A graduate scheme experience

Autumn 2023 saw the end of my 2-year graduate scheme, and that time went by so fast. I started this blog 4 months into the scheme, and I really wasn’t expecting to stay to see the end of the scheme. Overall, it was ok. I had highs and lows and got to learn more about my industry. It benefitted me and my life choices, so here is my reflection.

Why I did a graduate scheme?

As a university student, with only part-time work as experience, I knew I needed to take a placement year to increase my prospects for employment. And that’s what I did. The company offered me a job on their graduate scheme (which was a 2-year programme to prepare me to be a full-time employee in their company), because they liked me during the placement year. This happened to be the year we endured a global pandemic. So, with the desire to have a job secured before diving back into my final year of lectures and labs, I accepted the job.

A graduate scheme is a training programme, where the company exposes you to the company/industry, with less pressure than a full-time employee (by less pressure I mean, you are supported and guided through work tasks). They assume that since you have a degree, they don’t need to teach you the foundations of your role (i.e Microsoft office and basic principles that were taught in your degree). As a chemist, it was assumed that I know how to use Excel to complete calculations. I was also expected to understand how analytical equipment operates, to assist in interpreting results from analyses. Lastly, I needed to be confident in writing reports and defending my work during peer review committees. Simple stuff, really.

The graduate scheme built on those assumptions and showed me how industry uses my skillset as a chemist. I also accepted the offer because the scheme normally boasts different opportunities, which is great if you have no idea what you actually want to do with your career.

What did my graduate scheme involve?

All sorts.

Day to day

Obviously, I had a day job involving a normal 40 hr work week, which is where the majority of my training focused on. My progress in this job was monitored every 6 months, as I had to show that I understood what I contributed to the overall business/industry. That is the only part of the job that really made me feel like a real employee.

The schemes are all different depending on the company/industry, but they do invest a lot into you. It’s a good way to get on the employment ladder, and since they take cohorts, you will have people in the same boat, as it can sometimes be overwhelming.

Graduate scheme related

The “Graduate” part was everything else:

• The first 7 weeks we did a course which taught us the history of our industry and had to sit an exam for a recognised qualification (not all industries/companies do this). It didn’t feel that beneficial to me, but the lessons were a full day, so I didn’t have to go to work
• For 10 weeks we had mindset sessions to help us create a work identity within the workforce. (this didn’t feel as beneficial as it sounds) it took me out of work for an hour a week
• We were expected to devote a minimum of 10 hours each year to volunteering for the local community/charities. (This involved assisting school STEM programmes and charity fundraising events). Which also took me out of work for a minimum of 10 hours per year
• The company has a Graduate council, so when my cohort was in council, I joined the fundraising team, which sometimes took me out of work.
• For each year we had to take nearly a week to do a retreat as a cohort, to develop our interpersonal skills (2 more weeks out of work)
• Then we had 1 day to look at our different personality types and understand how we work better in the workforce (at the beginning). 1 day to reflect on our 2-year journey and plan the next 5 years (which is normally an unrealistic plan). Finally, 1 day to celebrate the end of the scheme with awards and a poster show (which I didn’t attend). But these were a further 3 more days off work.
• Lastly, our induction process was nearly 2 weeks, so I didn’t actually start work until week 3 of joining the company.

This was the basic framework, and any add-ons were tailored by the graduate (with company permission) to assist their development. For example, I took 6 months to work at a different company to get project management experience. This meant being away from my usual day job, and getting experience elsewhere.

What did I take from it?

You don’t have to break your back to prove your worth the investment. I stretched myself out too thin in the first 6 months, and there was no reward for it. My grad scheme was a fixed contract so my salary wouldn’t really change for those 2 years. So, I could do the bear minimum and get paid the same as when I tried really hard. It’s better to lower those expectations. Don’t be atrocious, be reasonable. Setting those work boundaries means you can manage your time and well-being better. So, instead of saying “Yes I can get that done in 2 weeks”, I ask “What is your desired timeline/deadline?”. Most of the time they are more generous than what you would set yourself.

You don’t need to have a dream job right now, and that’s fine. After 2 years of working, I still have no idea what I want to do. So I have chosen not to worry about not going in my “preferred direction”. I want to experience a few more different things before I establish what the actual next step is.

Moral of my story:

• Graduate schemes can be a good option for you – Only you can justify whether you should go for it or not. Read into it, and also see if it resonates with you. Experience is experience.
• Graduate schemes can vary – Don’t use my experience as the bible. The schemes vary on a company basis, do some research to find one that works for you.
• Graduate schemes are designed to train – Developing graduates is the aim. The hope is to shape you into a ready employee. You might get some personal growth done in there too.
• Set boundaries and stick to them – Trust me
• Having a dream career is neither a good or bad thing – Focus on you. Become a better, more employable person. And maybe you might find a career pathway that suits you. Or maybe you won’t. It’s not the end of the world, either way.