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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.

Insurance graduate jobs in 2026: what underwriters, brokers and actuaries earn, plus schemes, apprenticeships and how to apply. Compare pay and routes.

Insurance Graduate Jobs 2026: Roles, Pay and Entry Routes

Insurance graduate jobs are some of the least crowded roles in finance. Two out of three people say they would not even think of a career in insurance, according to research behind MS Amlin's STUNTS campaign. That leaves room for graduates who do think of it.

The work is not dull. You price risk, handle claims and use data all day. Starting pay runs from about £20,000 to £35,000, and senior roles pass £100,000.

TL;DR

Insurance graduate jobs start at £20,000 to £35,000 a year. Senior pay tops £100,000.
Actuarial work pays the most over time. Claims, broking and underwriting hire the most people.
Big insurers run two-year graduate schemes. Apprenticeships are open at the same firms.
A 2:1 is common, but not always required. A numbers-led degree helps for actuarial roles.

Why insurance graduate jobs are less crowded than tech

The sector needs people. A 2024 report from the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII) called The Talent Shortage Crisis found an ageing workforce close to retirement. Young people also overlook the industry, and fintech firms now chase the same data and AI skills.

Size gives you an idea of the scale. In the United Kingdom, insurers manage about £1.8 trillion in investments. The Association of British Insurers (ABI) says that is roughly a quarter of the country's total net worth. The ABI also reports a record £4.6 billion in property claims paid in the first nine months of 2025.

That is real work with real impact. People rebuild homes after a flood. Firms survive a cyber attack. You help decide how.

What do insurance graduate jobs pay?

All figures below come from Prospects' insurance careers guide, published in January 2026. Pay bands are for the United Kingdom market.

Role	Starting pay	Later pay
Insurance underwriter	£24,000 to £30,000	About £45,000 when qualified.
Claims handler	£25,000 to £35,000	£45,000 as a manager.
Insurance broker	£20,000 to £30,000	Up to £75,000 when qualified.
Insurance account manager	£20,000 to £25,000	£30,000 to £60,000.
Insurance risk surveyor	£25,000 to £40,000	Up to £60,000.
Risk manager	About £25,000	£30,000 to £70,000.
Chartered loss adjuster	£25,000 to £35,000	Up to £90,000.
Actuarial analyst	£28,000 to £35,000	£65,000 to £90,000 when qualified.

Heads of claims, lead underwriters and claims directors in London offices can earn £100,000 or more. Bonuses are common too.

The five areas that hire graduates

Underwriting. You read an application and decide the risk. Then you set the price.
Broking and sales. You search the market and match cover to a client's needs.
Claims. You check what happened, decide what is covered and settle the payment.
Risk. You spot what could go wrong for a client and suggest fixes.
Actuarial. You use maths and data to set prices and predict losses.

Support teams hire graduates as well. These cover finance, legal and compliance, and insurance technology. Insuretech teams work with AI, big data and cloud tools.

How to get an insurance graduate job

Graduate schemes

Most large insurers run two-year schemes. The firms include AIG, Allianz, Aon, Aviva, Lloyd's of London, MS Amlin and WTW. A 2:1 is usual, and some ask for a numbers or STEM degree. Aviva's actuarial route closes in early December, and Lloyd's opens in January.

Apprenticeships

You can start without a degree. Aon offers Level 4 programmes and asks for five GCSEs plus 112 UCAS points. Lloyd's runs a 21-month programme and opens in February. Zurich takes Levels 3 to 6 between February and April. Read our guide on apprenticeship or graduate scheme before you pick a route.

Internships

Summer schemes are the easiest way in. Aon, Allianz, Zurich and Intact all run them. Most open a year ahead, so apply in the autumn of your second year. Insider status helps: Aon says many interns return to its graduate programme.

Qualifications do the heavy lifting later. For actuarial work you study with the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries. For other roles the CII is the usual route. Chartered status needs the Advanced Diploma in Insurance, CII membership and five years in the industry. Our professional qualifications guide explains how study fits around work.

Skills that get you hired

Insurers name five core skills. You must assess risk, stay adaptable, build client trust, work with data and be digitally confident. Hiring managers also look for numeracy, clear writing, organisation and problem solving.

Sales skills matter more than most graduates expect. You need to negotiate, keep going after a no, and explain a policy in plain words. If you are weighing sectors, our guide to finance, consulting or tech sets out the trade-offs.

Test your CV before you send it. Our free CV checker flags weak lines, and the CV builder helps you write the first draft.

Insurance work outside the United Kingdom

The same roles exist in every market. In Kenya, the Insurance Regulatory Authority licenses insurers and brokers. Uganda has its own Insurance Regulatory Authority. The Philippines regulates the sector through its Insurance Commission. Actuarial skills travel well: the International Actuarial Association represents over 90,000 actuaries in more than 115 countries.

Insurance is also a growing field in each of those markets, so a graduate who understands risk data can move between countries.

The Bottom Line

Insurance is quiet, stable and short of people. That mix is rare. Pick one area, such as claims or underwriting. Apply to three or four schemes and one apprenticeship. Then learn the language of risk and show it on your CV.

Padgrad helps graduates find roles, tailor applications and prepare for interviews. Sign up free to track your applications and get matched to jobs that fit.

By Ori