencies

  Registering with a recruitment agency can help you search for jobs.

  A recruitment agency acts as an intermediary between an employer and a candidate. Employers pay recruitment agencies to find the best candidate for the job. Employers might do this when they have lots of vacancies to fill or have a job that's challenging to find the right candidate for.

  A recruitment agency might help you by:

  • putting you forward for jobs that are not publicly advertised
  • submitting your CV to the employer
  • arranging interviews with employers for you
  • being well-connected within specific sectors
  • eliminating the feeling that you are looking for jobs on your own.

  Some agencies specialise in specific sectors. Research which agency is right for you by visiting Agency Central and the Recruitment and Employment Confederation’s choosing a recruitment agency page. You should also check whether an agency is registered with the Recruitment and Employment Confederation.
  
  You can register for most agencies on their website by submitting a CV and cover letter detailing your skills, experience and what you are looking for. You should know what type of work you want before registering.
  
  You should never be asked to pay any money to register with a recruitment agency.

• Networking

  Employers sometimes recruit candidates with an endorsement from someone in their professional network. This way of recruiting is more common in competitive job sectors like journalism, broadcasting, and publishing. Small to medium-sized employers may also do this because they can't support a large-scale recruitment process.

  You could develop a network of professional contacts who can help you find jobs that interest you.

  For further information, visit the make a connection and speculative applications pages.