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.

Careers fairs for graduates: what to bring, what to ask and how to follow up, so the recruiters you meet remember you and pass your CV to a hiring manager.

Careers Fairs for Graduates: How to Stand Out in 2026

A careers fair puts dozens of employers in one room. You can meet a recruiter face to face. You can ask the questions a website never answers.

This guide shows you how to use careers fairs well. You will learn what to do before, during and after the event. You do not need a perfect speech. You need a short plan and a clear next step.

TL;DR

Check the employer list first and pick five or six firms.
Bring printed CVs and a short spoken pitch.
Ask one good question and leave with a name.
Send a short follow-up note within two days.

Why Careers Fairs Still Work

Online forms can feel like a black hole. A fair is different. You speak to a real person who works at the firm.

Many recruiters remember a good chat. Some pass your CV straight to a hiring manager. A short talk can move you past the first filter.

Fairs also teach you fast. After three chats you learn what each firm wants. That shapes every application you send later.

Before the Fair: Three Simple Steps

Preparation takes about an hour. It makes the whole day much easier.

Study the Employer List

Most fairs publish a list in advance. Read it. Mark five or six firms that hire in your field. Note one fact about each one.

Skip the firms that do not take graduates. Save your energy for the ones that do.

Prepare a Short Pitch

Your pitch should last about 20 seconds. Say your name and your course. Say what role you want. Then stop and let them speak.

Try this shape. "I am Name, a final-year student in Subject. I am looking for a graduate role in Area. I saw your graduate scheme on your website."

Pack the Right Things

Keep your bag light. You will carry it for hours.

Item.	Why you need it.
Ten printed CVs.	Some recruiters still ask for paper.
A notebook and a pen.	You can note names and next steps.
A small bag.	Free leaflets get heavy fast.
Your phone, fully charged.	You can scan codes and swap details.

How Careers Fairs Work: Tips for the Room

Walk in, look around, and start with a short queue. A busy stand is often a good sign.

Start with firms low on your list, just to warm up.
Stand tall, smile, and offer your hand.
Ask about the work, not only the pay.
Write one line about each chat while it is fresh.

Keep each talk to a few minutes. Leave before the chat runs dry. Then move on to the next stand.

Questions That Open Doors

Good questions show that you did your homework. Try these.

What does a graduate do in the first six months?
Which skills do your best graduates have?
How does your application process work?
What advice would you give me for my application?

You can borrow more from our list of questions to ask at an interview.

Get a Name and a Next Step

Ask for a name before you leave the stand. Write it down with one detail you spoke about. Ask what happens next, and when.

If the fair runs online, use the chat box early. Say hello and ask one question. Then ask who you are speaking to.

After the Fair: Follow Up Well

Most graduates go home and wait. Do not wait. Send a short note within two days.

Keep it to three lines. Remind them where you met. Mention the thing you discussed. Then say what you will do next.

Add that person on LinkedIn with a short message. This is the same habit that builds long-term links. Our networking guide for graduates shows how to keep those contacts warm.

Careers Fair Mistakes to Avoid

Turning up with no idea which firms attend.
Asking about salary in your first sentence.
Handing over a CV with typos.
Collecting leaflets but no names.
Never following up after the event.

One more trap: many fairs sit inside the busiest application season. Check your key dates early with our graduate scheme deadlines guide.

The Bottom Line

A careers fair is a shortcut. You meet the people who hire, and you learn what they want. Prepare a short pitch. Ask one real question. Then follow up fast.

Make sure your CV is ready before you go. Run it through our free CV checker. It shows the gaps recruiters spot first. Then build a clean version in the CV builder.

By Ori