padgrad is a free career platform for UK 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 UK graduate recruiters.

How many jobs should I apply for as a graduate?

UK 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 in the UK?

Most UK 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. The civil service fast stream and larger graduate schemes can take 4-6 months from application to offer.

What is the average graduate salary in the UK for 2026?

The median graduate salary in the UK for 2026 is around £28,000-£32,000 depending on sector. Investment banking, law, and tech pay the highest (£35,000+), while public sector and charity roles typically start lower (£24,000-£27,000). Regional salaries average 10-20% lower outside London.

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 UK 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 in the UK typically pay between £25,000 and £35,000 in the first year, with some industries paying significantly more. Law firms and investment banks often start at £45,000-£55,000. Most schemes also offer benefits like bonuses, pension contributions, and professional qualification sponsorship.

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

Research from High Fliers shows the UK's 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 in September and October for roles starting the following September, 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.

A UK graduate guide to cv — Build a Graduate CV That Actually Gets Past the Robots: A UK Guide to Beating ATS Systems TL;DR: Most large UK graduate .

Build a Graduate CV That Actually Gets Past the Robots: A UK Guide to Beating ATS Systems

TL;DR: Most large UK graduate schemes use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to filter CVs before a human reads them. If your CV isn't formatted for ATS, you could be rejected without a single person seeing it. Use Padgrad's CV Builder to build ATS-friendly CVs and AI CV Checker to test your ATS score before you apply. This guide covers formatting rules, keyword strategies, and the exact structure that passes automated filters.

What is an ATS and Why Should UK Graduates Care?

An Applicant Tracking System (ATS) is software that recruiters use to manage the flood of applications they receive. When you apply to a graduate scheme at the Big Four, a major bank, the Civil Service, or any large UK employer, your CV is likely parsed by an ATS before it ever reaches a recruiter's desk.

The ATS scans your CV, extracts key information (name, education, work experience, skills), and scores it against the job description. If your CV doesn't score high enough, it's automatically rejected — sometimes in under six seconds.

This matters because UK graduate schemes are more competitive than ever. The 2025/26 recruitment cycle saw application volumes rise by 18% year-on-year at the Top 100 graduate employers. With hundreds of applicants per role, recruiters rely on their ATS to thin the pile. Your CV needs to play the game.

Seven ATS Rules Every UK Graduate Needs to Know

1. Use a Simple, Clean Layout

ATS software struggles with complex formatting. Avoid:

Tables and columns — the ATS reads left-to-right, top-to-bottom. A two-column layout can jumble your experience into the wrong section.
Headers and footers — many ATS parsers skip these entirely. If your contact details are in the header, they might never be seen.
Graphics, logos, and icons — these produce garbled text or nothing at all.
Text boxes and word art — keep it simple.

Stick to a single-column layout with clear section headings. Use bold for headings only (no underlines, no coloured text). Padgrad's CV Builder creates ATS-compatible templates by default, so you don't have to worry about the formatting rules.

2. Use Standard Section Headings

ATS systems recognise common headings like:

Education
Work Experience / Employment History
Skills
Certifications
Projects
Volunteering

Avoid creative headings like "Where I've Been" or "My Journey Through Academia". The ATS might not map these to the right category, and your carefully crafted experience gets filed under "Unknown".

3. Match Keywords from the Job Description

This is the single most important rule. The ATS scores your CV by comparing it to the job description. If the description mentions "financial modelling", "stakeholder management", or "data analysis", those exact phrases need to appear in your CV (assuming you have the skill).

Here's the trick: read the job description carefully and identify the top 10–15 recurring skills, tools, and qualities. Work them naturally into your CV — in your professional summary, experience bullet points, and skills section.

Upload your CV to Padgrad's AI CV Checker and paste the job description. We'll give you an ATS score and highlight exactly which keywords you're missing, so you can adjust before hitting submit.

4. Submit as .docx or .pdf (But Check First)

Most ATS systems prefer .docx format because it's easier to parse. Some newer systems handle .pdf well too, but older systems can garble PDF text. The golden rule: if the application portal doesn't specify a format, use .docx.

5. Bullet Points Over Paragraphs

Recruiters scan CVs (and so do ATS systems). Use bullet points for your experience and achievements — they're easier to parse, easier to score, and easier for humans to read when your CV does make it through.

Start each bullet with a strong action verb: "Developed", "Managed", "Analysed", "Led", "Implemented". Include measurable results where possible: "Increased social media engagement by 34% over six months."

6. Keep Fonts Simple and Consistent

Use standard fonts like Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman at 10–12pt. Avoid decorative or script fonts — the ATS may not recognise them. Keep your font size consistent throughout the document (headings can be 12–14pt bold).

7. Include a Professional Summary

A short professional summary at the top of your CV (3–4 lines) helps both the ATS and the recruiter understand who you are. Include your degree, key skills, and career objective. This is prime keyword real estate — use it wisely.

Example: "Recent Computer Science graduate from the University of Manchester with experience in Python, SQL, and cloud infrastructure. Seeking a graduate software engineering role where I can apply my skills in data engineering and automation."

Common ATS Mistakes UK Graduates Make

Even smart graduates make these errors. Here's what to avoid:

Mistake	Why It Hurts You
Using a "creative" CV template from Canva	Beautiful for humans, illegible for ATS. Graphics and columns scramble the parsing.
Listing skills without context	"Python" in a skills list is weaker than "Built a data pipeline in Python that processed 50k records daily." Show, don't just list.
Omitting your degree grade	Many graduate schemes filter by minimum UCAS tariff or degree classification. If you don't state it, the ATS assumes you don't meet the threshold.
Sending the same CV to every role	Generic CVs score lower because they lack role-specific keywords. Tailoring takes 10 minutes and doubles your chances of passing the ATS.
Forgetting your contact details	If your email and phone number are in a header or footer, the ATS might miss them. Put them in the main body of the document.

How to Tailor Your CV in 15 Minutes

Tailoring your CV doesn't mean rewriting it from scratch. Follow this quick process:

Open the job description and highlight every required skill, qualification, and tool mentioned.
Match your experience to those keywords. If the role asks for "project management" and you led a university group project, reframe it: "Managed a cross-functional team of 6 to deliver a final-year research project on time and within budget."
Re-order your bullet points so the most relevant achievement comes first under each role.
Check your ATS score by running your CV through Padgrad's AI CV Checker. It takes 30 seconds and shows you exactly what you're missing.
Rinse and repeat for each application. After your first few rounds, you'll get a feel for the pattern and each tailoring pass will take under 10 minutes.

And if you don't have a CV at all yet? Start fresh with Padgrad's CV Builder. It walks you through each section, uses ATS-friendly templates, and gets you a professional CV in under 20 minutes.

When Your CV Passes the Robot, the Human Still Needs to Be Impressed

Getting past the ATS is just the first step. Once a recruiter reads your CV, they're looking for the same clear, achievement-focused content that the ATS scored you on. An ATS-friendly CV is a recruiter-friendly CV — the two aren't in conflict.

A well-structured CV with clear headings, strong action verbs, and measurable achievements works for both audiences. Build yours with Padgrad, check it with our AI, and start applying with confidence.

Beyond the CV: Your Full Application Toolkit

Your CV is just one piece of the puzzle. Once you're past the ATS filter, you'll need:

AI-powered cover letters tailored to each role — use 0.1 credits per letter and choose from four tones (Professional, Passionate, Concise, or Evidence-Heavy).
The Application Tracker to manage your pipeline from Saved to Offer. Drag and drop across 7 stages and never lose track of a deadline again.
The Rejection Log to document feedback and identify patterns. Every rejection is data — use it to improve.
The Budget Calculator to compare offers by take-home pay, considering UK tax, student loan repayments, and location-specific rent.

All of these tools are free to use (CV checks and cover letters cost a small number of credits — and you get 10 free when you sign up). Start your job search on Padgrad today.

Want to see how one graduate used these exact tools to go from a 34% ATS score to landing a FTSE 250 offer after 73 applications? Read their story here.

For a closer look, read our Top Graduate Employability Skills UK Graduates Need in 2026.

For a closer look, read our How to Write a Graduate CV Personal Statement (UK 2026).

For a closer look, read our Graduate CV Mistakes UK Recruiters Actually Notice in 2026.

For a closer look, read our Graduate CV Keywords UK 2026: Top 10 That Get You Hired.