TOP TIPS FOR GETTING PICKED FOR GRADUATE TRAINING SCHEMES.

If you’re currently stressing over applying for and going for interview for graduate training positions, then you’re in good company.  In the current economic climate many graduates are worried about securing a place and feel ill-prepared to do themselves justice at interview. However, there are some really simple guidelines that can help steer you clear of the usual mistakes graduates make. Yorkshire Water is one of the UK's largest graduate employers, and as such has seen many graduates fall at the first interview hurdle. Nicola Rowledge is the HR Learning and Development Officer at Yorkshire Water and she offers the following simple advice:

• Be yourself!  ‘We are not looking for perfection but we are looking for integrity and honesty. If you have made a mistake, that's OK. We all do that, but what did you learn from that situation? We are looking for people who reflect and want to continually improve how they do things.’
• Really think about why you want to work for the company.‘Research and then pick out what attracts you and why, and tell us. Just reciting the website doesn't really say anything about you, all it says is you can recite chunks of information! There's nothing more frustrating for an interviewer than anothercandidate who tells you how many people you employ or what your turnover was last year. Funnily enough, we know that stuff. And in isolation it doesn't mean an awful lot. Tell us why that information stood out to you i.e. why working for a successful company is important to you and how you would contribute to it.’
• Remember an interview is a two-way process!  ‘Really prepare what you want to get out of the meeting/interview. Think what you want to know in order to decide if:
  • It's the job for you.
  • It's the culture and organisation for you.
  • It's the right opportunity for you.  

A few good questions to always ask are:

• Can you tell me more about what the role/course involves?
• What would the first month/quarter look like?
• How does the company reward success?
• What are the opportunities for progression?
• What opportunities are they for flexible working?
• What is the company’s attitude towards training?

And finally, don’t forget to smile and have a nice firm handshake!

Go to our Graduate Employer section to apply for interesting programmes!