The graduate joined the firm and is about to take flight (7)
I believe the answer is:
abscond
'take flight' is the definition.
(absconding is a kind of taking flight)
'the graduate joined the firm and is about' is the wordplay.
'the graduate' becomes 'BSc' (someone with a Bachelor of Science degree).
'joined the firm' becomes 'o' (I can't justify this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'is about' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'bsc'+'o'='bsco'
'bsco' placed into 'and' is 'ABSCOND'.
'to' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for abscond that I've seen before include "Leave to escape arrest" , "Fly" , "Bods can (anag.)" , "Steal away" , "Go away secretly after wrongdoing" .)