padgrad is a free career platform for UK graduates. It matches jobs to your degree, generates AI-powered CV checks and cover letters, and sends daily personalised job digests.

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.

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.

How are jobs matched to my degree?

We scrape thousands of UK graduate jobs daily and match them to your specific degree field. Whether you studied Biology, Law, Engineering, or over 300 other degrees — we only show you roles that fit.

Do I need a credit card to sign up?

No. Sign-up is completely free with no card required. You get 10 credits immediately to try the AI tools.

Your LinkedIn Profile as a UK Graduate: 7 Steps to Get Noticed by Recruiters

Learn how to optimise your LinkedIn profile as a UK graduate — from headline and photo to networking and content strategy. Includes a 7-day action plan to get noticed by recruiters.

TL;DR

Over 90% of UK graduate recruiters use LinkedIn — if your profile is incomplete, you're invisible to thousands of hiring managers
An optimised profile can 3x your recruiter views — headline keywords, a complete About section, and relevant skills are what make the difference
Your LinkedIn profile is not your CV — it needs to tell a story about your potential, not just list your experience
Small tweaks pay off fast — a professional headshot, custom URL, and active engagement can move you from page 10 to page 1 in recruiter searches

Why LinkedIn Matters for UK Graduates

When most graduates think about job hunting, they update their CV, browse job boards, and polish their cover letter. LinkedIn often gets treated as an afterthought. That's a costly mistake.

87% of UK graduate recruiters now use LinkedIn to source candidates. That includes big graduate schemes, SMEs, startups, and agencies. If your profile is incomplete or non-existent, you're invisible to a huge chunk of the market you're trying to break into.

The good news? You don't need years of experience to build a profile that gets results — just a strategic approach.

Step 1: Nail the Basics

Recruiters scan profiles in seconds. Before they read a single word, three things need to be right.

Your Profile Photo

Profiles with a professional photo get 14x more views. You don't need a professional shoot — a well-lit, plain-background photo in smart attire is all it takes. No selfies, no group shots, no cropped wedding photos.

Your Custom URL

Change your LinkedIn URL from random characters to linkedin.com/in/your-name. It looks professional and is easy to add to your CV and email signature.

Your Headline

The default "Student at [University]" wastes prime searchable real estate. Your headline is one of the fields recruiters search most. Write something like:

"Economics Graduate | Aspiring Financial Analyst | Open to Graduate Schemes in Finance & Consulting"

Include your degree, target industry, and role type. Use Padgrad's CV Builder to identify the right keywords for your sector before writing your headline.

Step 2: Write a Compelling About Section

Your "About" section tells your story. Recruiters read this to decide whether to dig deeper or move on. Do not copy-paste your CV. Instead, structure it like a mini cover letter:

Opening hook: Who you are and what you're looking for (1-2 sentences)
Your value: Key skills, projects, and experience relevant to your target role
Your motivation: Why this industry? What drives you?
Call to action: "I'm actively looking for graduate opportunities in [field] — feel free to reach out!"

Aim for 3-5 short paragraphs. Write in first person — it's a conversation, not a formal document.

Step 3: Optimise Your Experience Section

Think you have no experience to put on LinkedIn? Think again. As a graduate you can showcase:

University projects that demonstrate relevant skills
Placement years or internships — even short ones count
Part-time jobs — retail, hospitality, tutoring all show transferable skills
Volunteer work — highly valued by many UK recruiters
Society roles — committee positions, event management, budget ownership

For each entry, use 3-5 bullet points with quantified achievements. "Managed a social media account" becomes "Grew Instagram engagement by 40% over 3 months through consistent content scheduling."

Step 4: Skills, Recommendations, and Endorsements

List up to 50 relevant skills, prioritising those that appear in job descriptions for your target roles. The Application Tracker can help you spot patterns in what employers are asking for across your applications.

Ask lecturers, internship managers, or society leads for a recommendation. Even one strong recommendation significantly boosts your credibility. You only need 2-3 solid ones to make an impact.

Step 5: Build a Meaningful Network

Start with people you know — classmates, lecturers, former colleagues, family friends in relevant industries
Follow target companies — engage with their posts thoughtfully
Connect with alumni — your university alumni network is gold. Personalise every request: "Hi [Name], I noticed your work in [Industry] and would love to connect"
Join industry groups — they surface opportunities and relevant discussions

For deeper strategies, see our full networking guide.

Step 6: Post Occasionally

You don't need to post daily. But once or twice a month signals to recruiters that you're engaged. Ideas for graduate content:

Reflect on a university project relevant to your field
Share takeaways from an industry webinar or event
Post about a course completion or certification
Share an article with your own perspective

Consistency beats volume. One thoughtful post a fortnight beats five desperate ones in a day.

Step 7: Use "Open to Work" Wisely

The #OpenToWork banner on your profile photo is divisive. Some recruiters like it, some see it as desperate. A safer middle ground:

Turn it on privately — recruiters see it, but it won't appear on your public profile photo
Mention your search in your About section: "Actively seeking graduate opportunities in [field]"

Your 7-Day LinkedIn Action Plan

Day 1: Update photo, headline, and custom URL
Day 2: Write and publish your About section
Day 3: Add all experience entries with quantified bullet points
Day 4: Add 50 skills and request 2-3 recommendations
Day 5: Send 10-15 personalised connection requests to alumni
Day 6: Follow 10 target companies and engage with 2 posts
Day 7: Review your profile and plan your first post

Conclusion

Unlike a CV, your LinkedIn profile isn't something you finish once and forget. It's a living document that evolves as you gain skills, complete projects, and refine your goals. Set a monthly reminder to review and update it.

The graduates who get hired aren't always the ones with the best grades. They're the ones who make it easy for recruiters to find them, understand them, and want to reach out. Make sure that's you.

Ready to take control of your job search? Track every application, interview, and offer with the Application Tracker on Padgrad. Log every setback in the Rejection Log — because each one brings you closer to the right offer. Sign up free today.