Experience requirements for graduate roles

Gael23 · 03-09-2014 11:06am #1

Applying for Graduate roles, many of them seem to want a year or 2 years experience or whatever. As a recent graduate I don't quite understand how I'm expected to have that so what I want to know is that do they really enforce this requirement.

Mr. Loverman · 03-09-2014 11:25am

We can't answer your question as every company will be different.

Personally I would avoid any company with adverts like this. They are being dishonest from the very beginning.

Mrs OBumble · 03-09-2014 11:49am

Can you link to some examples?

Gael23 · 03-09-2014 11:52am

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

Can you link to some examples?

Im on.my phone now but will do later.

RomanGod · 03-09-2014 12:56pm

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

Can you link to some examples?

I see it all the time, most recent was Volkswagen looking for a Trainee and it required 2+ years experience. Imagine a profession where you are still Trainee after 2 years. That's demotivating

Mr. Loverman · 03-09-2014 2:03pm

So I'm guessing "graduate" is a euphemism for "we want to pay a low salary"?

Previously it used to mean "we want you young, naive and keen so we can shape you into the kind of person we want".

Mrs OBumble · 03-09-2014 3:11pm

There's a big difference between "two years experience" (working anywhere, doing anything) and "two years experience as an accountant" or whatever else specifically the job is for. I've asked for examples so we can see if the OP is just missing the difference, or if the employers really are that dumb. (Yes, there are IT recruiters who look for two year's experience in a tool that was only released six months ago

)

Mr. Loverman · 03-09-2014 3:24pm

Yes, I assumed they meant "two years experience as an accountant" which (as you point out) is a lot different than two years whatever experience.

I just looked through the graduate section on jobs.ie and a lot of the roles aren't actually for graduates. They've just been put in that category. That would explain why many of them seem unsuitable.

I did come across a few with ridiculous requirements for graduates though.

RomanGod · 03-09-2014 3:28pm

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

There's a big difference between "two years experience" (working anywhere, doing anything) and "two years experience as an accountant" or whatever else specifically the job is for. I've asked for examples so we can see if the OP is just missing the difference, or if the employers really are that dumb. (Yes, there are IT recruiters who look for two year's experience in a tool that was only released six months ago )

I've been applying for accounting/finance roles since May. The OP is right believe me. They ask for 2 years experience in a firm but it has the title graduate. Unless they are looking for people who did internship for a year in college, my course was just study throughout, no work placements so I'd be at a disadvantage

tenifan · 03-09-2014 10:40pm

ryanf1 wrote: »

Applying for Graduate roles, many of them seem to want a year or 2 years experience or whatever. As a recent graduate I don't quite understand how I'm expected to have that so what I want to know is that do they really enforce this requirement.

When I graduated college I applied for a job as a trainee accountant.
I had experience in retail, tills and working with cash, customer service, cleaning, stacking shelves.. not all relevant, but out of 4 years of parttime jobs I could scrape together maybe a year of skills or experiences relevant to the employer.
Furthermore through college I had skills in using programs like Word, Excel, Outlook, Access; and of course teamwork, presentation, talking to companies in the local area as part of projects. Let's call that another year of experience?

Some people also choose to do internships or work experience during their summer holidays. They'll definitely have a headstart over people who did nothing throughout their time in college.

Experience requirements for graduate roles

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