As a recent graduate who is looking at a career in software development, it can be tempting to jump at the first opportunity which comes your way. However, it is important that you consider how you will be supported as you begin your career before committing to an offer.  

A company like Electrum which offers a dedicated Graduate Programme is the perfect way to ensure guidance and assistance by equipping you with resources like mentorship and community to ensure that you thrive in the working environment.

An emphasis on mentorship

Community is important, especially when you become a working adult.  A Graduate Programme is intended to provide intensive mentorship and guidance. “It’s a major adjustment coming from university,” says Software Engineer Team Lead  Sara Owen. “It can be overwhelming and there are often differences in how the programming languages are used in university versus the working world.” 

As a new developer, mentorship allows you to adjust to the industry and to become competent in a company's systems and operations. At Electrum, our Graduate Programme pairs each of our Graduate Software Engineers with a mentor to not only guide them through the transition into Electrum’s software workspace, but to also instil belief in their abilities as a trusted employee. 

“I struggled with anxiety throughout Electrum’s Graduate Project,” says Kgotso Mashaya, a 2023 Electrum Graduate Software Engineer. “My mentor provided a safe space to express my concerns. She shared strategies for managing stress and maintaining focus." 

Teamwork makes the dream work

Coming into the workplace as a newbie can be an isolating experience. Slotting into an established team can be difficult when everyone already knows each other's ways of working and has an established repertoire with each other. Joining the working world as part of a Graduate Programme means that you start with other new Graduate Software Engineers.

“The Graduate Programme at Electrum is based on the principle that people who have friendships at work are the happiest,” says Zayd Hendricks, Chief Operating Officer at Electrum and the architect behind the Graduate Programme. 

Electrum’s Graduate Programme introduces multiple Graduate Software Engineers at once into the company. This allows for the new cohort to have the opportunity to establish working relationships and friendships with others who are experiencing similar challenges and successes. 

“Being part of a small group of recent graduates created a supportive and collaborative atmosphere,” says Kgotso, “because we were all transitioning from university to professional life, we could relate to and support each other”.  

Electrum’s decision to start new Graduate Software Engineers together also provides an opportunity for Graduates to experience all the “firsts” which come with their first official employment without feeling like they’re the only ones who are having to learn from scratch. 

“A peer learning environment enhanced our problem-solving skills and provided multiple perspectives on the same challenges,” says Kgotso. 

Supported learning instils confidence

As new starters, often the fear of making a mistake prevents you from taking autonomy in your decisions. You may be worrying about how your mistakes could impact your more experienced team, your client, and your job. A Graduate Programme, such as Electrum’s, which offers a controlled and structured environment will encourage you to step out of your comfort zone without these fears. 

“The programme offers accelerated learning,” says 2024 Software Engineering Graduate Cameron Rebelo on Electrum’s graduate programme, “it forces you to ask for help and advice”. At Electrum, our Software Engineering Graduates are fully supported on the steep learning curve from university to real-world application. Through the Programme, we aim to make our Graduates feel confident and independent in their work by encouraging them to reach out to more senior members of their team.

“Having mentors who had previously participated in the programme was invaluable” says Kgotso. “Their experience and guidance helped us navigate the learning curve more effectively, offering practical advice and real-world insights which accelerated our development."

Learning from more experienced people and projects is the fastest way to improve your skill set. Joining a programme which actively challenges you with adequate guidance means that you reap the benefits of taking on difficult work without feeling unsupported or doubtful of your abilities. “We were encouraged to help each other,” says Kgotso on Electrum’s Graduate project, “this emphasised the importance of teamwork and collaborative problem-solving." 

A Graduate Programme like Electrum’s will equip you with the necessary resources to become self-assured in your abilities as an independent developer. “We teach responsibility and adulting through our Programme” says Zayd.

Starting your career does not have to be a lonely and daunting journey. Through our dedicated programme, Electrum’s Software Engineering Graduates are supported through mentorship and community in order to deliver high-value results. 

Click here to read more about Electrum’s dedicated Graduate Programme and to see what our current and past Graduates have to say.