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Many graduates are a breath of fresh air to a company, bringing with them a host of new ideas and some of the most up-to-date industry knowledge, they may also arrive on a graduate training programme with preconceived ideas about what they will be doing.

Often coming straight from the long education chain some graduates join a graduate programme thinking they are going into a classroom to learn and that their best efforts are not needed. “While we do offer classroom training, the vast majority of learning is on the job, working with other consultants who are specialists in their field,” explains John Gillard, at Capgemini.

And it’s a two-way deal in terms of graduates learning from experienced consultants, while the consultants can also learn from graduates with the most recent industry knowledge. “Graduates really are a key part of the team,” says John. “They are a real asset to the company and their work is really valued.” Full commitment to the training and development period will ensure that both graduate and employer get the most from the programme.

On the other side of the coin, John has found that some students come along with exceedingly high expectations. “Some try to run before they’ve learned to walk,” says John. But more worryingly are those who have preconceived ideas not just on what they are capable of doing, but also what they do not want to do.

“My advice to graduates is don’t blinker out options that you haven’t tried yet.” And it’s advice worth taking. How can we know what we really like and dislike if we don’t open up to new ideas and try different areas of work?

“At Capgemini, there is no set pathway, everyone who joins our scheme takes a different journey. We don’t have a fixed rotation and we can’t always guarantee you will get to work in your favourite area, but there is a huge variety as you work on one project for a couple of months then move onto the next. That’s what being a consultant is all about,” explains John.

The scheme reflects the market place – an unpredictable arena where demand means a company must supply. And although consultants may have a specialised skill set in one area they may find they are often working on different product sets. It is the nature of consulting. “It really is the best prep for a consultancy role,” he adds.

For the IT sector specifically, there are many myths surrounding recruitment in the sector and some of these can be extremely detrimental to the industry. With recent reports in the news suggesting that ‘IT roles are going off-shore’ it becomes harder for companies to get the message across that there is still a need for IT trained graduates. In such a fast-paced world like the IT sector, keeping abreast of the industry is no easy feat. But Capgemini has a couple of solutions up its sleeve.

In the long-term Capgemini is working with other sector-related companies as well as the e-skills council to get the right messages across. We work together on programmes like ‘Computer Club for Girls,’ which aims to get more females taking up an IT degree. Short-term, Capgemini ensures that its new intake of graduates understand what it’s like to work in the IT industry and are fully prepped before kick-starting an IT consultancy career.

Capgemini has recently set up an online discussion forum where those who are interested in joining its graduate programme can speak with those who have undertaken it already. “We always have current graduates involved – they are the people who really know what being a grad at Capgemini is like,” explains John. “As a part of the recruitment process I’m not allowed on the site but I have heard that it’s already proving quite popular!”

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