eFinancialCareers

If you graduate in 2009 and you haven’t had any favourable responses from your applications to banks, chances are you’re feeling a bit panicked. Don’t worry – there are still finance-related graduate jobs on offer on the NHS management training scheme.

The NHS takes on 60 students a year into the finance area of its management training scheme. The application deadline is 28 November, so you’ll need to apply soon. Starting salaries are around £21,700, and a minimum 2.2 degree in any subject is required.

As for investment banking, competition for places on the NHS scheme is tough. The organisation typically receives nearly 1,400 applications a year for its finance-related positions. This year’s total has already exceeded that, as people opt for the job security of the public sector over the relatively risky banking sector.

The NHS may also offer finance-related internships to first or second-year students. However, if you’re interested, you’ll need to contact each Primary Care Trust individually.

If you can’t get a job in an investment bank, why would you want to work for the NHS? The organisation points out that it offers a high standard of training: trainees are supported to achieve a CIMA or CIPFA qualification. Last year, NHS students achieved 14 CIMA commendations out of a total of only 127 awarded globally to 32,000 students.