Graduate Career Advice & Tips

Pareto takes its name from Italian economist Vilfredo Pareto’s 80:20 principle. He noticed that 80% of Italy’s land and wealth was owned by 20% of the population. Pareto put this principle into practise; we believe that 80% of a company’s sales will come from 20% of its sales team and our unique approach to graduate recruitment discovers this 20%.

We ask that candidates applying to our graduate roles hold a university degree or equivalent. We welcome applicants from any degree subject and consider all classifications.

One of the great things about our assessment days is that graduates are not required to have previous experience to attend. All of our placed graduates will take part in our free graduate training programme meaning that from the off you can hit the ground running in your career. All we ask is that attendees must have a university degree – no matter the grade or subject. You bring the drive and we take care of the rest.

At Pareto, we’re not concerned with where you’ve been: we’re interested in where you could go. We pride ourselves on finding that top 20% that make 80% of the difference. We look for those core competencies that make world-class sales people. So if you're driven, motivated, adaptable, work well in a dynamic team, not afraid to go the extra mile and have excellent communication skills with a hunger for success, we have a place for you.

Our Pareto assessment days are designed to give you a chance to demonstrate the skills that make you invaluable to a prospective employer. Through various assessment processes we hope to develop a greater understanding of who you are and what you could bring to an organisation, therefore increasing your chances of being placed in a role that suits who you are. Our assessment days begin with a brief overview of Pareto and the chance to introduce yourself to our assessors and your fellow candidates. You will then participate in two group tasks and an informal interview. Finally you will give a three minute presentation explaining why the world of sales is for you and why Pareto should select you.

Our assessment days are designed to give graduates the chance to demonstrate their enthusiasm for employment. We cannot guarantee employment to everyone invited to an assessment day however if you are the right calibre of candidate and are open to opportunities then there is a high chance of you being successful at our assessment days.

A psychometric profile is a questionnaire that is designed to highlight aspects of your character. We request all our assessment day attendees to complete a psychometric profile in order to develop a better understanding of your personality so that we can match you to a suitable role.

The number of candidates on any given assessment day can vary depending on the specification set for said day. Subject to requirements, you can expect up to 50 candidates to attend our Pareto assessment days.

The provision of food is reliant on the length of assessment day you attend. At our full length assessment days a lunch will be supplied for all candidates however our half length assessment days only offer snacks so we suggest you eat before you arrive.

As the UK’s leading sales recruitment company for graduates, we pride ourselves on our extensive list of clients as it enables us to connect our graduates with some of the most successful organisations around the globe. Whether it’s innovative start-ups or thriving blue-chips, all of our opportunities give graduates the chance to set their career off to a racing start. Depending on the purpose of the assessment day you are invited to, you can expect to meet clients from a range of locations, industries and different sized companies.

The energetic world of sales requires a certain calibre of candidate in order to guarantee success. Our assessment days help us to understand how individuals will respond to challenges and group situations in a way that face to face interviews cannot supply. Our assessment days provide graduates with the opportunity to connect with other like-minded people while also learning and practising key workplace skills.

Any sales role can differ depending on the size, industry, or even location; however, typically you can expect to work in an enthusiastic and engaging team while also being responsible for your own success. In a sales role everyday is different: fast-paced, challenging and exciting, you won’t be standing still for long! Always looking for the next opportunity, whether it’s for the business or your own progression, you will be driving towards targets and the next big deal. There are several areas to sales, some client-facing, some desk-based, but all provide a fulfilling and rewarding career. Find out more here.

All of our placed graduates can expect highly competitive graduate salaries with considerable on-target earnings. Many of our roles also offer a variety of benefits and incentives such as company cars, mobile phones, private healthcare and pension schemes. If you are placed with Pareto Law, you will also receive comprehensive training which will supply you will the skills you need to hit the ground running in your new role.

A career in sales can be hugely rewarding and can offer graduates unlimited opportunities. Not only is it one of the most lucrative industries in the world but it also encourages quick career progression, meaning that you will be rewarded for the hard work you put in. Graduates looking to launch a career in sales can expect unprecedented starting salaries, bonuses and financial rewards - not to mention incredible travel prospects. With no entry-barriers and tons of potential, a career in sales can give any graduate a long-term and fulfilling career. 

Yes, we welcome applications from all university graduates. However, all of our graduate sales roles are entry-level positions.

We are currently only able to accept applications from candidates eligible to work within the UK and can not sponsor work visas. If you are successful in obtaining a position with us we will require your original passport or other documentation proving your eligibility to work in the UK.

You can apply direct for any of our current roles or you can simply send us your CV at any time, with a cover letter detailing why you feel you’re made for sales. A member of our Graduate Management Team will be in touch to discuss your application and perform a telephone interview. If you are successful, you will be invited to one of our assessment days, where our specialist assessors will lead you through a range of tasks, performing a competency-based assessment to determine how you could fit into the world of sales. Successful graduates from the assessment day will then be matched up to the very best role for their individuality. To find out more about our recruitment process, check out the Graduate Process pages here.

At all of our assessment days we ask candidates to bring along proof of eligibility to work in the UK. Failure to do so will terminate your progression in the process and prevent any possibility of employment. If you are a UK citizen you must bring either your UK passport or all of the following: photo ID, birth certificate and national insurance number. If you are an EU citizen then please provide your EU passport or travel card and if you are a non EU citizen then you must provide a British working visa.

Here at Pareto we have many opportunities for graduates therefore the nature of our assessment days differ. The number of assessors you will be presenting in front of will depend on the requirements of the assessment day you are invited to. If you are invited to one of our multifocus assessment days you may present in front of just one of our account managers, who are looking to place graduates in multiple roles, whereas if you attend one of our bespokes it is possible you could present in front of up to five assessors from the same company.

Unfortunately, due to the volume of candidates we invite to our assessment days, we cannot offer expensed travel.

Our assessment days are unique opportunities for graduates to promote themselves as viable candidates to a wide range of prestigious clients. If you are invited to one of our assessment days, whether it be a bespoke day or a multifocus event, you will have the chance to meet some of our most senior clients. As such, we expect our attendees to come in full business dress in order to present themselves in the best way possible to potential future employers. Please ensure you follow the following dress code if you are due to attend a Pareto assessment day: Strictly business dress (suit/tie). Dress for business not fashion: smart haircut, polished shoes, minimal jewellery

The finishing times of our assessment days are dependent on the structure of each day. Our morning multifocus sessions usually finish around lunch time whereas our afternoon sessions will run till approximately 7pm. Our bespoke assessment days tend to be full day events and so run from 9am until approximately 5.30pm.

There is no set quota for the number of graduates who can be successful on any of our assessment days; it is based purely on the calibre shown. We are keen to avoid limits therefore, on the day, you are only competing against yourself.

If you are successful at one of our assessment days you can expect to be placed in a role in an average of 10 working days.

After being placed in a role, a graduate can typically expect to start up to 3 weeks from their initial assessment day. However, our clients are flexible and understand that some individuals may have prior commitments such as notice periods or otherwise. Timescales may vary.

We offer an extensive training and development programme to all of our placed graduates that covers the fundamentals of sales.