Types of graduate employment
Graduate Employment Programs
Graduate employment programs are structured programs with large organisations which offer formal induction and development for a year to several years.
Employers generally recruit students early in their final year of study, though recent grads can also apply. Recruitment kicks off around the time of the Graduate Careers Fair (early March) with closing dates soon after. Some employers are now recruiting earlier, while others recruit later in the year or have several intakes.
While GEPs are advertised and the recruitment process is formal, employers look first at students who have done vacation or summer work with them (this is an example of the hidden job market at work).
Keep up with Graduate Employment Program recruitment by checking relevant job sites regularly, especially Careers Online.
General job market
The majority of grads find work in general job market. For many, it is their preference.
Points to keep in mind:
- There are many students who either prefer not to do a Graduate Employment Program (GEP) – perhaps because they do not want to work in a large organisation, or because they know exactly what they want to do and aren’t interested in aspects such as ‘rotations’.
- Not all large organisations have grad programs, so they will recruit through the general job market.
- Employers who offer GEPs may also take other new grads into jobs at various times of the year (sometimes called ‘lateral hires’). Often these positions aren’t advertised, so make sure you contact employers of interest directly.
- Most small and medium sized firms (SMEs) do not offer grad programs - these organisations suit some grads as they offer other advantages e.g. breadth of experience, flexibility, flat organisational structures and variety of tasks.
What do positions for new grads in the general job market look like?
- Jobs commence immediately/soon after applying (unlike most GEPs).
- Advertised jobs often say ‘suitable for new grads’ or ‘new grads encouraged to apply’.
- Job titles may include terms such as ‘associate’, ‘assistant’, ‘trainee’.
- Selection criteria generally focus on general employability skills eg communication, time management, computer literacy.
- Advertisements may ask for/prefer some professionally relevant work experience.
What about government positions?
Most positions for new grads are through Graduate Employment Programs. Some other new grad positions are advertised (APS and VPS approximately level 3), but often ask for relevant experience.
You should also consider ‘foot-in-the-door’ opportunities via the administration stream VPS and APS (approximately level 2). While these positions may not require a degree, there are some benefits:
- administration skills are always good value, especially in Arts fields
- target relevant departments to learn about the field
- there are opportunities for transfer and advancement once inside the system.