We know applying for graduate roles can feel daunting. Our recruitment process is designed to help you showcase your technical ability, problem-solving approach, and potential – not just what you already know.
Step 1: Prepare your application
Your CV is your opportunity to introduce yourself. We recommend including
Your education, including A-Levels (or equivalent) and expected degree classification
Technical skills (e.g. C++, Python or other relevant languages)
University projects, coursework or personal projects
Work experience, internships or placements
Participation in any hackathons, competitions, societies or volunteering
AI can be a useful tool when preparing your application, but your CV and cover letter should reflect your own experiences, skills and motivations
Graphcore Careers: where the future is going to happen
Find out why Graphcore is the place to do your best work, whatever your specialism... from silicon design, to research, to applied AI.
Top tips:
Tailor your CV to the role you’re applying for
Highlight projects that demonstrate your technical skills and problem-solving
Keep your CV clear, concise and no longer than two pages
Ask someone you trust to review it before you submit
Step 2: Submit your application
Once you’ve found a role that looks interesting to explore:
Upload your CV (a cover letter is optional unless requested)
Complete all application questions carefully
Upload your academic transcripts if you have them available
We’re interested in:
Why you’d like to join Graphcore
Your interest in the role
Your passion for technology
Your willingness to learn and develop
Step 3: Technical assessment
Engineering roles include a technical assessment. Depending on the role this may be:
HackerRank
An online coding assessment that you complete in your own time.
Our advice:
Read the instructions carefully
Take time to get used to the platform and complete the practice questions first
Give yourself plenty of uninterrupted time to complete the assessment
Please complete the HackerRank assessment without using AI tools or external assistance. We use HackerRank's assessment integrity features to help identify AI-assisted or non-original submissions, so we know if you’ve used AI tools and we really want you to showcase your own problem-solving skills.
CodePair
Some roles use a live CodePair interview instead of HackerRank. This is a one hour coding session over Zoom with two members of the team. You’ll:
Work through technical problems together
Talk through your thinking as you go
Please don't use AI tools during your CodePair interview. We're interested in understanding how you approach problems, communicate your thinking and collaborate in real time – not just the perfect solution.
Step 4: Interviews
If you’re successful, you’ll meet members of the team to discuss:
Your projects and technical experience
Your approach to problem solving
Why you’re interested in Graphcore
Remember: Your approach is just as insightful as the answer you give. We will provide guidance, and where possible, coach you during the interview.
This is a two-way process where you will meet and network with different people from across the company and get a feel for life at Graphcore. Our heads of department will give talks on their specialist areas, giving you insights to the projects and tech stack they work with across Software, Hardware, Silicon, and AI Engineering. There will also be a Q&A session where you can get a feel for what life is like at Graphcore.
A few final tips
Research the company and the role
Be honest about what you know and what you don’t
Think aloud during technical discussions so the interviewers can understand your approach
Ask questions, we can’t emphasise enough that interviews are a two-way conversation
We don’t expect graduates to know everything. We’re looking for curious people who enjoy solving difficult problems, can communicate their thinking, and are excited to learn from experienced engineers.
