How to apply
Our graduate recruitment process has five key stages. We’ll update you on the progress of your application by email, so make sure you keep an eye on your inbox.
Last year, two billion people started journeys with us all over the UK, whether that was to visit family and friends or to get to work and school. Keeping people moving is at the heart of our operation – that’s why our graduate roles are about more than just sitting at a desk. We want to give you hands-on experience, the stuff that will actually help you succeed. We’ll provide the development, mentorship and support needed for you to thrive in whatever direction your career takes you.
You’ll join our business, operations or engineering functions, working within either our Group, Bus or Rail divisions depending on your skills and interest. Our opportunities are incredibly diverse, with different expertise, geography and customers across the board, but our values always remain the same. And of course, it’s all about preparing you for the future.
Our two-year graduate engineering programmes will take you out of your comfort zone and on a fast-moving learning journey. You’ll get to grips with real-life projects while learning on the job via a variety of placements. And depending on if you join our Bus Division or one of our Train Operating Comapanies, you’ll enjoy the funding, mentorship and support you need to become an Incorporated or Chartered Engineer and future engineering leader in our business.
On our two-year graduate operations programmes in our Rail division, you’ll learn to think strategically and develop the skills you need to become a future FirstGroup leader. You’ll get to grips with real-life projects while learning on the job via a variety of placements. And you’ll make a big impact on our operations and the lives of millions of customers.
Looking to become a future leader in our business? Then join one of our corporate programmes and go on a fast-paced learning journey. You’ll be getting to grips with real-life projects within finance, commercial or another corporate function, discovering how we work and learning quickly on the job. Through a wide range of placements, you’ll help us to grow our business and make a big impact on the lives of millions of customers.
Our graduate recruitment process has five key stages. We’ll update you on the progress of your application by email, so make sure you keep an eye on your inbox.
The next stage is a succession of online tests, which might include questions to assess your verbal, numerical or intuitive reasoning skills. You’ll usually have a week to complete them.
Following a successful interview, we’ll invite you to an Assessment Centre in Spring. These are held at various locations – you’ll get all the information you need closer to the time. This is your chance to show off your strengths as you complete a set of tasks and activities.
This is a short online application to find out a bit about you. We recommend getting yours in as early as possible, and definitely before the advertised deadline.
If you do well in the first couple of stages, it’s onto a video interview. This is your chance to tell us more about you and your motivations.
Shortly after your assessment, you'll find out if you've got an offer! This is the exciting part. Our graduates start in September and Interns in June.
This is a short online application to find out a bit about you. We recommend getting yours in as early as possible, and definitely before the advertised deadline.
The next stage is a succession of online tests, which might include questions to assess your verbal, numerical or intuitive reasoning skills. You’ll usually have a week to complete them.
If you do well in the first couple of stages, it’s onto a video interview. This is your chance to tell us more about you and your motivations.
Following a successful interview, we’ll invite you to an Assessment Centre in Spring. These are held at various locations – you’ll get all the information you need closer to the time. This is your chance to show off your strengths as you complete a set of tasks and activities.
Shortly after your assessment, you'll find out if you've got an offer! This is the exciting part. Our graduates start in September and Interns in June.
Regrettably, we can’t provide detailed individual feedback as we receive too many applications. That being said, if you’re unsuccessful at the Assessment Centre stage, we’ll try to explain our decision. It’s important to us that you feel confident if you choose to reapply to FirstGroup in the future.
If you consider yourself to have a disability, we’ll make every reasonable adjustment possible to our selection process in order to accommodate you. Please get in touch to discuss your needs with a member of our team.
Before you get started, you may need to undergo a medical examination – depending upon the programme you have applied to. This is just to make sure that you’re fit enough to take part in your various placements. We’ll let you know if it’s necessary for you, if you secure an offer to join us. As part of this, you’ll also be required to take a drugs and alcohol test.