Graduate jobs & schemes 2025

A graduate job is a permanent position you’d get at a company if you have a university degree. In some cases, you may need a postgraduate degree or be required to have done paid work experience. 

Graduate jobs are designed to help you start your career journey in a particular industry or discipline. They’re a fantastic opportunity to get your foot in the door, as, unlike regular jobs, the roles are designed to accommodate for applicants’ limited work experience – something that fresh graduates often struggle with. 

Unlike a graduate scheme, in a graduate job you probably wouldn’t be doing rotations across different departments within a company. You’d likely fulfil a specific role and develop your skills and knowledge in that area. Your employer should set out your roles and responsibilities and support you to achieve them. 

You’d likely have a probation period – these can vary but 3-6 months is standard. 

A graduate scheme is a paid training programme, usually lasting one to three years (you may get a full-time position when you’re finished!). Unlike graduate jobs, graduate schemes tend to be strongly structured. Your employer may rotate you through different departments - a lot of the time with other graduates on the same scheme - and put you on various projects. This gives you the opportunity to see for yourself what working across different departments is like and get a very wide range of experience. 

While you’re on a graduate scheme, your employer should offer training, mentoring and support. Remember – you’re there to learn. 

Depending on the field of work, you may also have to study for a qualification accredited by a professional body.

While both graduate jobs and graduate schemes are meant for fresh graduates with limited experience, there are some crucial differences between the two. 

• Graduate schemes are essentially training programs (though you still receive salary and employee benefits!). They’re focused on equipping graduates with experience of working across different sectors and providing them with support and mentorship. Graduate schemes also have a fixed length, though there’s a chance the company will offer you a permanent position at the end of the scheme.
• In contrast, graduate jobs are just that – jobs. While you’re still going to gain experience and develop your skillset, this is typically in the context of a specific sector or role. Graduate jobs are permanent positions – they don’t have an end date, the way graduate schemes do. 
   

Graduate schemes tend to be more competitive than graduate jobs and the application windows are typically open between September and December – though this varies by employer and the graduate scheme itself. Meanwhile, graduate jobs are advertised all year round.

The main requirement is being a university graduate. Beyond that, for some graduate opportunities you will need to have majored in a specific field, studied specific subjects or graduated with a 2:1 or a 2:2. 

Most graduate schemes start between July and September after graduation. Application windows typically open in around September and last until the end of the year. Most graduate jobs don’t have strict application windows or start dates.

This will vary from employer to employer. The most competitive schemes and jobs will ask that you have completed internships or placements, but you will find many opportunities that do not require this. If you don’t have relevant work experience, be prepared to show alternative examples of your suitability for the role, work ethic and transferrable skills (volunteering, academic achievements, etc.)

Graduate schemes are quite competitive – not many companies offer them, and they are extremely valuable, which means that there are significantly more applicants than openings. This shouldn’t discourage you from applying though – you can increase your chances of being accepted by making sure your CV is as strong as possible and preparing well for interviews and assessment centres.

Salaries vary by sector, employer, location and the role itself. To give you a rough estimate, according to the targetjobs data, most graduate jobs in London pay between £35,000 and £40,000, while outside of London they’re closer to £30,000 - £35,000. 

Most graduate schemes have a multi-stage process, including:

• Online application
• Psychometric tests (numerical, verbal, situational)
• Video interviews
• Assessment centres
• Final interviews

It depends on the employer. Some require you to have a right to work in the UK, while others sponsor visas. Make sure to carefully read eligibility criteria to make sure your application will be considered.