Getting your first job after university comes down to three things: a CV built on concrete evidence (placements, projects, certifications), choosing the right job search channels, and solid interview preparation. The UK graduate job market is tougher than it's been in years, but graduates who approach their search strategically are still getting hired into permanent roles. Here's how to do it, step by step.
What does the graduate job market actually look like right now?
It's tight, but not closed. According to the Institute of Student Employers (ISE), graduate vacancies fell by 8% in 2024/25 — the weakest year since the 2020 pandemic — with a further 7% drop forecast for 2025/26. At the same time, competition has surged: employers now receive an average of 140 applications per graduate vacancy, up from 86 two years ago and 38 back in 2002/03 — the highest figure since ISE began tracking in 1991.
Youth unemployment (ages 16-24) reached 16.2% in April 2026 (ONS), overtaking the EU average for the first time since records began. Around 957,000 to 1 million young people are currently NEET (not in education, employment or training).
What this means for you: the market is genuinely competitive, but it isn't hopeless. 88% of 2022/23 graduates were in work or further study within 15 months of graduating (HESA). The gap between those numbers is method: targeted applications, the right channels, and solid preparation.
Some sectors are hiring well despite the slowdown — the public sector and civil service (Civil Service Fast Stream, NHS, Teach First), professional services (the Big Four), infrastructure and construction, and law (around 69 applications per vacancy, one of the least competitive routes). Others have contracted sharply — digital and tech (down 46%), retail and FMCG (up to 290 applications per vacancy).
How do you build a strong CV with no work experience?
Not having a permanent job on your CV yet isn't the problem: what employers are actually looking for is evidence you can perform in a demanding environment, academic or otherwise.
1. Write a short personal profile (2-3 lines). Sum up your background and what you're aiming for. Example: "Business Management graduate specialising in financial analysis, looking for an entry-level analyst role in a data-driven environment."
2. Present placements and internships as real professional experience. Add measurable results wherever you can. Example: "Built a monthly reporting dashboard used by 3 team leads, cutting turnaround time from 4 days to 1."
3. Highlight university projects and extracurricular activities. A case study competition, a dissertation with a practical application, a student society committee role: these are all concrete evidence of transferable skills (project management, teamwork, problem-solving).
4. List certifications and tools you've mastered. Software, programming languages, recognised certifications (Google Analytics, language certificates, and so on) show verifiable skills, not just claimed ones.
If you'd rather start from a ready-made structure, you can build your CV from a template and fill it in with your own experience.
How do you get past ATS filters?
An ATS (Applicant Tracking System) is software that many UK employers now use to screen CVs automatically before a recruiter ever reads them. In practice, it scans for certain keywords and filters out applications that don't contain enough of them — and with AI tools making it easier to apply to more roles at once, employers are leaning on ATS filtering more, not less.
To avoid being screened out unfairly:
Reread the job description and pick out the 5 to 8 keywords that come up most often (skills, tools, job title).
Work those keywords naturally into your CV, in the sections where they belong (experience, skills, profile).
Avoid complex tables or multiple columns, which some ATS can't read properly.
Tailoring every application takes time, but it's exactly what separates a CV that gets through the filter from one that's rejected before a person ever sees it.
Graduate scheme, apprenticeship, or entry-level role: where should you start?
All three are valid routes in — the right one depends on your sector and how quickly you want to earn.
Graduate schemes are structured, often rotational, and common in professional services, banking, and the civil service. They're also the most competitive route: some sectors see up to 290 applications per vacancy.
Apprenticeships combine paid work with formal training and have grown as an alternative entry point, with the government backing 50,000 new apprenticeships and offering incentive payments to employers who hire 16-24 year-olds. They're worth considering even after a degree — they're not just for school leavers.
Entry-level roles advertised outside formal schemes often have less competition and can be applied to on a rolling basis, rather than against a fixed annual deadline.
If you're flexible on industry, routes like the public sector or infrastructure and construction currently offer noticeably better odds than heavily oversubscribed sectors like retail or FMCG.
Where should you actually be looking for your first job?
Channels have multiplied, but they're not all equally effective when you don't have experience yet:
LinkedIn : turn on "Open to work" and complete every section of your profile (headline, summary, skills). LinkedIn's Easy Apply feature has made it faster to apply to more roles, which is partly why competition has risen — a well-optimised, keyword-rich profile matters more than ever.
University careers service : often underused. It offers free CV reviews, mock interviews, and direct contact with partner employers — most students never take advantage of it.
Prospects, TargetJobs and Milkround : specialise in graduate schemes and internships, with clear application windows by sector.
Jobcentre Plus : open to graduates too, not just school leavers. It offers CV and interview support, job fairs, and access to apprenticeship and training opportunities, and is being merged with the National Careers Service into a single Jobs and Careers Service.
Many opportunities never make it to a job board at all — they're filled through spontaneous applications or word of mouth. Two things worth doing in parallel with the platforms:
Use your university network : lecturers, placement tutors, and alumni already working in the sector you want. A contact who can put your name forward often changes the outcome of an application.
Send targeted speculative applications : pick 10-15 companies you're genuinely interested in, write directly to a hiring manager rather than a generic HR inbox, and back it up with a specific reason you want to work there.
Do you still need a cover letter for your first job?
It depends on the role. It isn't always required, but it's still useful in several specific cases: graduate schemes with formal application processes, public sector and civil service roles, and whenever you need to explain an unconventional path — a change of subject, a gap year, or a career switch.
To make it count:
Structure it in three paragraphs : a contextualised opening (why this role, why this employer), a concrete example that demonstrates your value, and a closing that invites an interview.
Avoid generic lines like "I am very enthusiastic about your company" without a specific reason behind it — they add nothing to your application.
If your path is unconventional, use the letter to explain the logic behind it — this is often exactly what a CV alone can't communicate.
You can generate a personalised draft with our cover letter tool, then adapt it for each application.
How do you handle an interview with no work experience?
Prepare your answer to "Tell me about yourself." A simple structure works well for a first role:
30 seconds on your degree and what it actually taught you to do.
60 seconds on your two most relevant experiences (placements, projects), backed by a result.
30 seconds on why this role specifically, why this employer, and what you'd bring.
Use the STAR method for your placements. This means describing a Situation, the Task involved, the Action you took, and the Result you achieved. It turns an ordinary placement into a concrete demonstration of skill. Example: "During my placement, I had to check CRM data was accurate before a contract renegotiation (situation/task). I built a cross-checking process with the sales team (action). Result: 94% of records validated within three weeks, with contracts renegotiated on time (result)."
Prepare a few relevant questions for the interviewer. It shows genuine motivation and the ability to picture yourself in the role. For example: "What would success in this role look like after six months?" or "How does onboarding work for new starters?"
Should you take a fixed-term contract or entry-level role to get started?
It can be a sound strategy, as long as it's temporary and deliberate. HESA data shows the share of graduates in stable, permanent employment climbs steadily in the years after graduation, even though the first role is often on a fixed-term or trial basis.
Some options worth weighing up:
A fixed-term contract at a company you're genuinely interested in can be a stepping stone to a permanent offer, especially if the employer regularly keeps on staff at the end of a contract.
A role slightly below your qualification level can still be worth taking if there's a real, demonstrable path to progression.
An apprenticeship after your degree often carries more long-term value than it first appears, thanks to the training and incentives now attached to it.
These decisions are yours to make: the goal isn't to accept anything that comes along, but to weigh each opportunity against what actually matters to you right now.
What public support is available if you're looking for your first job?
Jobcentre Plus is open to graduates, not just school leavers or benefit claimants without a degree:
Free CV, application and interview support, plus access to local job fairs aimed at entry-level candidates.
The Jobs Guarantee, offering eligible 18-24 year-olds who've spent 18 months on Universal Credit a fully funded, six-month paid job.
Sector-based Work Academy Programmes (SWAP), combining short pre-employment training with a work placement and a guaranteed interview.
These services are free and can run alongside your own independent job search.
What to remember
The graduate market is genuinely tougher right now, but 88% of graduates are in work or further study within 15 months — method matters more than luck.
Graduate schemes, apprenticeships and entry-level roles are all valid routes in — apprenticeships aren't just for school leavers.
Tailor every application with the keywords from the job description: ATS filters screen before a human ever does.
Your university careers service and targeted speculative applications are still underused compared to job boards.
The STAR method turns your placements into concrete proof of skill during interviews.
Jobcentre Plus offers free support to graduates too, alongside your own search.
Frequently asked questions
Can graduates use Jobcentre Plus, or is it only for people without a degree? Yes, graduates can use Jobcentre Plus. It offers CV and interview support, job fairs, and access to apprenticeships and training, and it's increasingly being merged with the National Careers Service into a single service for jobseekers.
Can you negotiate salary for a first graduate role? To some extent, yes, particularly outside large structured graduate schemes with fixed pay bands. Check typical starting salaries for your sector (ISE reports a median of around £33,000 for graduates) and base any request on your specific skills and experience.
Does an apprenticeship count as real work experience after a degree? Yes. An apprenticeship is a genuine paid role combining work and formal training, and it counts as professional experience on your CV — it isn't a lesser option compared to a traditional graduate scheme.
Is a permanent contract the only goal worth aiming for straight after graduation? No. A fixed-term contract at a company that trains you well can be worth more than a permanent role with no room to grow. What matters most is building a solid first experience that opens the door to the next step.
How should you use LinkedIn effectively as a recent graduate? Complete your entire profile (headline, summary, skills, education) and turn on "Open to work," visible only to recruiters. Since Easy Apply has driven application volumes up sharply, a keyword-optimised profile matters more than ever for actually getting noticed.
For more guidance at every stage of your job search, our Careers & Job Market section covers the first job search sector by sector.
If you'd rather start from a ready-made draft, you can let AI generate a first version of your CV, which you can then review and personalise before sending it off.
