Graduate FAQs

Our Graduate Development Programme (GDP) is the ideal framework to enable you to drive your own career development. You’ll be supported and motivated to undertake self-directed learning to develop the skills and knowledge you need to progress in your career and work towards a professional qualification. Our programme features signature events, core training modules, professional development mentoring and on-the-job experience. You’ll be a permanent member of the team from day one - meaning you’ll be a valued member of the team from the moment you join us.

Our graduate scheme is aimed at those with less than 2 years relevant work experience since graduating from their most recent studies.

You can only make one application per recruitment campaign, so we encourage you to explore the information on our careers site to learn about the opportunities we offer. Consider which best aligns with your skills, interests and career ambitions before applying. Taking the time to explore your options can help you find the opportunity where you can thrive. If you’d like to learn more about our opportunities or have any questions before applying, you can connect with our Early Careers mentors through our Early Careers TalentConnector platform.

Our entry requirements vary by role so please check the job description before applying. If you feel you don’t meet any of these minimum requirements then we do offer a range of direct hire opportunities, which you can find on our job search page.

To apply to AtkinsRéalis early careers programmes in the UK you must hold, and be able to evidence, the Right to Work in the UK before your start date. For more detailed information please refer to our International Students page.

Our graduate recruitment process consists of five simple steps: 

1. Find the right opportunity 
Explore our opportunities and choose the role that best aligns with your skills, interests and career ambitions. 

2. Apply online 
Complete our application form and tell us more about yourself, your education and your interests. 

3. Take part in our immersive online assessment 
This helps us understand your strengths, potential and approach to different situations. 

4. Attend a virtual interview 
Meet members of the hiring team, tell us more about yourself and learn more about the role, team and life at AtkinsRéalis. 

5. Receive your interview outcome 
We'll let you know the outcome of your interview and, if successful, discuss your offer and next steps. 

Each stage is designed to help us understand your skills and potential, while giving you the opportunity to learn more about AtkinsRéalis and whether the role is right for you.

Our closing dates may vary by role, so please read the job description for specific details. However, we often close earlier than the specified date based on volume of applications we receive, so we always recommend that you submit your application as soon as you can to ensure that you don’t miss out on your preferred role.

We don’t accept CVs or cover letters for our Early Careers roles. We capture all the details we need to assess your application on our online application form, which is designed to identify your potential, rather than looking back at past experience.

Please contact [email protected] with a brief description of the issue and a screen shot if possible. We’ll be in touch as soon as we can to support you through the next steps. We’d always suggest you save your application as you work on it, and you’ll have the chance to edit it before you submit.

Our immersive assessment takes a ‘day in the life’ approach, blending different tasks to give you a feel for what it might be like to work for us. It’s designed to make the process smooth and engaging while helping you understand the kind of work and environment you could be part of.

To complete the assessment, you'll need:

• a device with a camera to record your responses. You can use a computer, phone or tablet. If you don’t have access to these devices please consider using facilities at your local library, school or university.
• good internet connection and minimal distractions

The assessment is split into two parts:

Part One: You’ll complete situational judgement, numerical, and verbal reasoning questions. It’s untimed and typically takes around 30 minutes. You’ll only have one chance to complete it, so make sure you’re in a quiet space and follow the guidance provided.

Review Stage: After Part One, your responses will be reviewed against the criteria for the role you’ve applied for. If you meet the requirements, you may be invited to Part Two.

Part Two: You’ll answer two short video questions designed to further assess your fit. If you’re shortlisted, you’ll be invited to a final video interview with the business.

You’ll have a chance to practice before recording your video responses, and the assessment is not timed - so you can work through it at your own pace.

We’re delighted to hear you’ve taken the first step on your journey with us and made your application. You’ll see live updates on your application by logging into your candidate area. You’ll also receive email updates, so keep an eye on your inbox.

Our interviews take place virtually via Microsoft Teams, so you can join from wherever you're most comfortable.  

This is your opportunity to tell us more about yourself, showcase your skills and strengths, and demonstrate why you're interested in the role. It's also a chance for you to learn more about AtkinsRéalis, our culture, and the team you could be joining. 

There will typically be two interviewers on the panel from the team, or teams, hiring for the role. This gives you the opportunity to ask questions, hear first-hand about their experiences, and get to know some of the people you could be working with if you're successful. 

For most roles, you'll receive a separate Microsoft Teams invitation to join a short business presentation before your interview. During the session, we'll tell you more about the role, our business, and what you can expect if you join us. 

You don't need to prepare anything for the presentation, but we'd encourage you to think about any questions you'd like to ask. We want the interview process to be a two-way conversation, helping you decide whether AtkinsRéalis is the right fit for you.

If you’re no longer able to attend, please contact us at [email protected] or contact your recruiter directly to let us know. Due to high volumes and the number of people involved in the process we’re unable to guarantee that we can re-schedule it for you.

Interviews typically take place between November and April and dates vary depending on the role and the business area you’ve applied to. Your recruiter will give you more advice and guidance during the process.

We’ll let you know when you can expect to hear from us at the end of your interview day. The exact timeframes may vary depending on the role you’re being considered for, but we’ll contact you by phone or email with an update, so please make sure your contact details are up to date in your application.

We recognise that generative AI tools are becoming an increasingly valuable part of everyday life and work.

You're welcome to use these tools to help you prepare for your assessment and interview. For example, you may wish to use AI to research our organisation, practice interview questions, or explore career development topics.

However, during the assessment and interview process itself, we ask that all responses be your own. We're interested in hearing your ideas, experiences and perspectives. Understanding how you naturally think and approach situations helps us assess your potential far more effectively than polished or AI‑generated responses.

Integrity is one of our core values, and we ask all candidates to demonstrate this throughout the recruitment process.

Technology helps us manage applications efficiently, but it doesn't replace human decision-making. Technology may support elements of our recruitment process, however recruitment and hiring decisions are made by people. Our Early Careers recruitment team oversees candidate progression and shortlisting decisions, while hiring managers meet candidates during the interview stage and make the final hiring decision.

We offer a £2,500 settling-in allowance upon joining our development programme and this is paid with your first month’s salary. You’ll also receive another bonus of £2,500 upon achieving your chosen accreditation.

Our graduate salaries are between £31,000 - £33,500 depending on role and location.

As a graduate you’ll be aligned to a specific office, but you may be required to have a flexible and agile approach to working from other offices, client sites or from home depending on the projects you’re working on.

You can expect to spend a minimum of three days a week in the office or on client site (project dependent). Being together in person helps us build stronger relationships, collaborate more effectively, and accelerate your learning and development.

Yes, we’re proud to be a Disability Confident accredited employer, and we provide adjustments to enable you to demonstrate your full potential throughout our recruitment process. Please let us know as soon as possible about any adjustments you require so that we can put them in place at the right time. Please contact us on [email protected] to discuss this in confidence. Learn more about AtkinsRéalis as a disability confident employer.

We want you to perform your best at all stages of our recruitment process and can make adjustments to support this. Examples of adjustments we’ve made in the past include, but are not limited to, providing assistive technology; extra time; changing the format of an assessment; scheduling an interview at a specific time; and ensuring there is access. For further information and to discuss how we can support you, please contact [email protected]. Learn more about AtkinsRéalis as a disability confident employer.

If you've a specific question related to disability, please contact [email protected]. All conversations are confidential.

We know it can be difficult sometimes to talk about personal things but we’re here to support you during the recruitment process. Please let us know as soon as possible if you require any adjustments or changes to the interview process so we can put them in place at the right time.Contact us at [email protected]. Learn more about Atkins Réalis as a disability confident employer.

Atkins, SNC-Lavalin and Faithful+Gould have united to become AtkinsRéalis. AtkinsRéalis is a world-leading design, engineering and project management organization. We create world-class sustainable solutions that connect people, data and technology. We’re transforming the world’s infrastructure and energy systems, growing partnerships with our clients and bringing the most complex projects across the world to life. Our global team of 36,000+ employees speak over 70 languages and represent 130 nationalities across six continents.