Graduate Schemes
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Graduates are the lifeblood of consultancies, and arguably are in fact the ones doing most of the actual work. While senior management concentrates on developing new deals and revenue streams, relatively inexperienced graduates are relied upon to ensure that ongoing projects run smoothly.
It is a big responsibility - one of the big advantages of the job - and means that consultancies invest huge amounts in making sure they recruit the right people.
In all, it usually costs around £3,000 to get a single candidate from the application form stage to new joiner. And that doesn't even begin to include the thousands of pounds worth of training that will be invested in you once you're in.
Don't feel for them though. They'll get their money's worth!
Graduate schemes are a great way in to the career ladder, simply because most management consultancies invest so heavily in trying to attract the very best candidates. The rewards can be extensive - extremely competitive salaries, medical insurance, extensive training and a great name to name on the CV.
But schemes, and their benefits, vary quite extensively from company to company. We've done our best to list as many of the UK consultancy graduate schemes as we could, and throw in any key details (including their ranking in The Times Top 100 Graduate Employers, if applicable).
Do your research - there's a lot of options out there.
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Accenture - ranked 4th in Times Top 100 Graduate Employers
- Starting salary of £31,500; one of the highest
- Two week training period in Chicago
- 'Waiting Room' site full of new joiner information - very helpful if you're successful
- Some new joiners are surprised by how the firm is more 'techy' than implied at interview stage
- Rolling recruitment; no deadlines
- Targeted at specific business schools
- MBA strongly preferred
- Strong business experience a must
- Starting salary of around £21,000
- Vacancies will have individual closing dates
- 2-2 degree considered if backed up by good relevant work experience
- 25 days annual leave plus private medical insurance and season ticket loan as part of benefits package
Bain & Company - ranked 66th in Times Top 100 Graduate Employers
- CV and covering letter required for application
- Internships not offered in London office
- Grade A at Maths GCSE a specific requirement
- Typically receives 100 applicants per position
- Graduate applications currently closed - to reopen in Autumn 2008.
- Strong reputation for benefits package
Boston Consulting Group - ranked 84th in Times Top 100 Graduate Employers
- Tends to take candidates with first class degrees
- 10-16 week summer programme available (largely US)
- Specific universities targeted - search for yours here
- Can sponsor MBAs
Capgemini - ranked 98th in Times Top 100 Graduate Employers
- Not open for applications until October 2008
Deloitte - ranked 2nd in Times Top 100 Graduate Employers
- Operates mentor scheme - assigning a buddy a year ahead of you in the firm
- £7,000 interest free loan offered
- 25 days holiday and occupational sick pay
- Free mobile phone and chance to pay for additional benefits (including extra holiday and private medical insurance)
- Personal Mentor and Individual Development plans to guide you through first 2 years
- Student internships for second-year university undergraduates available
- Very flexible pay/benefits system (wide array of health and insurance benefits)
- Holds a graduate ball as a black tie networking event
Ernst & Young - ranked 11th in Times Top 100 Graduate Employers
- Car or car allowance a standard benefit
- Competitive salary - though varies massively according to office location
- Private Healthcare Insurance and Life Assurance
- Some subsidised leisure facilities and restaurants
Fujitsu - ranked 80th in Times Top 100 Graduate Employers
- £25,000 base starting salary, plus a £2,000 sign-on bonus
- Company-wide bonus scheme, health insurance and twice-yearly pay reviews
- Optional extras include discounts on Fujitsu products (such as PCs)
- At least one week of induction training
- £30,000 starting salary - one of the best basic rates, plus generous bonus schemes
- Good range of flexible benefits, including a bicycle subsidy and sabbatical allowance
- Ten week summer internships offered
- Four week comprehensive induction training
IBM - ranked 21st in Times Top 100 Graduate Employers
- £25,000 typical starting salary, £30,000 for Strategy Consultants
- Flexible benefits scheme, with core benefits including medical cover, life assurance and pension, along with opportunity to 'buy' more holiday.
- Stock Purchase and Employee Discount plans in place
- Selection process takes round 6 - 8 weeks
KPMG - ranked 3rd in Times Top 100 Graduate Employers
- Holiday entitlement, pensions, lunch allowance, student loan...a long list of benefits - and a very generous bonus scheme
- Committed to flexible working policy
- Mentor scheme
- Flexi-time, job sharing and career breaks all potentially available
- Industrial Placements offered
- For 2007, graduate starting salaries ranged from £19,250 to £23,000
- 25 days holiday, as part of a broad benefits package
- Office locations throughout the UK
- Individually structured training schemes
McKinsey & Company - ranked 37th in Times Top 100 Graduate Employers
- Generally imposes A Level requirements of AAB on applicants, and expects 2:1 degree minimum
- Summer Associate program run for MBA students
- Five weeks of formal training within first two years of employment with the company
- Applicants must have achieved 3 Grade 'A's at A level and a 2:1 / 1st Class degree
- Currently no vacancies available (as of June 2008)
- Eight-week summer placements offered to penultimate year undergraduates and MBA students
- 'Personal Development Bank' offers grants for individuals to improve their skills in non-consulting orientated areas
- Typically has around 30 vacancies every year
- 22 days of holiday standard, with the option of an extra month of unpaid vacation
PriceWaterhouseCoopers (PwC) - ranked 1st in Times Top 100 Graduate Employers
- Top Graduate employer for four years running in The Times' annual survey
- One of the widest variety of choices to supplement a strong basic benefits package, including company car option and additional holiday up to 30 days
- Interest-free graduate loan offered on joining
- Potential to study towards accredited financial and accounting qualifications
- Summer internships offered
- 14 days of introductory training
- Mobile phone and laptop provided
- Currently no vacancies at Junior Consultant or Intern level (as of June 2008)
- Graduate positions offered across a very wide range of jobs - not just consultancy (see project management for consultancy style roles)
- Benefits packages centred around MyChoice; a selection of benefits from which you can choose the most suitable for you
- Nine organised training events in first two years of employment with the company
- Currently no UK vacancies (as of June 2008)
- Undergraduate internship opportunities available
- Offers Flexi-time and 'compressed workweeks' - working longer hours on one day and taking a portion of another part of the working week off
- Currently no UK vacancies (as of June 2008)
- 6 week penultimate year undergraduate and graduate internship opportunities available
- 2007 graduate starting salaries ranged from £25,000 to £28,000
- One week induction training, followed by 3 month side project on charity work to build network and skills
- Opportunity to study for company-approved professional qualifications
- 25 days annual holiday plus highly competitive salary and the usual insurance, etc benefits list
- 2:1 degree is the minimum academic requirement
- Sponsoring and mentoring schemes in place for new joiners
Prepare for the hardest part of recruitment
Improve your numeric and verbal reasoning
Careers
- The Application Process
- Graduate Schemes
- Case Study Interviews
- Psychometric Tests
- Interview Tips
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