What to expect on an engineering graduate scheme? Writing as a recent engineering graduate, I would like to talk to fellow graduates and students about what you can expect from a graduate program. I will cover topics like pay, training and rotations. So, what can you expect on a engineering graduate scheme?
What To Expect On An Engineering Graduate Scheme
Like the industry, engineering graduate schemes will give you practical hands-on experience, which many students don’t get great exposure to at university. During the graduate scheme, you will work alongside industry professionals who will provide you with skills that only experience can teach.
Typically engineering graduate schemes last for 2 years, however, this may vary depending on the company and your experience. Additionally, you are not guaranteed a job upon the completion of the scheme.
During the scheme, your performance and skills will be monitored to assess your development, which contributes to the decision of whether to offer you a job. However, it is unlikely you will not be offered a job and this only occurs if you decide to leave or get terrible performance reviews.
Expected Pay On An Engineering Graduate Scheme
What kind of pay can you expect to earn as a graduate engineer on a graduate scheme? A fair starting salary is approximately £27,000 – £28,000, which is a great place to start considering the lack of experience most graduate/students have. Some graduate roles I applied for even had a starting salary of £32500. However, a benefit of being on a graduate scheme is the pay reviews. It is common for your salary to be reviewed every six months and increase with your experience/skill. You will find some companies have a pay increment structure, which does not involve reviewing your work. A pay rise is automatic. However, if your performance is below par this may be different. When receiving pay increments, the first couple tends to be smaller with the last one being the largest pay rise. For example, after six months: £1,000 increase, after one year: £2,000 increase, after eighteen months, £2,500 and after two years: £3,000 increase. Although these figures may vary depending on the organisation. It is possible to earn an extra £10,000 over the course of the graduate program (comparing your starting salary against the salary you will be on when you complete the program)
What Training Can You Expect On An Engineering Graduate Scheme?
A central aspect of a graduate program is the training you receive. As discussed above the pay rises reflect your development within the company, so training is important. From personal experience, I had to identify training courses I wanted to attend and put them forward. Many organisations have training courses that are hosted internally at certain intervals during your graduate scheme. The training programs I have attended were hosted by IMechE, which have been great experiences. So, I would recommend attending them if you can!
In addition to this training, you will have the option to pursue chartership which is a great development opportunity. Alongside this, you assigned a mentor who will help with your development by discussing suitable placements and providing feedback in your quarterly reports. If you want to learn more about the chartership route and role of a mentor, a post will be released soon.
Rotations On A Graduate Scheme
It is a common procedure that during your graduate programme you will be allowed to undertake rotations in different departments. The idea of this is to help your development and understand how the business operates. Normally, the rotations will be with departments/teams that are related to your function. However, rotations with most teams are accepted. During my graduate programme, I was responsible for arranging my rotations. I would reach out to the manager of the team I want to join and express an interest. Normally, this would be followed up with a call to discuss what you want to get out or the rotation. In addition to this, ensuring the team you wish to join has room for you.
Most managers in the organisation will be exposed to graduates, so it should not be a problem. When discussing the rotation with the manager, ensure you are clear with what you want to get out of it. Mention you want to be involved with a big project, you want the responsibility if that is what you want. At the end of the rotation, you will regret you did not achieve what you wanted and developed the skills you would have liked.
Final Notes
Joining a graduate scheme is daunting, especially if it’s in an area that you are not familiar with. However, the employer understands it will take time to adapt and understand the industry. They have employed you for showing the desired skills during the recruitment process e.g. assessment centre.
I have learned that it is important to put yourself out there and commit to learning and understanding. A lot of the issues I have had is just understanding the correct processes, not technical knowledge. This is a result of different processes that need to be followed depending on the work you are doing. One of the best learning resources you will have is the experienced colleagues around you. They will have done their job for years, so try and utilise their knowledge!
- Related Posts: How To Get Onto An Engineering Graduate Scheme: Part 1, Part 2,
- How To Pass An Assessment Centre
- Will Mechanical Engineers Be Needed In The Future?
- The 5 Most Essential Skills For Engineers
One thought on “What to Expect on an Engineering Graduate Scheme?”
Comments are closed.