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 manage your manager in your first job. Build trust, match their style, share short updates and ask for feedback that helps you grow and get ahead.

How to Manage Your Manager: A Guide for Graduates 2026

Your manager can make your first job great or grim. You cannot choose them. You can learn how to manage your manager. That is not about playing games. It means building a working relationship that helps you both do well.

This guide shows you how to manage your manager in your first job. You will learn what managers need, how to talk to them and how to fix small problems before they grow.

TL;DR

To manage your manager is to make it easy for them to trust you.
Learn their goals and their style. Then match it.
Send short updates before you are asked.
Bring options, not just problems.
Ask for feedback early and act on it.

What it means to manage your manager

Managing your manager is a skill, not a trick. It means you take charge of the working relationship. You work out what your manager needs. You then help them get it.

It is not about flattery. It is not about telling your boss what to do. It is about clear goals, calm updates and trust.

Good managers love this. When you make their day easier, they give you more freedom and more interesting work.

Why this matters in your first job

You are new. You hold the least power in the room. You also want to learn fast and prove yourself.

A strong link with your manager changes all of that. It brings clear tasks, quick answers and useful feedback. It also cuts the risk of a bad first review.

Most new starters wait to be managed. The ones who do well take the first step instead. If this is your first role, start with your first week in a new job.

Four common manager types

No two managers are the same. Read the table. Work out your manager's type. Then give them what they need.

Manager type	What they do	What they need from you
The always-busy manager	Short replies and slow feedback.	Brief updates and clear choices.
The micromanager	Checks every small step.	Regular updates that build trust.
The hands-off manager	Rarely checks in.	Clear questions and short summaries.
The chaotic manager	Shifts priorities and forgets detail.	Notes, priorities and one source of truth.

Step 1: Get clear on what your manager wants

Do not guess. Ask. A short chat in your first week saves months of rework.

Ask questions like these:

What does good work look like in this role?
How do you like to get updates, and how often?
What should I focus on this week?
Which mistakes should I avoid?
When should I decide alone, and when should I ask?

Step 2: Match their communication style

Some managers want a written note. Others want a quick chat. Watch how your manager works and fit in.

If they are brief, lead with your point. If they like detail, show your working. This is not about changing who you are. It is about being heard.

Step 3: Share short updates before you are asked

Silence worries a manager. When they hear nothing, they fear the worst. Then they start to hover.

Send a short update each week. Keep it to four lines:

Done: what moved since last time.
Next: what you will do next.
Risks: what might slow you down.
Decisions: what you need from them.

Few new starters do this. Managers notice.

Step 4: Bring options, not just problems

Anyone can report a problem. Few can solve one. That is your chance to stand out.

When you hit a block, name it and bring a fix. Offer two choices and a view. Keep it short.

Try this: "I can do A or B. A is faster. B is safer. I suggest A. Are you happy for me to go ahead?"

Now your manager only has to say yes. That is much easier than thinking for you.

Step 5: Ask for feedback and act on it

Do not wait for your review. Ask for feedback on one piece of work. Keep the ask narrow and tied to the task, not to you.

When you get it, say thank you. Then change one small, visible thing. This shows you are coachable. It also makes your first performance review far less scary.

How to handle a manager who micromanages

Micromanagers are often anxious, not cruel. They check in because they are unsure.

Beat them to it. Send updates before they ask. Give them a clear plan. Ask for one small task to own from start to end.

Over time, trust grows. The checks get fewer. If the behaviour is harsh or unfair, keep a record and speak to HR. A hard manager is not the same as a bad one. For that side, read our guide to difficult colleagues.

How to disagree with your manager politely

You will not agree with every call. That is normal. Say so in private, not in front of the team.

Ask a question instead of making a claim. Try "What is the main goal here? I see a risk in X. Can we talk it through?"

Pick your battles. Save your challenge for the calls that matter. Then let the small ones go.

What not to do

Do not complain about your manager to the team.
Do not hide bad news. Bad news only grows.
Do not say yes to everything, then miss deadlines.
Do not wait for permission on small calls.
Do not treat your manager like a parent.

The Bottom Line

To manage your manager is to build trust, not to play games. Learn what they want. Match their style. Share short updates. Bring answers, not only questions. Ask for honest feedback and use it.

Do this and your first job runs smoother. You also pick up a skill that serves you in every role after this one. These habits also speed up your chance of promotion.

Want a head start? Join Padgrad. Our free tools help you build a strong CV and find roles in the United Kingdom, Kenya, Uganda and the Philippines.

By Ori