Newsletter

In your graduate job hunt you might have noticed that some employers simply offer graduate vacancies whilst others offer graduate schemes. Graduate schemes differ from general job vacancies in that they tend to have a more structured approach to training and development and often offer a clear path of career progression.

Graduate schemes are most commonly found within larger companies who may take one or two intakes of graduates a year, usually around the summer and the New Year.

One of the common features of graduate schemes is the opportunity to try out different parts of the business so you can find out what areas you really enjoy and where you might wish to progress.

Katie Cliff, Recruitment Consultant at Hallmark Cards PLC based near Bradford, tells us: "Graduate programmes often offer you the chance to gain exposure to diverse areas across the business. This is great for graduates who don't know exactly where their career is heading as you have the opportunity to experience a range of different roles without having to narrow your options too early."

"Most schemes will run over a period of around two years during which you will experience 3 or 4 placements lasting between 6 - 8 months. At Hallmark graduates complete 3 placements each lasting eight months across a range of disciplines including Marketing, Operations, Sales and Customer Support."

"Experiencing different parts of the business means you will develop an excellent all-round commercial grounding as well as helping you find your ideal career path. Our formal graduate programme is a key part of our Talent Management strategy, introducing high potential individuals into the business and supporting and developing them to become the future leaders of Hallmark."

The best place to find out what companies run formal graduate schemes is by visiting your local careers services or keeping an eye out for your next University careers fair where many employers will exhibit.

Every graduate scheme is different so you may find one company will be able to offer a scheme within a specific business specialism whilst others offer the chance to try out different areas of the business.

Most schemes will take applications for their summer intake around Christmas and the New Year so make sure you make a note of any important deadline dates so you don't miss out.

Your application form really needs to stand out from the crowd if you're going to beat off the competition and make it to that all important interview stage. You might have the knowledge and the skills for the job but now you have to prove it. Employers want to know about times when you've applied and developed skills and learning in the real world, through education, work and social activities.

Here are a few handy tips and reminders about application forms to help you on your way.

• Fill in all of the questions clearly and legibly.
• Don't just cut and paste things off your CV, make sure you spend some time going through each question to make sure your answer is relevant to the job.
• Make sure you're answering the question that's bieng asked.
• Be honest.
• Try to account for any gaps in your CV such as travelling or education.
• Work experience is a great place to show how you have gained and applied skills.
• Make sure you're stressing skills appropriate to the job.
• If your work experience is limited, mention skills and experience that you have acquired outside of work such as through a sporting activity.
• Spell check carefully. If you're worried get a friend to check it over too.
• Remember to make a copy to refer to in case you are asked to an interview.
• Make a note of application deadline dates. If you miss the deadline, you'll miss out on the job!

Find more helpful tips on applications here .

Whether you're Yorkshire born and bred or one of the 40,000 graduates made here every year we're sure you're proud to be associated with the greatest county on earth!

You can now show off your pride as well as help support the Graduates Yorkshire cause by becoming a fan on Facebook. You'll be helping to spread the word about the great recruitment service we offer to other graduates.

It's also a place where you can give us your feedback and comments on our service, ask us any career focused questions you might have and keep up to date with all the latest careers fairs and events in the region.

Get your "made in Yorkshire" badge here.

The credit crunch has really hit home, literally, with the cost of everything from gas and electricity to bread and milk reaching all time highs. Some will be feeling the pinch more than others but those graduates looking to settle in Yorkshire can really benefit from cheaper housing, travel costs and bills compared to those looking to work in the South. Leeds is a great option for those attracted to the bright lights of city living but wanting to avoid London price tag.

A vibrant student city, it's full of bars, clubs and restaurants to suit all tastes as well as plenty to do for everyone from the sports enthusiast to the shopping addict. It's also a great place to live if you're looking to commute as it has great links to Halifax, Huddersfield, York and Sheffield.

"Leeds is an ideal place to begin a career and a great place to live," Adam McLoughlin, a recent graduate working for HBOS in Leeds tells us. "The combination of a buzzing, lively city centre and easy access to the surrounding countryside is priceless.

"The number of activities going on in and around Leeds means that there is always something to do after work. In the past month I have been to a number of concerts, rugby matches and the ski dome on the outskirts of Leeds and I love watching the rugby on a Saturday afternoon."

Rob Owen is a former Londoner who came to Yorkshire after being offered a role at HBOS's head office in Halifax. He lives in Leeds and makes the short commute to Halifax for work.

"Leeds is a modern, bustling, chic city with a fantastic shopping area," says Rob.

"If shopping isn't your thing, there are loads of sporting venues. From Headingley and Elland Road in Leeds, to the mighty Shay Stadium, home of Halifax Town FC. There are some great pubs, bars galore and the people are fantastically friendly."

Burley Park is an area popular with graduates. You can usually rent here for around £270 per month plus bills and it's next to Headingley, the student centre of Leeds, as well as the gyms and cinema complex. Headingley has a number of bars, pubs, restaurants, supermarkets and plenty of students so it tends to be slightly more expensive to rent here. Both have their own train stations and are about 10 minutes out from Leeds city centre making it ideal for commuters.

The town centre is also popular with graduates. Flats are pretty much the mainstay, predominantly 2 beds costing from around £350 plus bills.

Being a student city there are plenty of pubs, clubs and restaurants offering great deals on food and drink meaning you shouldn't have to look too far for a cheap pint. Plus there are loads of things to do in the area for absolutely free. With plenty of green spaces for fitness fanatics you can take up jogging or have a kick about without having to fork out on the gym. Plus the countryside's on your doorstop, offering a range of possibilities for the more outdoorsy types.

Find out more about West Yorkshire and other areas in our Love Yorkshire guide . Find out more about graduate opportunities with HBOS here .

So you've applied for the job, what next? Hopefully the employer will be getting in touch soon to invite you to an interview. The person contacting you is likely to be your interviewer and hopefully your new employer! It's really important you bear this in mind in any contact prior to the interview. Here are a few handy tips to make sure you're making the right impression!

• Most employers will call you up to arrange an interview. If your mobile rings with an unknown number find yourself a quiet corner and answer in a confident and clear manner. This could be the call you've been waiting for!
• Make sure your voicemail sets the right tone. No comedy voices or prank messages please.
• If you're offered an interview by email make sure you reply promptly, spell check and use appropriate language.
• If you're unsure as to whether the job's really for you or not, go along to the interview anyway. You'll have the opportunity to ask more about the company to see if it's really for you or not and you don't want to miss out on that big break!
• If you can't make the interview for any reason let the employer know as soon as possible. They may be able to re-arrange for a more suitable time for you plus they are likely to have taken time out of normal working activities to see you and in the world of business time costs money.

Check out more tips for interviews and applications here .

If you're a final year student or a recent graduate hoping to start a graduate scheme next year then you need to get down to the last of the autumn careers fairs. Many of the graduate schemes offered by larger recruiters expect your application before the New Year, so make sure you don't miss out!

Come and chat to us and other graduate recruiters at:

• University of Sheffield, 4^th & 5^th November
• University of York, 6^th November

You can find out more about these fairs through the Universities Careers website.Click here for links.

We are very proud to announce that not only are we the leading graduate recruitment service in Yorkshire, we're an award winning one too!

We received the accolade of "best university spin-out" in the Yorkshire Posts Excellence in Business Awards beating off some stiff competition to take the title.

The Graduates Yorkshire team donned their ball gowns and dinner jackets and marched on over to the awards ceremony in Leeds to celebrate our success with the likes of Conservative leader David Cameron and the BBC's Declan Curry in attendance.

Get down to Sheffield Hallam Students Union on the 4th December for the Careers with a Conscience Fair.

Unlike other careers fairs, this one showcase's loads of employers offering rewarding and challenging careers that can really give you a feel good factor, helping you help others or make a positive contribution for a better world!

The vast array of exhibitors offers you the opportunity to put your degree to good use helping the seriously ill, elderly, homeless, improving and safeguarding the environment, teaching in deprived areas and working with disadvantaged children.

There will be graduate vacancies, careers information, work experience opportunities and info on overseas expeditions and experiences.

Come along and meet household names Danone UK, Cancer Research UK and The Co-operative Group as well as loads of smaller companies who can offer equally exciting opportunities including Rainer Crime Concern, Action Housing and the RSPCA.

For more information and a full list of current exhibitor visit www.sheffieldcareersfairs.ac.uk