Manchester Graduate Talent (MGT)
What is MGT?
Recruit one of our own graduates through MGT into your team, they will bring a wide range of skills and insights, making a positive impact from day one.
Manchester Graduate Talent is delivered by the University’s Careers Service and meets a growing demand from our graduates seeking to stay and start their careers in Manchester. MGT identifies temporary, paid positions exclusively for our graduates both within the University and externally with organisations across Greater Manchester. Each year we place over 100 graduates into MGT roles, meaning that since the scheme started we have kickstarted the professional lives of more than 1500 University of Manchester graduates.
‘The Sport department has benefitted from a number of MGT interns over the years. Each intern has brought a range of skills and qualities that have added real value to our programmes. Every time we have worked with the careers service to recruit it has always been a very straight forward and easy process as a result of clear communication and processes explained’. Lisa, Sport
FAQs
What is the expected salary for an MGT role?
MGT roles within the University of Manchester should be at Grade 2 (Spine Point 10).
What is the expected length of an MGT contract?
MGT is intended to support fixed term roles lasting between 4 – 12 months. The majority of roles offered across UoM are 12 months.
Occasionally we also advertise roles lasting 18 months.
What should MGT role responsibilities be?
The MGT aim is to improve the employability of our graduates by providing them with access to vital work experience and the opportunity to develop key skills. MGT internships should therefore enable our graduates to engage in project work alongside general administrative duties which allows them to demonstrate a range of skills and attributes.
Through the Student Experience Programme, a standardised Job Description for MGT Graduate Intern roles has been developed which provides a helpful point of reference for understanding what a suitable MGT role might be. This contains a section for Hiring Managers to add any specific assignments and responsibilities particular to their individual role. This can be provided if required.
What is the process for advertising an MGT role?
If this is a completely new role it would need to go through the P&OD team’s HERA process.
MGT roles are approved via JobTrain but are not advertised through JobTrain. Once approved, the vacancy information should be sent directly to the MGT team for advertising via CareerConnect.
In order to advertise, the MGT team will need a job description and authorisation evidence provided via the online job approval process in JobTrain. This evidence can be the e-mail approval received from JobTrain, or a screenshot of the approval from the platform itself. To obtain approval, you need to submit a request for a non-advertised vacancy. Please select NOT to advertise via JobTrain.
On receipt of the job description/assignment and recruitment authorisation, you will be assigned a member of the MGT team as your contact to support you through the recruitment process. They will arrange for your vacancy to be advertising via CareerConnect, agree a closing date, receive applications, help with interview arrangements.
Once the recruitment process is complete, Hiring Managers should follow steps to appoint for a non-advertised vacancy: Non-advertised vacancy and offer | Directorate of People and Organisational Development | StaffNet | The University of Manchester. The initial forms you will need are under section 9.
If the role is not a Grade 2, it would have to be advertised via the usual P&OD/JobTrain process, but we can promote it through our MGT channels and point students/graduates towards JobTrain to apply.
How are the roles advertised?
They are not advertised on JobTrain. You need to gain vacancy approval via JobTrain but should opt out of advertising the role through JobTrain, otherwise it will be advertised externally and MGT roles are exclusively for our graduates.
The role will be advertised via the Career Service’s CareerConnect platform. Your MGT account manager will be responsible for uploading your vacancy details.
We also have an MGT Facebook group with around 1000 members where all vacancies are flagged, together with a weekly MGT email bulletin which goes out to graduates interested in MGT.
What are the benefits of hiring through MGT?
As well as keeping the exceptional talent of our own graduates within the institution, the fixed term nature of MGT roles means that their valuable skills, perspectives, insights and competencies can be brought into your team on a rolling basis.
‘Our interns are crucial to our team. Alongside a keen interest in working for the University, they bring a closeness to the student experience that really helps us shape our communications. They usually bring a great deal of enthusiasm and knowledge of digital trends, and an understanding of how their peers (our audience) access information’ Michelle, Student Communications
The MGT team within the Careers Service also provides support through the recruitment process, advertising the role, managing applications via our CareerConnect platform and assisting with other aspects such as interview scheduling and applicant enquiries.
‘The MGT recruitment process is really straightforward! Advertising the role in a place where students are looking for graduate roles rather than on the university website means that we get good visibility. The team provide great support in helping to set up the process, such as arranging interview times and informing unsuccessful candidates which reduces our workload significantly. Lindsay, Student Development
We also have a Student Adviser within the team who supports our graduate applicants, providing feedback and guidance on their applications and preparation for interview.
When can I advertise an MGT role?
We advertise roles from April onwards and through to the following February.
The main recruitment pool will be from our current final years, graduating this Summer. They are usually available for work from mid June onwards (after the exam period).
The key period for filling roles is between June and October. We do still advertise and fill MGT roles in December and early in to the New Year, though the pool of available candidates does decrease the further we are through the cycle.
International graduates are now able to apply for MGT roles if they follow the Graduate Visa route.
How do I get more information?
You can contact the MGT team during usual office hours (Monday – Friday, 9am – 5pm) by email: mgt@manchester.ac.uk
The team would be more than happy to arrange a call or Teams meeting to talk through any questions you may have.
Feedback from colleagues on Manchester Graduate Talent
Michelle, Student Communications
Our interns are crucial to our team. Alongside a keen interest in working for the University, they bring a closeness to the student experience that really helps us shape our communications. They usually bring a great deal of enthusiasm and knowledge of digital trends, and an understanding of how their peers (our audience) access information.
The Careers Service MGT team are super helpful and very responsive. We’ve always found the service great from start to finish. Applications are sent over in a timely manner, and support given in arranging interviews and feedback.
I would definitely recommend MGT. In terms of the practicalities of recruiting an intern, the team are helpful and supportive. In terms benefits to the team, having a graduate intern has always been a great asset and in return, we make sure that we help them to develop the skills they need to help their careers progress when they leave us.
Lisa, Sport
The sport department has benefitted from a number of MGT interns over the years. Each intern has brought a range of skills and qualities that have added real value to our programmes. The Intern role supports our Sporticipate programme. A programme created to engage students and staff who would not usually take part in sport or physical activity. The Inter roles enables us to be current within the student population, providing activities that they would like and incentives that encourage engagement. The roles have also been really valuable in supporting the marketing and comms of the department, particularly utilising social media platforms ensuring that they are engaging.
Every time we have worked with the careers service to recruit it has always been a very straight forward and easy process as a result of clear communication and processes explained.
The team are always happy to support, providing advice and guidance whenever needed. Having recently graduated students within the team brings real added value when developing programmes that enhance the student experience.
Lindsay, Student Development
MGT interns have been great in providing great student service and insight. As recent graduates they’ve been able to inform services from a perspective much closer to current students.
The MGT recruitment process is really straightforward. Advertising the role in a place where students are looking for graduate roles rather than on the university website means that we get good visibility. The team provide great support in helping to set up the process, such as arranging interview times and informing unsuccessful candidates which reduces our workload significantly!
MGT is a great way to bring in junior members of the team who add immense value to the team whilst giving new graduates a great personal development opportunity. Many have gone on to secure permanent promotions within the university as a result of their internship year and the development they make is really satisfying to watch.