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About us A hand wave emoji.

Who Are The Grad Soc?

Your new best friends, that’s who. At The Grad Soc, we create accessible and flexible internships focused on building experiences that are not only useful, but actually enjoyable too. We create internships that are paid, remote-first or virtual to spread value worldwide, and full to the brim of genuinely valuable knowledge and experience.

We don’t just run internships though. Oh no, we care far too much about your success to simply leave it there. We also have a very wide range of career and employability support options to help students and grads on any career path. From personalised career coaching, detailed feedback on CVs, cover letters, and LinkedIn profiles, as well as guidance for job search strategies and interview preparation, we’re your go-to expert for career support.

How Can I Speak To The Grad Soc Team?

Of course bestie. You can chat with us in a couple of different ways:

  • Free 15-Minute Call: Book a free and friendly 15-minute chat with a member of The Grad Soc team to discuss your career needs and get advice on where to start.
  • Grad Soc Membership: Become a Grad Soc member and enjoy unlimited access to our team’s support and guidance.
  • Email Us: If you hate calls (’I get my mum to ring the doctors for me’ club, rise up), just drop us an email, and we’ll help you find the best service for your situation.

Who Are Your Career Services For?

Long story short – you.

Our career and employability services are open to students and graduates from all backgrounds and fields of study. Whether you’re just starting your career journey, looking to gain practical experience, or actually have zero f*cking clue what you want to do, we’re here to help.

We also work with boot camps and assist their learners in finding interviews, internships, and new roles. So, don’t worry if you’re a mature learner or a career changer – you’re still invited. We welcome anyone who needs help with their career and is looking to develop their professional skills.

What Career Services Do You Offer to Students?

Every student and grad is different. This is why we offer a deliciously comprehensive range of career services, spanning across 7 key areas we know you might be struggling with :

  • CVs
  • Cover Letters
  • Interviews
  • LinkedIn
  • Applications
  • Portfolios
  • Career Guidance

We know you’ll probably find what you’re looking for in there, but if there’s something specific you need help with but can’t find on our website, just get in touch by emailing shona@thegradsoc.com.

Are There Any Personalised Career Services?

Everything is personalised. Whether you join us for a 1-1 coaching call or send your CV for a virtual review, our team makes sure our support is personalised to your situation and goals every. single. time. Here’s an idea of how we do that…

  • 1-1 Career Coaching Sessions: During our Zoom calls, we encourage you to share more about yourself and your career aspirations. This allows us to provide real-time, personalised advice that is specific to your goals.
  • Personalised Virtual Reviews: When you book a virtual review, you can tell us about your career goals, the specific industries you want to enter, or the job roles you want to apply for. We then provide detailed, customised feedback to help you stand out to employers.

What Is the Success Rate of Students Using Your Career Services?

We’re glad you asked.

We have supported hundreds of young people in securing meaningful, accessible, and well-paid internships with a 90% success rate. We’ve reviewed thousands of CVs, cover letters, and LinkedIn profiles, helping our members land interviews, internships, and job offers. We consistently ensure our career services are high-quality and up-to-date by working with graduate employers to gain deep insights into what they look for in new hires and fresh talent.

So yeah, you can be sure we’ve seen it all – and use that knowledge to support every single student and graduate who comes to us.

Internships 

Do You Offer Internships?

Yes, we offer two types of internship opportunities designed to help you gain valuable, accessible work experience:

  • Paid, Remote Internships: We provide accessible and flexible paid internships where our interns can work directly with companies, earning £12p/h. These internships are typically 10 hours per week, 6 months long, 1-2 interns per company, and offer hands-on experience, skill development, and real responsibilities within a team.
  • Virtual Internship Programmes (VIPs): We are in the process of developing our Virtual Internship Programmes, which are designed to help young people in the UK gain real-world experience with top companies, entirely remotely. Our VIPs are open to any young person (18+) in the UK, require no previous experience, and are super flexible to fit around your schedule. Through these virtual internship journeys, you’ll engage in real tasks you’d be doing in a full-time graduate role, receive expert training, and have the opportunity to impress companies, potentially leading to further career opportunities!

To stay updated on our latest internship opportunities and the launch of our VIPs, sign up for our internship email alerts on our website. This way, you’ll be the first to know when new opportunities go live and can register your interest to join our VIP waitlist.

What Internships Do You Offer?

Each paid internship we run with our partner companies is different, and there’s always the opportunity to expand past the original job description in any of our internships.

So far, we have run internships in… Digital Marketing, Social Media Marketing, Content Creation, Business Development, Sales, Research, Analytics, Customer Service, PR, Branding, Email Marketing, SEO, Fundraising, AI and Administration (amongst others).

How Can I Find Out About Your Internship Opportunities?

We love that enthusiasm – to stay updated on our latest internship opportunities, sign up for our internship email alerts here. By joining our mailing list, you’ll receive notifications about new internships directly in your inbox, including details on how to apply.

What Is the Pay Rate for Remote Internships?

The pay rate for our remote internships is £12 per hour. This rate is above the UK Living Wage as of April 2024.

Are There Any In-Office Internships or Are All Grad Soc Internships Remote?

We believe really strongly in spreading opportunities across the UK and worldwide – which is why the majority of our internships are entirely remote.

However, we occasionally offer hybrid internships or opportunities that require some travel (exciting). Each internship opportunity will clearly state in the job description if it’s entirely remote, or if there’s the opportunity to meet the team in-person.

What Is the Duration of the Remote Internships?

Our remote internships are usually between 6-12 months, as we believe this is the ideal amount of time for an intern and company to build a professional relationship.

For those who impress (oooh), there may be opportunities to extend the internship or transition into a permanent role, whether part-time, full-time, or freelance.

What Is the Time Commitment Required for the Remote Internships?

Our remote internships are usually a maximum of 10 hours per week. This part-time schedule is designed to be flexible, allowing you to balance your internship with studies, work, or other commitments. Again, this information can be found clearly labelled in the job description for each internship.

Are There Opportunities for Employment Post-Internship?

Yes, there are opportunities for employment post-internship for those that impress! We have a high continuation rate, with 90% of our interns being offered permanent roles by their host companies.

Impressing during your internship can open doors to part-time, full-time, or freelance positions, providing a pathway to long-term employment.

What Skills Are You Looking for in Interns for Remote Internships?

Each internship requires different skills depending on the specific role, industry and company (and they’re always clearly listed in the job description, so you know exactly what’s expected before you apply).

However, there are some key things we look for in EVERY intern, regardless of the role they’re applying for…

  • Communication Skills: From writing a good job application to having conversations with your manager – good communication is key. We will work with you to build these skills further in the internship itself, but we always look for interns who are good at communicating.
  • Initiative and Proactivity: We LOVE LOVE LOVE interns who can show initiative and be proactive. Doing things without being asked, going the extra mile (okay, that sounds a bit ‘live laugh love’ but you know what we mean). Read our blog post on initiative here for some ideas of what this might look like.
  • Enthusiasm: Companies always want to hire people who are excited about what they do, so enthusiasm is key when it comes to standing out. Think about how you could show this in your application and interview!

How Can I Stand Out When Applying for Remote Internships?

To maximise your chances of success when applying for remote internships, follow these key tips:

  1. Tailor Your Application: Customise your CV and cover letter for each internship application, highlighting relevant skills and experiences that match the job description. Use specific examples to demonstrate your suitability for the role. Make sure to emphasise skills that are particularly valuable for the specific internship, which can be identified by studying the job description.
  2. Show Enthusiasm and Willingness to Learn: Demonstrate a genuine interest in the company and the specific role you’re applying for. You can do this by showing that you’ve done your homework on the company and the team, and by clearly expressing your eagerness to develop your skills with them. Employers value candidates who are eager to learn and grow within the position.
  3. Prepare for Interviews: Research the company and the role thoroughly before your interview. Be ready to discuss how your skills and experiences align with the company’s needs. Practise common interview questions and prepare thoughtful questions to ask the interviewer.
  4. Utilise Our Resources: Take advantage of resources offered by The Grad Soc, such as our free CV, cover letter, and LinkedIn guides, as well as our career coaching services. These resources can help you refine your application and improve your chances of success (and demonstrate your eagerness and proactivity).
  5. Be Professional and Responsive: Make the best impression by writing clear and professional responses to The Grad Soc team and your potential employer over email during the process, and reply quickly where you can! This shows you’re reliable and a good communicator.

What Training Is Included in the Internships?

We provide extensive training for interns before their internship begins. Typically, this training lasts between 2-4 weeks, ensuring that you have everything you need for a successful internship.

This training is tailored to the specific company, role, and requirements of the internship. Additionally, it is customised to meet the needs of the individual intern. For example, if a particular tool or technology will be used during the internship and you are not familiar with it, we will provide the necessary training to ensure you are well-prepared.

Beyond the initial training, we offer ongoing weekly support throughout the internship. This continuous support helps you navigate any challenges and make the most of your internship experience.

What Kind of Support Do Interns Get During Remote Internships?

Interns will receive various forms of support during their remote internships:

  • Pre-Internship and Ongoing Training: Interns will receive training both before the internship begins and throughout the internship to develop technical and workplace-readiness skills. This means that if, at any point during the internship, you feel you need extra support or additional training, we can arrange for extra sessions as we go along. You are not expected to know everything from the start—internships are designed to help you learn and grow.
  • Weekly Catch-Ups: Interns will have weekly 15-minute Zoom catch-up sessions with their internship manager from The Grad Soc team. These sessions are an opportunity to discuss progress, address challenges, and get support.
  • Slack Access: Interns will have access to their internship manager via Slack for real-time communication, quick questions, and ongoing support throughout the internship.

By providing regular Zoom calls and Slack access, we ensure that interns have the guidance and support they need to succeed in their remote internships.

Are International Candidates Eligible for Remote Internships?

The majority of our internships are open to international candidates (yay), however, there may be certain opportunities that require travel or have other specific requirements. Either way, we’ll always make it clear in the job description what is required.

Membership Information A trophy sticker.

What’s Included in the Membership?

A membership with The Grad Soc provides services to accelerate your career progression:

  • Comprehensive Career Services: Gain unlimited access to virtual reviews of your CV, cover letter, and LinkedIn profile. Our industry experts deliver detailed, actionable feedback within 7 working days, helping you polish and perfect your job applications.
  • 1-1 Employability Coaching: Benefit from personalised 1-1 coaching sessions via Zoom, covering all aspects of your career journey. Whether you need support with your CV, cover letter, LinkedIn profile, interview preparation, application process, or career guidance, our expert coaches are here to tailor their advice to your specific needs.

By becoming a Grad Soc member, you receive personalised, ongoing support to enhance your employability, improve your job application materials, and gain the skills and confidence needed to succeed in today’s competitive job market.

How Do I Become a Member?

It’s very simple. All you need to do is head over to our membership page, and sign up. You’ll need to add your contact and card details, and once you’ve verified your email you have immediate access to everything inside the membership.

We told you it’s simple!

What Is the Cost of Membership?

The cost of membership at The Grad Soc is £39 per month, which automatically renews until cancelled. This includes unlimited virtual reviews, unlimited email support from The Grad Soc team, access to our library of training resources and up to seven 1-1 coaching calls per month.

Are There Any Discounts Available for Membership?

Yes, we occasionally drop discount codes over on our socials, so make sure you follow us for the latest updates. Seriously, get stalking.

Can I Cancel My Membership Anytime?

Yes, you can cancel your monthly membership at any time, without any penalties or hidden fees.

To cancel your membership, log into your account on our website, navigate to the membership settings, and follow the instructions for cancellation. If you encounter any issues or need assistance, just give us a shout.

Who Are the Membership Sessions With?

Your reviews and sessions are with our (if we say so ourselves) amazing Grad Soc team members, who are all trained to provide the most up-to-date, employer-led advice, guidance, and support.

You’ll likely be speaking to George or Shona – so feel free to connect with them on LinkedIn before your session.

Career Services  A pile of books emoji.

What Happens in a 1-1 Call

When you book a 1-1 call, we’ll ask you to fill out a brief form about what you’re currently working through – whether it’s preparing for an upcoming interview, needing a CV review for a specific role or industry, or anything else related to your career. This helps us come prepared with tailored advice suited to your situation. If it’s related to your CV, cover letter, or LinkedIn profile, we can go through this together in real-time during the call. We’ll cover as many of your questions as we can within the time slot.

How Long Are the Coaching Sessions?

Our 1-1 Zoom coaching sessions are 30 minutes and held on Zoom – enough time to give you valuable, tailored advice, but not too long to max out your concentration.

How Do I Book a Coaching Session?

Here’s how you can get started:

  • Visit Our Website: Go to The Grad Soc’s website and navigate to the relevant coaching page.
  • Choose Your Service: Select the type of coaching session you need, such as CV writing, cover letter support, LinkedIn optimisation, or general career guidance.
  • Schedule a Time: Use our online booking system to choose a date and time that suits your schedule.
  • Provide Details: Fill in the necessary details about you, your career goals and any specific areas you want to focus on during the session.
  • Confirm Booking: Submit your booking and wait for a confirmation email with the session details and a Zoom link for the meeting.

If you encounter any issues or need assistance with the booking process, our support team is available to help you.

Can I Book More Than One Coaching Session?

Can’t get enough of us? Yes, you can book as many coaching sessions as you need.

However, if you’re booking more than one coaching session – you might want to check out the membership (it’s cheaper!)

How Many Sessions Will I Need?

The number of sessions you’ll need depends on your individual goals and needs. Some students and grads find that a single session is enough to address specific concerns, while others benefit from regular sessions for continued guidance and support.

If you’re not sure what’s right for you, book a free 15-minute chat or join our membership to try them out.

How Much Do the Coaching Sessions Cost?

A 1-1 employability coaching call with The Grad Soc team is £34.99 for a 30-minute Zoom session.

For more details on pricing and the different coaching sessions available, check out our services page.

What Is a Virtual Review?

As the name might suggest, a virtual review is where we review your job application materials, virtually. This includes CVs, cover letters, LinkedIn profiles, application questions and portfolios.

Here’s how it works:

  • Send Us Your Stuff: Email us your CV, cover letter, LinkedIn profile URL, application questions or portfolio
  • Review: Our experienced team will thoroughly review your documents, focusing on areas such as relevance, content, structure, formatting, and alignment with industry standards.
  • Personalised Feedback: Within 7 working days, you’ll receive a detailed report highlighting strengths, areas for improvement, and specific recommendations to make your documents stand out to employers. We like to label key areas – always personalised, every time.
  • Next Steps: Our feedback includes actionable steps to help you implement the suggested changes and land that damn dream job.

Can I Book More Than One Virtual Review?

Aren’t you a keen bean, yes, you can book more than one virtual review with The Grad Soc. We’re happy to review all your docs (CV, cover letter, portfolio) or do multiple reviews of the same one after you’ve gone away and worked on our feedback.

If you’re after more than one review, it might be worth checking out our monthly membership – where you can get unlimited reviews for one price.

How Many Virtual Reviews Will I Need?

We’re used to seeing significant improvement after just one virtual review. The detailed, personalised feedback provided helps you enhance your materials quickly and effectively, but we also know that you want it to be the best it can be. So, if you’re keen for us to review your newly updated CV, we’re happy to take another look when you book a second virtual review.

How Much Do the Virtual Reviews Cost?

The cost of a virtual review at The Grad Soc is £24.99 per document/material. This fee includes a comprehensive evaluation by our experienced team, detailed feedback on strengths and areas for improvement, and specific recommendations to make it the best it can be.

General Help & Support 

How Do I Contact Customer Support for Career Services?

Got a question?

  • Email: Send an email to our team at shona@thegradsoc.com and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can.
  • Social Media: Drop us a message via Instagram or LinkedIn. Our team monitors these platforms regularly and will get back to you promptly

How Can I Get Job Alerts?

Here’s how you can stay updated on the latest opportunities:

  • Sign Up for Email Alerts: Sign up for our mailing list here. You’ll receive notifications about any new job and internship opportunities directly in your inbox.
  • Follow Us on Social Media: Follow us on Instagram and LinkedIn for real-time updates on job openings and career resources.

I Have a Disability. How Can I Adjust the Application Process?

At The Grad Soc, we are committed to providing an inclusive and accessible application process for everyone. We are keen to make adjustments wherever possible to ensure a fair experience. If you have a disability and need any accommodations, we encourage you to request them during the application process.

Some examples of adjustments we can offer include providing interview questions in advance. Please let us know your specific needs so we can support you effectively.

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