padgrad is a free career platform for graduates. It matches jobs to your degree, generates AI-powered CV checks and cover letters, and sends daily personalised job digests matched to your field of study.

Yes. You get 10 free credits on sign-up to use on AI CV checks and cover letters. All other tools — job matching, budgeting, application tracking, rejection logging — are free with no credit card required.

How does the AI CV Checker work?

Upload your CV and paste a job description. The AI analyses your CV against the role requirements, gives you an ATS compatibility score out of 100, and tells you exactly what keywords and formatting changes to make — helping you pass automated screening systems used by graduate recruiters.

How many jobs should I apply for as a graduate?

Graduates typically need to send between 20 and 50 applications to land a role, with top graduate schemes receiving an average of 58 applications per vacancy. Focus on quality over quantity — tailor each CV and cover letter to the role rather than spamming the same application everywhere.

How long does it take to get a graduate job?

Most graduates take between 3 and 6 months to land their first graduate role, though it varies by sector. Consulting, tech, and investment banking tend to have faster hiring cycles. Larger graduate schemes can take 4-6 months from application to offer.

What is the average graduate salary for 2026?

Graduate salaries vary widely by country, sector and region. Investment banking, law and tech tend to pay the highest, while public sector and charity roles typically start lower. Salaries in major cities usually sit above the national average — check local salary guides for figures relevant to your market.

How do I write a graduate CV with no work experience?

Focus on transferable skills from your degree — research projects, group assignments, presentations, and coursework. Include volunteering, society memberships, part-time jobs, and any placements or internships. Use Padgrad's CV Builder to structure your CV for ATS systems, then run it through the AI CV Checker to see how it scores.

How are jobs matched to my degree on padgrad?

We scrape thousands of graduate jobs daily and match them to over 300 specific degree fields. Whether you studied Biology, Law, Engineering, Psychology, or History — we only show you roles that fit your subject area and send them straight to your daily digest.

Do graduate schemes pay well?

Graduate schemes typically pay a competitive starting salary, with some industries paying significantly more. Law firms and investment banks often pay the most. Most schemes also offer benefits like bonuses, pension contributions, and professional qualification sponsorship — check each employer's offer for the specifics.

How many applications does it take to get a graduate job?

Research shows top employers receive an average of 58 applications per graduate vacancy. Most successful graduates send 20-40 tailored applications before receiving an offer. Track every application using Padgrad's Application Tracker to spot which types of roles you progress furthest in.

Can I apply for graduate jobs before I graduate?

Yes — most large graduate schemes open applications 6-12 months before the role starts, so you should apply in your final year. Smaller companies and direct-entry roles tend to hire closer to the start date. Padgrad's daily job digest includes both graduate schemes and entry-level roles you can apply for straight away.

What should a graduate CV include?

A strong graduate CV should include: your degree with predicted or achieved grade, relevant modules and dissertation topic, transferable skills (research, teamwork, communication), part-time work or volunteering, technical skills and software proficiency, and a personal profile. Most recruiters spend under 10 seconds scanning a CV — use Padgrad's AI CV Checker to make sure yours passes the six-second test.

Learn how to ask for help at work as a new graduate. Get a simple script, when to ask, who to ask, and the top mistakes to avoid. Read the free guide today.

How to Ask for Help at Work: A Graduate Guide for 2026

Your first job throws a lot at you at once. Sooner or later you will need to ask for help at work. That is normal. It is not a sign that you are failing.

Many new graduates stay quiet instead. They fear it makes them look slow or weak. In truth, asking well makes you look sharp. This guide shows how to ask for help at work, when to ask, and who to ask.

TL;DR

Asking for help at work is a skill, not a failure.
Try the task first, then ask with a clear question.
Ask the right person at the right time.
Say what you tried and what you need.

Why asking for help feels so hard

School trains you to work alone. Tests reward the person who solves the problem without aid. So the first time you feel stuck at work, your instinct is to hide it.

Then the doubts creep in. You worry the boss will think you cannot cope. You worry a colleague will judge you. You put off the question and hope it sorts itself out.

It rarely does. A small gap left alone grows. A job you did not understand turns into a missed date or a broken file. The cost of silence is always higher than the cost of one question.

Why asking for help at work pays off

Good firms expect questions. They know a new starter cannot know everything in week one. The people who ask early learn the work faster. They also make fewer big mistakes.

There is a second gain. Asking builds trust. When you say what you do not know, people see honesty, not weakness. They learn that they can rely on you.

Asking also protects the team. One quiet person with a hidden problem can pull a whole project off course. A quick question keeps everyone moving.

For more on how a team works, read our guide to teamwork skills for graduates.

How to ask for help at work: a simple script

You do not need a clever speech. You need four parts, in order.

Context. Say the task in one line, so the person knows what you are working on.
What you tried. Show the steps you took and what happened. This proves you did the work.
Your question. Ask one clear question. Not "I am stuck", but "should I use the old form or the new one?".
What you need. Say what would unblock you. A short call, a file, or a name to contact.

Here is the whole thing in one breath. Say you are building a report. You ran the sums twice and got two totals. So you ask which total is right, and you ask for a short check.

When to ask for help at work

You do not want to ask before you try. You also do not want to sit stuck for hours. Use a simple rule.

Give the task a real go first. Read the notes. Check the shared drive. Look at how a similar job was done before.

If you are still stuck after a fair try, ask. Do not wait for the end of the day. A short question now beats a late, rushed fix later.

There is one clear case for asking at once. Ask straight away if the work touches money, safety, or a client. There, a guess is far too risky.

Who to ask for help

Pick the person who can answer fastest. That is not always the most senior person in the room.

Your manager. Ask here about priority, scope, and anything that affects a deadline.
A teammate. Ask here about how to use a tool, a form, or a system. They do the task each day.
A buddy or mentor. Ask here about the unwritten rules. Who to talk to. How things really work.
Another new starter. They often share the same question. You can hunt for the answer together.

How to ask your manager for help

Your manager is busy, so make it easy to help you.

Group your questions. Save the small ones and ask them in one short block. Do not send five messages across the day.

Pick your moment. Right before a meeting is not the time. Ask when the person is free and calm.

Come with a view. Say what you think the answer is, then check it. That shows you are thinking, not just waiting.

Managing the bond with your boss is a skill in itself. Our guide on how to manage your manager goes deeper.

Common mistakes to avoid

Asking before you try. It looks like you want someone else to do the job.
Asking a vague question. "It does not work" gives the other person nothing to go on.
Asking the wrong person. A busy senior person may not know the daily tool.
Apologising too much. One short thanks is enough. Do not grovel.
Going silent after the fix. Say how it went. That closes the loop.

Good habits stop small problems from growing. If one still slips through, our guide to handling mistakes at work can help.

Make asking a habit

Ask a little, and ask often. Each question teaches you a part of the job. After a few weeks you will answer more questions than you ask. That is how you grow.

The Bottom Line

Asking for help at work is not a weakness. It is one of the fastest ways to learn. Try first. Ask with a clear question. Come with what you tried and what you need.

Do this well and you will settle in quicker, make fewer mistakes, and earn the trust of your team.

Ready to grow faster in your first role? Join Padgrad. Our free tools help you build a strong CV and find graduate roles in the United Kingdom, Kenya, Uganda and the Philippines.

By Ori