Finding a graduate job

When people talk about graduate jobs they often mean Graduate Training Programmes. While the details of jobs vary, typical characteristics of Graduate Training Programmes would include:

  • Opportunities are usually with large organisations that take on large numbers of graduates each year
  • Usually aimed at final year students and new graduates
  • Often use an annual recruitment cycle – closing dates Autumn-early Spring; interviews in Spring; new candidates in post August / September
  • Competence-based selection used (e.g. problem solving skills)
  • Around 45% of jobs are open to students from any discipline in fields such as Retail Management, Marketing, Accountancy and Human Resource Management.
  • Competition for places is high
  • Structured training provided, often including professional qualifications

Finding a graduate programme

Graduate training programmes are the most visible type of graduate job and are widely advertised, although only a minority of graduates find employment in these. You can pick up a copy of the Prospects and GET Directories, which are available at Purple Door from October. The Graduate Prospects and Target Jobs websites are also excellent sources for vacancies. You can also look at profiles of graduate employers using the A–Z Guide on Prospects. Although Graduate Training Programmes are the most visible type of graduate job, only a minority of graduates find employment in these.

Using Purple Door Recruitment

Purple Door Recruitment is our in-house recruitment service for students and graduates of the University of Portsmouth who are looking for graduate employment within the Hampshire are.  For more information on Purple Door Recruitment click here. 

Other job opportunities for graduates

Graduates enter a wide range of vacancies, some of which will require a degree, but not all. You will not just be competing with new graduates, but also with people who have been in the workplace for some time. Employers will expect to see competencies, but will also be looking for relevant knowledge and experience. Vacancies are advertised when the need arises and employers will normally want someone in post within a couple of months.  For final year students start looking out for these vacancies from  March onwards, a good place to start is our Jobs Board. You can also use our guide to vacancy sources for more ideas on where to look for jobs.  

 Further advice and information