Can you apply to a grad scheme if you've already started one at another company?
Graduating this summer and I have a grad role offer on the table. Pay isn't great and it's not where I wanted to end up, so I'm weighing my options.
I see two paths:
Start the role and apply to other grad schemes next cycle while I'm in it
Reject the offer, take a gap year, and go all-in on applications next cycle with more time to prepare
For option 1, my main question is whether companies will even consider me. If their eligibility criteria says "graduating in 2026" and I've already started a grad role somewhere else, does that disqualify me? Or do they only care about when you graduated, not what you're currently doing? Also wondering if recruiters see it as a red flag when your CV shows you're already in a grad programme elsewhere — or do they just treat you like any other candidate?
For option 2, I'm not sure how a gap year reads to employers. Is "rejected my offer to find something better" a reasonable thing to explain in interviews, or does it come across badly? And do companies treat gap year applicants differently from fresh grads?