I Got Hired: Graduate Trainee at Keepmoat Homes

Posted on: 22 February 2022 by Richard Finch in Graduate stories

Rosie Mead tells us more about becoming a Graduate Trainee at Keepmoat Homes and some top tips for students looking to start their career.

Tell us about your role and the organisation you work for

I am a Land & Partnerships Graduate Trainee at Keepmoat Homes, who are a Top 10 UK Housebuilder. I work in the land department, where we source and buy land for new housing.

What is the most enjoyable part of your role?

I love playing a pivotal role in the development process, helping towns and cities to grow in a sustainable way. I really like the idea of one day driving past a place that I have had a direct influence in helping to create, and it being a place where people love to live and work.

How did you find out about this opportunity?

I found this opportunity by looking on LinkedIn for people who worked in the industry, and seeing what their job titles were and where they worked, and had worked in the past. I then used that to research companies whose names kept coming up, and searched their vacancy lists and graduate opportunities. I then eventually chose Keepmoat because I really respected their ethos and company values.

What are your three top tips for current students looking to start their career?

1. Get established on LinkedIn - you will see the same key names and companies in your industry popping up, and I find its a great place to stay up-to-date with industry news and job opportunities.
2. Learn from your applications - most graduate and early careers recruitment processes follow a similar format, so if you aren't successful, use the experience as a learning curve and ask for feedback, so you can improve for next time.
3. Start looking early - there is no harm in looking for jobs after university as soon as possible, and often it takes time to work out what kinds of things you might be interested in or eligible for. Also be mindful of when the recruitment windows are!