WHAT VALUE DO THESE PROGRAMS PROVIDE TO GRADUATES? Graduate programs enable graduates to compete with similarly experienced individuals for the same job. Finding a job upon graduation can be an overwhelming experience for recent graduates as they are often competing with more experienced people for the same jobs (Walkley Hall, unpublished). These transitionary programs, which are targeted specifically at graduates, help to create a more even playing field. They also provide graduates with the opportunity to acquire more working experience before starting a professional job (Institute of Leadership and Management & Ashridge Business School 2011) and strengthen their curriculum vitae (Mellors-Bourne & Day 2011). In this sense, graduates value these programs as a stepping stone on their path to employment. Once employed in these programs, graduates experience considerable satisfaction if they are awarded responsibility, given opportunities for career and salary advancement, and are provided with job security (McDermott, Mangan & O’Connor 2006). While understanding they have more learning to do, graduates value being treated like other employees, so it is important that these transitionary programs enable this to occur. GRADUATE AND EMPLOYER EXPERIENCES WITH THESE PROGRAMS Graduate experiences Overall, graduates place great value in these programs as they assist them to begin their professional working careers; however, they do experience some frustrations. Graduates report receiving vast amounts of development opportunities while they are on the program but then receive nothing afterwards (Development Beyond Learning, unpublished). In some instances, graduates become frustrated because their experience in reality falls short of the promises made beforehand, such as during recruitment or induction, while others feel as if their work lacks a clear purpose and that they are removed from their work colleagues (Jenner 2008). Moreover, there can be inconsistencies in their placement opportunities (Jenner 2008); for example, some graduates within the same organisations may receive more rotations or have greater involvement in determining where their rotation will be than others.
Government employer (federal) Spoke with recruitment staff regarding opportunities available in their department No are available for those without a bachelor degree or These are directed to roles and must compete with all other applicants for the job. Generally, the view is that the apprenticeship and traineeship programs on offer work well and that these opportunities are sufficient for those undertaking VET study or for VET graduates. As mentioned above, a cadetship program is on offer for students in ICT who have completed a VET qualification and are moving into university study. Without the university component, VET graduates would not be considered for this program. There are also some separate employment opportunities which target certain equity groups; for example, Indigenous or Torres Strait Islander people or those with disability. These may or may not require a VET qualification for eligibility (it depends on the program). Government employer (federal) Spoke with recruitment staff regarding opportunities available in their department No graduate program are available for those without a bachelor degree or equivalent. These individuals are directed to lower-level roles and must compete with all other applicants for the job. As was the case with the other Australian Government Department contacted, the view was that the apprenticeship and traineeship programs on offer work well, and separate employment opportunities exist, targeting equity groups. Government employer (state) Spoke with recruitment staff regarding opportunities available in their department No graduate program are available for those without a bachelor degree or If a VET graduate is seeking a job, they are often directed to lower-level roles and must compete with all other applicants for the job. However, as mentioned above, the Training Guarantee for SACE Students (TGSS) is available for high school students interested in gaining work experience while studying VET. In addition, as described above, separate employment opportunities exist, targeting equity groups. Although the employment opportunities for novice workers with a VET qualification are limited, one of the recruitment staff members contacted as a part of this research noted that she often received questions about opportunities for VET graduates, and wished that other opportunities existed to give these individuals the work experience needed to make themselves more ‘marketable’ to prospective employers. Government employer (state) Spoke with recruitment staff regarding ‘registers’ which facilitate employment for VET graduates in the South Australian public sector No graduate program opportunities are available for those without a bachelor degree or equivalent. These individuals are directed to lower-level roles and must compete with all other applicants for the job. As described above, separate employment opportunities targeting equity groups exist.
A ‘skills register’ exists for individuals already working in and nearing the end of their public sector, local government or not-for-profit community sector apprenticeship, traineeship, cadetship or graduate placement and wish to continue working for the state government. There are no ‘registers’ which exist to promote VET graduates who have not previously worked in government (through an apprenticeship, traineeship, cadetship or graduate placement). Professional association Spoke with recruitment staff regarding opportunities available in their association No graduate program are available for those without a bachelor or It is to obtain entry to a after an in a at a VET alone is not need to have their two-year degree at TAFE, plus an degree in the at to qualify. line