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.

Choosing between two job offers? Compare pay, growth and daily life with a clear graduate framework, then accept or decline your second offer with confidence.

Choosing Between Two Job Offers: A Graduate Guide 2026

TL;DR

Compare the whole package, not just the salary figure.
Rank four things: learning, pay, stability and daily life.
Ask for more time as soon as a deadline looks tight.
Decline the other offer quickly, clearly and with thanks.

Choosing between two job offers sounds like a good problem. It rarely feels that way. Both firms want an answer. Both sounded great on the phone. And the clock is ticking. Many graduates decide in a panic, then question the call for months.

This guide gives you a calm way to decide. You will compare offers on the things that shape your first two years, buy yourself more time, and close the door politely on the job you turn down.

Why the choice feels harder than it should

Two offers are rarely equal. One pays more. The other trains you better. One is close to home. The other looks stronger on your CV. So you sit with a notepad and go round in circles.

The first trap is salary. It is the easiest number to compare, so it grabs all the attention. But pay is one line in a long contract. The second trap is flattery. A firm that chased you hard feels special. That feeling fades in week three.

The third trap is speed. Deadlines push you to decide before you have the facts. Slow down and get the facts first.

A simple framework for choosing between two job offers

Take one sheet of paper. Split it into two columns, one per offer. Then score each offer out of five on the four points below. Do this alone, before you talk to anyone.

1. Learning and skill growth

Ask what you will be able to do in two years that you cannot do now. Who will train you? Will you sit with a team or work alone? Does the firm have a structured programme with rotations, or will you learn on the job?

If one role teaches a skill the market pays for, that is worth real money later. A slightly lower start can pay you back within a year or two.

2. Pay and the whole package

Look past the headline figure. Check pension contributions, holiday days, health cover, travel costs and bonus potential. Two offers with the same salary can differ by a lot once you add these up.

Do the maths on your monthly budget too. Rent near one office may cost more than the train fare to the other. Our guide to graduate salary negotiation shows how to ask for a better offer without damaging the relationship.

3. Stability and contract terms

Read the contract, not the brochure. Is the role permanent or fixed term? Is there a probation period, and how long is it? What is the notice period? Does the firm expect long hours, weekend cover or on-call shifts?

Also check the start date. If one job begins in three weeks and the other in six months, that gap matters. You may need income sooner than you think.

4. Daily life and location

Picture a normal Tuesday. Where do you wake up? How long is the commute? Will you work from home some days? Who will you sit next to?

A short commute and a team you like will matter more than a small pay gap. You will feel that difference every single day.

Compare the total package, not just salary

Use this table to line up the facts side by side. Fill it in for both offers.

What to compare	Why it matters
Base pay.	Sets your starting point for future raises.
Bonus and commission.	May be a large share of your real income.
Pension and health cover.	Adds value you would otherwise pay for.
Holiday days.	Tells you how much rest the firm expects you to take.
Commute and rent.	Can wipe out a higher salary in one move.
Training and study support.	Shows whether the firm invests in your skills.
Notice period.	Decides how easily you can leave later.

Score each row for both offers. Add the scores up, then look at the total. If the winner surprises you, ask yourself why. Your gut is telling you something the spreadsheet missed.

What to do when one offer expires first

Deadlines are normal. Recruiters work to a schedule and cannot hold a place forever. But most will give you a few extra days if you ask well.

Call or email the recruiter the same day you get the deadline. Say that you are keen, that you are comparing it with another offer, and that you need a short extension to decide properly. Ask for a specific date. Most firms say yes to a week.

Do not invent a rival offer to look popular. Recruiters talk to each other, and a lie is hard to keep straight. Honesty usually gets the same result.

Turning down the offer you decline

Say no quickly. A firm that is waiting on you cannot start looking for someone else. Reply as soon as you have decided, even if the deadline is days away.

Keep it short and warm. Thank them for the offer and the time. Say you have accepted another role that fits your plans more closely. Do not list the firm's faults. You may meet these people again, in another company or in five years.

One email is enough. Send it to the person who made the offer and copy the recruiter. Then let it go.

Before you sign anything

Once you choose, read the full offer pack before you sign. Check the job title, the salary, the start date and the conditions. Ask about anything unclear in writing.

Our checklist of seven things to check in a graduate job offer covers the small print that catches people out. It takes ten minutes and saves months of regret.

After you accept, keep the momentum. Plan your first week, sort your travel, and read up on the team. The guide to your first week in a new job shows what to do on each day.

Final thoughts

Choosing between two job offers is a skill, not a test of luck. Gather the facts, score both offers on the same four points, and give yourself a day to sleep on it.

Then commit. Whichever job you pick, the first months will depend more on your effort than on the choice itself. Say yes with energy, and start strong.

Padgrad can help you prepare for day one. Run your CV through the free CV check and see what to sharpen before you start.

By Ori