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.

Nail your first week in a new job with this day-by-day guide. See what to expect, the questions to ask your manager and the paperwork to sort early on.

First Week in a New Job: Day-by-Day Tips for Graduates

TL;DR

Your first week in a new job is about learning, not proving yourself.
Ask your manager what success looks like in the first 30 days.
Sort your paperwork early so your first pay lands on time.
Keep notes on names, tools and acronyms. You will use them for months.

What Your First Week in a New Job Really Looks Like

Picture your first Monday. Someone meets you at reception. You get a laptop, a login and a long list of new names.

By lunch you feel tired and a little lost. That is normal. Almost every new starter feels the same.

The first week is not a test you pass or fail. It is a week of gathering context.

Most firms give you a soft start. You read documents, meet the team and watch how people work. Real tasks arrive slowly.

So do not rush to change things. People who suggest fixes in week one often miss why things work that way.

Before Day One: Three Things to Sort Out

A little prep makes the first morning calm.

Confirm the details. Check your start time, the address and who to ask for.
Prepare your documents. Bring photo ID, your bank details and any tax form you were sent.
Plan the journey. Do a test run or leave earlier than you think you need to.

Check what people wear before you start. Ask your manager or the recruiter if you are unsure.

Day One: What to Do and What to Ask

Day one is admin and introductions. You set up accounts, sign forms and tour the office or the chat channels.

Ask a few good questions and write the answers down. The list below works in any firm or city.

Five questions worth asking in week one

What does success look like in my first 30 days?
Who will I work with most, and who should I meet first?
How do you prefer me to communicate: email, chat or a quick call?
What work should I pick up first, and what can wait?
When is a good time for a short check-in each week?

These questions show you are keen. They also give you a clear target for your first month.

The Rest of the Week: A Simple Day-by-Day Plan

Day.	Focus.	One thing to do.
Day one.	Admin and people.	Get your laptop, login and ID badge working.
Day two.	Your team.	Book short chats with the people you will work with most.
Day three.	Your tools.	Learn the systems you will use every day.
Day four.	Your first task.	Finish one small piece of work and share it.
Day five.	Review.	Send your manager a short note on what you learned.

Keep a running note of questions. Batch them and ask at a sensible time. That beats interrupting people all day.

Also watch how the team talks. If people use chat for quick notes, do the same. If they write formal emails, follow that style. Our guide to email etiquette at work covers the tone rules.

Getting Paid: The Paperwork by Market

Much first-week stress comes from forms. Employers need your details before they can pay you. The exact steps depend on where you work.

Market.	What you will be asked to do.
United Kingdom.	Share your National Insurance number and bank details so your tax code is right.
Kenya.	Give your KRA PIN and bank details. Your employer registers you for NSSF cover.
Uganda.	Provide your NSSF number, tax number and bank account for your first payslip.
Philippines.	Submit your TIN plus your SSS, PhilHealth and Pag-IBIG numbers for your first pay.

In the UK, most workers on a five-day week get at least 28 days of paid leave a year, according to gov.uk. Your employer must also enrol eligible staff into a workplace pension.

Ask for help if a form confuses you. Payroll teams answer these questions every week.

First-Week Mistakes That Cost You Later

Staying silent in meetings. Ask one clear question instead.
Pretending to know a tool. Say you are new to it and ask for a short walkthrough.
Overpromising. Only agree to work you can finish on time.
Skipping notes. You will forget names by Friday.
Working late every night. Set a steady pace you can keep.

Small habits in week one set the pattern. If you want to build good routines, our guide to managing your time in your first job is a good next read.

The Bottom Line

Your first week in a new job is a listening week. Learn the work, meet the people and get the admin done.

Ask what success looks like. Take notes. Deliver one small task well. That is enough to start strong.

Those habits also build the case for your first promotion later, as our guide to how to get promoted in your first graduate job explains.

Keep your CV sharp while the details are fresh. Run it through our free CV checker, then build a clean version in the CV builder.

Sign up to Padgrad for a daily digest of graduate roles. You get matched jobs in your inbox and you can apply in minutes.

By Ori