First and foremost – what is a graduate job? It is just a structured program, tailor-made for recent graduates like you. Most graduate programs last 1-2 years and let you try your hand in different departments of a company. As an added bonus, they often come with an employment guarantee when the program ends. International businesses also offer placements in their foreign offices as part of the program.

Graduate programs are usually offered by large businesses, that aim to attract and develop young talents towards tackling the challenges of tomorrow. These positions are highly sought after, so employers only take in the very best candidates. You can check our extensive list of Danish graduate programs here.

Pros 👍🏽

Graduate programs give recent graduates a unique opportunity to kickstart their career via structured training and both professional and personal development. Here are some of the top pros of having a graduate job:

1. Structured education and development: The program will help you find your feet in the company, by helping you build up essential skills and knowledge.

2. Broad experience: The rotation between different departments and projects gives you a broad understanding of the company and all functions.

3. Mentoring and support: The more experienced employees will help you on your way through regular feedback, advice and tips.

4. Networking opportunities: From the start, you will become a part of a broad network of colleagues and other graduates.

5. Global reach: Opportunities to work abroad or across international borders.

6. Job guarantee: Programs offer the opportunity for permanent employment after the program’s end.

7. A stronger resumé: A graduate program strengthens your resumé substantially, when you seek further employment. It shows that you both made it through the narrow selection process and finished thorough, professionally relevant training.

Cons 👎🏽

Even though a graduate program comes with plenty of advantages, its not all sunshine and rainbows. There are things you should know, before you apply:

1. High demands: Many graduate programs focus on the best students of their year and have high demands when it comes to grades and relevant expertise.

2. Strong competition: Graduate programs are usually highly sought after, and that leads to intense competition when it comes to getting accepted into one. Having constant demands for high performance can therefore lead to stress.

3. Long work hours: The work hours, especially in the beginning, can be very long – and in certain cases, they necessitate secondment or rotation around the country.

4. Limited flexibility: The set structure of a graduate program can limit your flexibility and the opportunity to follow your own interests.

5. Limited control of your career path: The highly structured nature of a graduate program can mean less control of your immediate career path.

6. Geographic mobility: Some programs necessitate moving, staying abroad or frequent travel, which can be challenging.

Danish graduate programs

Ready to take the leap? Then check out our list of Danish graduate programs and keep an eye on the deadlines – most programs only accept applications once per year.