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Graduate with 2:1 - Been in Junior Role for 1 Year - No Support

Hey Guys+Gals,

Since graduating with my 2:1 i have been in a Junior Business Analyst role for nearly a year now. :biggrin:

I am not getting the right training and interaction i need to progress my BA career. My question being that can i still apply for graduate roles? :s-smilie:

If so, could anyone please point me in the right direction as to what sort of graduate jobs/jobs I should be applying for? Am i still considered a graduate?

Currently: Junior Business Analyst - 25k PA - 1 Year Experience.

Any information/input would be amazing! :biggrin:

Regards
Gonzooo :smile:

it's been a year...

Original post by gonzooo

Hey Guys+Gals,

Since graduating with my 2:1 i have been in a Junior Business Analyst role for nearly a year now. :biggrin:

I am not getting the right training and interaction i need to progress my BA career. My question being that can i still apply for graduate roles? :s-smilie:

Regards
Gonzooo :smile:

What training and interaction are you missing? To be honest, first year in a job, I woudln't expect you to get much significant additional training and interaction, I'd expect a focus on grinding out the basics of the job and building a foundation. You should be looking to move on from 18 months, with the expectation of making a move and 2-2.5 years to a slightly more experienced role, and that is when you might start looking to specialise and do specific courses, getting a bit more choice of projects etc.

So exactly what is it you think you are missing now?

You can apply for anything, grad scheme, normal job etc but Grad Scheme would probably be moving backwards.

Reply 3

gonzooo

Thanks for the feedback! So basically I am in a Junior Business Analyst role. Its different to a grad scheme.

I have kind of been left to my own devices and only have 1 major point of contact (who is a contractor). Every time I get a new project I am constantly asking questions because I just don't know the system. (my role consists of business and systems analyst)

There has been no proper training for me. I expected to have some kind of mentor.. someone to closely track my progress.
I have personally raised these kinds of issues with senior management and the response was that there is currently no time or resource.

It seems like they have not had many juniors before me. Its just annoys me know because if I had gotten on to a grad scheme at a good company I would have had the following by now:

1. Had exposure to various departments
2. Structured training program
3. A pay rise after 1 year.

Thanks again for your feedback.

Regards
Gonzoo

(edited 7 years ago)

Reply 4

threeportdrift

Careers Forum Helper

Original post by gonzooo

..................

Constantly asking questions is a good thing, so long as no-one is complaining and you aren't repeating the same questions every time. How else do you learn?

This is a work environment, Mentors are very rare. if no-one is closely tracking your performance, it usually means they haven't got any concerns. Seriously, this is a work environment, not the hand-holding, cushy world of school and University.

Yes, if you'd got onto a large, blue chip grad scheme you'd have probably moved around different departments and had a structured training programme. Though you'd also have seen much less real-world work. So why didn't you get on one?

Pay rises are something entirely different - have you earned one? Can you demonstrate added value a year into the role? What is your companies policy on pay rises?

Reply 5

gonzooo

Thanks for your reply.

I understand the question point..the line of work I am in all questions are about 1 application suite (many apps).

Kind of took what I could once I came out of University needed to get on the career ladder asap.
In terms of pay, grad schemes ensure pay rises after one year, I know that for sure.

Would you say someone like me applying for a grad scheme on more pay, training.. would be a step backwards?

Reply 6

threeportdrift

Careers Forum Helper

Original post by gonzooo

Yes, it probably would be a step back to get onto a grad scheme. There is nothing special about a grad scheme, it's just a bulk recruitment method.

Reply 7

beautifulbigmacs

Grad schemes can be about getting someone to do the jobs that colleagues don't want to do. The grass isn't always greener.

Compared to the challenges many graduates face, I would say that you are in a good role, certainly with regards to the pay anyway.