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.

Graduate underemployment in 2026: what the latest data shows about who it hits hardest, how long it lasts, and how to avoid it. Read the full guide now.

Graduate Underemployment 2026: What the Data Really Says

Graduate underemployment is easy to miss. You have a job. You pay your bills. But the work does not use your degree. New data from Kenya, Uganda, the Philippines and the UK shows how common this is. This guide explains what the numbers say and how to avoid the trap.

TL;DR

Underemployment means working below your skill level. It is not the same as unemployment.
In the UK, 76% of working graduates are in high-skilled jobs 15 months after university, according to HESA.
In the North East of England, 41.6% of graduates work in non-graduate roles.
Pick a growing sector, build rare skills and choose your first job with care.

What Is Graduate Underemployment?

Underemployment happens when your job does not need your qualifications. You may work as a receptionist, a sales assistant or a care worker. The job is real and the pay arrives. But your degree is not part of the work.

This matters more than it sounds. Early roles shape your whole career path. A graduate who spends two years in a non-graduate job can find it harder to move into skilled work later. Employers read your first jobs as a signal of your level.

Graduate Underemployment by the Numbers

The numbers below come from official sources in each market. They describe people with degrees who are not in roles that need them.

Market	The data	Source
UK	76% of working graduates are in high-skilled jobs. The rest work below their level.	HESA.
UK	In the North East, 41.6% of graduates work in non-graduate roles. It is the highest rate in the country.	Analysis of ONS data.
Kenya	The national unemployment rate is 12.7%. Youth aged 15 to 34 face a rate of 67%.	KNBS.
Uganda	Overall unemployment is 12.2%. Youth unemployment is 18%. Graduate unemployment is 15.2%.	UBOS.
Philippines	Youth labour force participation fell to 29.5% in July 2025, down from 34.2% a year earlier. Underemployment is around 12%.	PSA.

Two patterns stand out. First, young people face far worse numbers than older workers in every market. Second, having a degree helps, but it does not guarantee a skilled role.

Why Does Graduate Underemployment Happen?

Three forces push graduates into below-level work. The first is supply. Universities in many countries produce more graduates than the economy can absorb. In Kenya, the number of graduates leaving university grows faster than formal jobs are created.

The second force is location. In the UK, the South East has many skilled roles. The North East has fewer. A graduate who cannot move is more likely to take any job on offer.

The third force is the first job itself. Once you take a non-graduate role, it can become a label. Recruiters see the job title before they see your degree. That is why the first move after graduation carries so much weight.

Does Graduate Underemployment Last?

For many people, yes. Research from IZA, an economics institute, found that underemployment can persist for years after graduation. It can also reduce later pay. The effect is strongest for people who start in low-skilled work and stay there.

The good news is that the pattern is not fixed. Graduates who move into skilled work within a few years see their earnings catch up. The damage comes from staying stuck, not from one wrong first job.

How to Avoid Graduate Underemployment

Pick a sector with growing demand

Some fields hire more graduates than others. Technology, health and green energy keep growing in every market. Research which sectors are hiring before you choose your applications. Our guide to the state of the graduate job market breaks down where the roles are.

Build skills that are rare

A degree alone is not a differentiator anymore. Data skills, digital tools and languages set you apart. See the top employability skills employers actually ask for, then close your gaps before you apply.

Choose the first job with care

If you can wait, wait for a role that uses your degree. If you must take a survival job, keep applying. Set a reminder to review your search every month, and treat the job as a bridge, not a destination.

Check your CV before every application

Recruiters screen CVs in seconds. Run yours through the free CV checker to catch the errors that push you into the no pile. A strong CV is your first defence against being read as below your level.

The Bottom Line

Graduate underemployment is real, and the data proves it. It hits young people in every market, from Nairobi to Manila to Manchester. But it is not a life sentence. The graduates who escape choose sectors that grow, build rare skills and treat the first job as a stepping stone.

Still unsure if your degree is paying off? Our guide on whether a university degree is worth it weighs the data on both sides.

Ready to find a role that uses your degree? Padgrad matches graduates with jobs that fit their skills. Create a free account and get your daily digest of fresh roles today.

By Ori