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 deal with difficult colleagues at work as a new graduate: spot the types, stay calm, keep a record and know when to ask your manager for help.

Difficult Colleagues: How New Graduates Can Handle Them

Difficult colleagues are one of the biggest surprises of your first job. At university you chose your friends. At work you do not. You share a desk, a deadline and a manager with people you never picked.

Here is the good news. Most difficult colleagues are not villains. They are rushed, worried or badly managed. That means small changes in how you reply can fix most of it.

This guide shows you the five common types. It gives you five calm steps to deal with difficult colleagues. It also shows you when to bring in your manager.

TL;DR

Most difficult colleagues are made by pressure, not by bad character.
Stay calm, name the problem and keep a short written record.
Try a private talk first. In the UK, ACAS advises an informal route before any formal one.
Bullying, harassment and unfair treatment are never your fault. Report them.

Why difficult colleagues hit new graduates hardest

You are new. You do not yet know the rules, the history or the politics. You also hold the least power in the room.

Add the pressure of probation. Many firms review new starters within three to six months. So every small clash feels like a risk to your job.

Try this reframe. A difficult colleague is a skill test, not a verdict on you. Learn the skill now and you will use it for the rest of your career.

Five common types of difficult colleague

Most hard people at work fit one of five patterns. Read the table and pick the one you know.

Type	What it looks like	What usually helps
The credit taker.	They repeat your idea in a meeting and claim it.	Speak early in meetings. Send short written updates.
The gossip.	They trade private news and stir trouble.	Stay neutral. Share nothing you would not email the whole team.
The critic.	They pick at your work in front of others.	Ask for one clear example. Move the talk to a private chat.
The ghost.	They miss deadlines and never reply.	Agree dates in writing. Copy your manager when a date slips.
The bully.	They shout, belittle or freeze you out.	Record it. Report it. This is not normal, and it is not your fault.

How to deal with difficult colleagues: five steps

1. Pause before you reply

Your first reaction is rarely your best one. Take one slow breath. Write the hot reply in a note, then delete the note.

Wait an hour if you can. A rude email reads smaller after lunch.

2. Talk privately, and talk early

Ask for five quiet minutes away from the team. Use facts, not labels. Say "the file was late on Tuesday" instead of "you never deliver".

Then listen. Ask one open question. "What would make this easier for both of us?"

How you write matters too. Our guide to email etiquette at work covers the tone that keeps a small issue small.

3. Keep a short record

Note the date, what happened and who saw it. Keep the note plain. Leave your feelings out of the file.

This record protects you later. It also shows you a pattern you cannot see day to day.

4. Set one clear boundary

Pick the one habit that costs you most. Then say what you need in plain words. "Please copy me on client emails."

A single clear ask works better than a list of ten complaints.

5. Ask your manager for help

Managers solve team problems as part of the job. Bring the facts and the record. Ask for one clear outcome.

Do not ask for a punishment. Ask for a change you can measure. Your manager can then act without taking sides.

When to involve your manager or HR

Some problems are too heavy for a quiet chat. Speak up at once if you face bullying, harassment or unfair treatment because of who you are.

In the UK, the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS) says you should try to raise a problem informally first. If that fails, you can raise a formal grievance. Your employer should then look into it quickly and take it seriously.

Your firm may also offer a helpline or an employee assistance programme. These are free and private. A trade union rep or an HR contact can guide you too.

If you are job hunting at the same time, keep your CV sharp with the free CV checker. A stronger CV opens the door to a better team.

Protect your own wellbeing

Conflict steals sleep. It makes a normal day feel heavy. Do not carry that weight alone at 11pm.

Talk to a friend, your family or a mentor. Keep your evenings and your weekends. Small routines protect your head. Our tips on time management in your first job will help you hold that line.

If a team keeps hurting your health, plan a calm exit. A bad team is not a bad career. Our guide to the first week in a new job shows what a healthy start looks like.

What not to do

Do not reply while you are angry.
Do not moan about your boss to other new starters.
Do not gossip back. It makes you part of the problem.
Do not quit in the same week. Plan the move first.

The Bottom Line

Difficult colleagues are part of working life. You cannot pick your team, but you can pick your response. Stay calm. Name the problem early. Keep a short record. Ask for help when you need it.

Handled well, one hard colleague can teach you more about people than a year of easy ones. That skill will follow you into every job you take.

Want more help to start your career on solid ground? Join Padgrad. Our free tools help you build a strong CV and find roles in the UK, Kenya, Uganda and the Philippines.

By Ori