FirstRand Social Sciences Graduate Programme 2026

About FirstRand

FirstRand is one of South Africa’s largest financial services groups, providing banking, insurance, and investment solutions to individuals, businesses, and corporates. The group operates through well-known brands such as FNB, RMB, WesBank, and Ashburton, and is recognised for its strong focus on innovation, risk management, and sustainable growth across its African and international operations.

Programme Overview

FirstRand is offering a Social Sciences Graduate Programme designed to support unemployed graduates in building skills and gaining practical experience within the financial services sector. The programme targets graduates with qualifications in social sciences and related fields and aims to strengthen their analytical, interpersonal, and business skills through structured workplace exposure, mentorship, and professional development opportunities. By combining learning with hands-on experience, the initiative helps graduates transition from academia to the workplace and enhances their employability in a competitive job market.

Programme Structure

Year 1: Human Capital Placement

You will be embedded in the FCC Human Capital team, contributing to initiatives that shape employee experience, learning and development, inclusion and diversity, and graduate programme design. Expect to work on real projects that influence how people grow, connect, and thrive at FirstRand.

Year 2: Rotational Experience Across Business Units

In your second year, depending on your interests, you will have the opportunity to rotate across different aligned business units as well as other Human Capital divisions within the FirstRand Group, including RMB and FNB. These rotations are designed to deepen your exposure to strategic projects and broaden your understanding of how social sciences can drive business value across diverse contexts.

Requirements

You will be an ideal candidate if you have:

• A Postgraduate degree in Social Sciences or a related field (e.g., Sociology, Psychology, Anthropology, Political Science, Development Studies or related fields) from an accredited institution.
• Analytical and critical thinking skills for research and data interpretation.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills for reports and presentations.
• Ability to work independently and in multidisciplinary teams.
• A demonstrated interest in human development, social innovation, or organisational culture.

Skills and Competencies

• Deliver exceptional service that exceeds customers’ expectations through proactive, innovative and appropriate solutions
• Plan and execute tasks efficiently with accurate reporting and updates. Participate in the innovation process in the business and contribute toward new innovations against objectives
• Share knowledge and collaborate on projects to enhance learning and growth.
• Manage graduate development plan by completion of training assignments and actively engaging in development sessions
• Live the values of the business and act with integrity in all interactions.
•  Apply critical thinking and problem-solving to real-world challenges.
• Use data and insights to inform decisions and deliver impact.
• Show initiative by identifying and acting on improvement opportunities