1. WHAT IS A “GRADUATE PROGRAMME”?
It is a pathway to integration in a company offered to recent graduates and aimed at launching their career involving several missions or rotations, training and development coaching.
2. WHO ARE THEY FOR?
Originally designed to close gaps in work experience notably in Anglo-Saxon courses, today they target all recent university, business and engineering school graduates.
3. HOW LONG DO THE PROGRAMMES LAST?
The majority of programmes last 1 to 4 years. Even if the average is 2 years, programmes tend to be shorter and an increasing number last only 12 to 18 months.
4. WHY BEGIN YOUR CAREER WITH A “GRADUATE PROGRAMME”?
These programmes make it possible to fast-track a career. The best international programmes are rewarding as they allow the graduate to operate in different countries, subsidiaries and business divisions and to acquire a global vision of the company. The specialised programmes result in a rapid increase in skill levels in a specific area.
5. DO PARTICIPANTS BENEFIT FROM TRAINING?
It is one of the main promises of graduate programmes. They personally ‘develop’ the participants by offering them technical training but also and most importantly managerial training.
6. WHAT IS COACHING?
The programme participant can benefit from coaching from a Human Resources officer who will give the participant performance feedback and guide him or her in choosing rotations. Frequently there is also a mentor, a member of senior management who will help the participant get to grips with the company culture and the challenges it may be facing enabling the participant to take a step back and look at the overall picture.
7. IS THE PARTICIPANT REQUIRED TO STAY IN THE COMPANY AT THE END OF THE PROGRAMME?
No, there is no obligation with respect to the company and retention of participants often depends on whether job offers correspond to professional goals. But 3/4 of participants remain loyal to the company at the end of the programme and it is often a good way to promote this type of professional path.
8. WHAT ARE THE RECRUITMENT CRITERIA?
The recent graduate must have less than two years work-experience but some knowledge of the job sector acquired during a placement is appreciated. Candidates must have excellent academic results, fluent English and great personal qualities, which are precisely outlined in the programmes.
9. WHAT ARE THE RECRUITMENT STAGES?
The recruitment procedures are long and competitive and generally involve: a detailed application, on-line tests, a telephone interview, an Assessment Centre day with different exercises: Group interview, case study with oral presentation, aptitude test, personality test…
10. WHEN TO APPLY?
The programmes recruit by ‘year’ and most frequently incorporate participants once a year. Recruitments are seasonal, a lot of the financial institution programmes open in September for a start date one year later
11. WHERE TO FIND APPLICATION DEADLINES?
The company website is the most reliable source for finding ‘deadlines’ but beware, for the most appealing programmes applications should be submitted as early as possible as some companies close applications before the published dates if they judge they have received enough top quality applications.
12. HOW TO PREPARE?
As for a standard recruitment procedure but in this case the procedure is often even more selective. The criteria and procedures outlined in the on-line recruitment guide will allow you to prepare your applications. The forum on this website will allow you to obtain and exchange advice
13. HOW TO KNOW WHAT A GRADUATE PROGRAMME IS WORTH IT?
Not all Graduate Programmes are the same! Some are tremendous springboards to a professional career while others are fakes and simple first jobs. Decipher what the programme has to offer and question participants to find out.
14. WHERE TO FIND A PROGRAMME THAT SUITS?
Our on-line database of 1300+ programmes and 630 firms allows you to filter the programmes by sector, function and type.