Graduate FAQs

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.

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.

We recruit graduates from a wide range of degree disciplines, so we’ve developed a Chatbot tool that helps you decide which opportunity best matches your degree and interests. The Chatbot can be found on the bottom right of your screen.

We only accept one application from each candidate per recruitment campaign, however, you’ll have the option to select multiple business areas and locations depending on the opportunities available. Please make sure you read the job descriptions attached to each role, so you ensure you’ve selected the right role for you.

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.

Full details on our application process can be found on our How To Apply page.

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  graduates@atkinsrealis.com  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.

The virtual interview will be an opportunity to spend time with the business and find out more about the role and team you could be joining. This is a great opportunity for you to learn more about the culture at AtkinsRéalis and we'll find out more about you and your suitability for the role.

For most roles, you’ll get a separate Teams invite for a short business presentation before your interview. During the presentation we'll tell you more about the role, what we do and what you can expect if you join us. You don’t need to prepare anything in advance for the presentation, but it’s a good idea to think about any questions you might want to ask during the session.

We'll let you know as soon as possible afterwards if you've been successful in securing a position.

Please do get in touch if you require an adjustment when you confirm attendance.

If you’re no longer able to attend, please contact us at graduates@atkinsrealis.com 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 acknowledge the advancement of generative AI and the opportunities it brings to our daily lives and you can use these tools, should you wish to, to prepare for your interview. However, these tools must not be used during the assessment and interview process, as we want to hear your authentic ideas which are more valuable to us than perfectly crafted responses. Instead rely on your own knowledge, experiences and thoughts when responding to questions. Integrity is one of our core values and we ask you to demonstrate your integrity during the process.

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  graduates@atkinsrealis.com 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 graduates@atkinsrealis.com . Learn more about AtkinsRéalis as a disability confident employer.

If you've a specific question related to disability, please contact graduates@atkinsrealis.com. 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 graduates@atkinsrealis.com.  Learn more about AtkinsRéalis as a disability confident employer.