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 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 UK graduate recruiters.

How many jobs should I apply for as a graduate?

UK 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 in the UK?

Most UK 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. The civil service fast stream and larger graduate schemes can take 4-6 months from application to offer.

What is the average graduate salary in the UK for 2026?

The median graduate salary in the UK for 2026 is around £28,000-£32,000 depending on sector. Investment banking, law, and tech pay the highest (£35,000+), while public sector and charity roles typically start lower (£24,000-£27,000). Regional salaries average 10-20% lower outside London.

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 UK 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 in the UK typically pay between £25,000 and £35,000 in the first year, with some industries paying significantly more. Law firms and investment banks often start at £45,000-£55,000. Most schemes also offer benefits like bonuses, pension contributions, and professional qualification sponsorship.

How many applications does it take to get a graduate job?

Research from High Fliers shows the UK's 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 in September and October for roles starting the following September, 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.

Ebikwata ku By'okusooka mu Mulimu ogw'okuva ku Somero mu UK: Tuuka ku Nsonga mu Nnaku zo 90 Ezisooka

Okufuna omulimu gwo ogw'okusooka ogw'okuva ku somero kwe ntandikwa kyokka. Yiga ebikwata ku by'okusooka mu mulimu ogw'okuva ku somero mu UK eby'omugaso okukola ekifaananyi ekirungi n'okukulaakulana mu nnaku zo 90 ezisooka.

TL;DR

Ennaku zo ezo 90 ezisooka ku mulimu ogw'okuva ku somero ziteeka omusingi gwa by'onna ebirindirira mu mirimu gyo — era obulagirizi bwaffe bw'ebikwata ku by'okusooka mu mulimu ogw'okuva ku somero mu UK bulaga engeri yo kutuuka ng'olina amaanyi
Weekuba ku kuwuliriza, okubuuza ebibuuzo, n'okuzimba enkolagana — so ssi okugezaako okulaga byonna omulundi gumu
Teekawo ebigendererwa ebiri ddala ne mmanyiirwo omulimu era obikembe ng'ebiseera biyita
Enkola entono ez'obulijjo ng'okuwandiika ebintu wansi n'okusaba okufuna endowooza ezikuyamba zireetawo enkyukakyuka ennene

Okola. Ofunye omulimu gwo ogw'okusooka ogw'okuva ku somero. Oluvannyuma lw'okuwandiika, okuweebwa ebibuuzo, n'okulindirira, oluvannyuma olina ekiragiro mu ngalo. Naye waliwo ekintu ategeeza — okufuna omulimu kya kitundu ky'okutabaala kyokka. Bino ebikwata ku by'okusooka mu mulimu ogw'okuva ku somero mu UK abava ku somero basooka wano: ennaku 90 ezisooka we wazimbira omusingi gwo ogw'omulimu.

Okunoonyereza okuva mu Kitongole ky'eby'enjigiriza (Department for Education) kulaga nti abava ku somero abatandika obulungi mu mulimu gwabwe ogusooka basobola okufuna obwongezi n'empeera ennungi mu myaka egy'okusatu egisooka. N'olwekyo engeri gy'olabika okuva ku lunaku olusooka kimukwatako nnyo.

Kale oba otandika enkola y'okutendekebwa ku mulimu eri abava ku somero (graduate scheme) oba omulimu oguyingirawo butereevu, guno gwe mulagiriro go ogw'okubeerawo n'okukulaakulana mu naku zo 90 ezisooka.

Wiiki Yo Esooka: Wuliriza, Yiga, Era Wandiika Ebintu Wansi

Wiiki yo esooka si ya kukakasa nti oli mugezi. Y'okuyiga engeri ebintu gye bikolera. Abava ku somero abasinga okukola bulungi mu mulimu gwabwe ogusooka bakola ebintu bisatu mu wiiki esooka:

Bawuliriza okusinga bye boogera. Bulika kigambo ky'ogamba kya mukisa okutegeera enkola, enkolagana z'ekibiina, n'amateeka agataliko byawandiikibwa.
Bawandiika buli kimu wansi. Amannya, enkola, bigambo ebimpi — tewali kintu kitono nnyo okwawandiika. Ojja kwerabira ekitundu ky'ebyo by'owulira ku lunaku olusooka.
Babuuza ebibuuzo "ebisiru". Tewali bibuzo bisiru mu wiiki esooka. Okubuuza kaakano kukuyamba okuvunaanyizibwa okw'omuwendo oluvannyuma.

Teekawo kitabo ky'okuwandiikako — oba ekidijitawo oba ekyo muwendo — era okikozese buli lunaku. Enkola ennyangu eno eyawula abava ku somero abalabika nga babuze ku abo abalabika nga batuufu. Kino kye kimu ku by'okusooka mu mulimu ogw'okuva ku somero ebyangu ebireetawo enkyukakyuka amangu.

Ennaku 8-30: Zimba Enkolagana Ennannyanja

Obukugu bwo bw'okukola by'akikozesa byakufunye omulimu. Enkolagana zo z'ezigenda okukakasa nti okuyita wala. Mu mwezi gwo ogusooka, weekuba ku:

Funirawo Abantu Bo

Manya abantu ab'omugaso mu kibiina kyo ne mu bibiina ebiriraanyewo. Weeyanjule. Babuulire ky'okola. Bw'okola n'okutuukirira mu nju, tegeka okuwummulamu okuva mu katulindiro aka ddakiika 15 n'abakolagana naawe. Emikutu emito gino gizimba omukutu ogukusasula buli lunaku.

Funirawo Omubuulizi (Mu nkola Enkakafu oba Ey'obwannannyini)

Enkola eziwerako ez'okutendekebwa ku mulimu eri abava ku somero ziwa okuweereza okuyigiriza okw'enkola enkakafu. Bwezita, funa omuntu amakumi mabiri g'emyaka emabega wo akola omulimu mulungi. Laba engeri gy'akolera. Mwenga dakika 10 ez'ebiseera bye okukebera enkola yo. Abantu bangi baagala okuyamba abatandisi abasanyufu.

Tegeera Mmanyiirwo Omulimu

Buli mmanyiirwo mulimu ayawukana. Abamu beegomba okufuna obubaka obwa buli lunaku. Abalala beegomba ebbaluwa eya buli wiiki. Tumira engeri mmanyiirwo omulimu gy'ayagala okuwulanyizanya naye era wetegereze — kino kye kimu ku by'obukugu obuyamba okufuna omulimu eby'omugaso eri abava ku somero mu UK.

Ennaku 30-60: Tandika Okuwa Engule Entono Ez'esigika

Kaakano otegedde ebintu eby'omusingi. Kiseera kituuse okutandika okulaga ky'osobola okukola. Naye togezaako kukyusa ensi nga tebannaba. Weekuba ku ngule entono ez'esigika:

Maliriza omulimu omuto bulijjo — era saba endowooza ezikuyamba nga tonnagenda mu maaso
Weeyingirize okukola ekintu kimu awatali muntu ayagala kukikola — kizimba obwesige mangu
Wandiika by'oyigga — wandiika obulagirizi obwangu eri abatandisi ab'omu maaso. Ebiibiro biwa amannya ng'okola ebintu byangu eri abalala

Kino n'ekiseera okufuna okukebera okw'okusooka okutuufu ne mmanyiirwo omulimu. Buuza: "Okutuuka kukulabika kitya gye ndi mu nnaku 30 ezijja?" Bw'akuwa eky'okuddamu ekiyavu, kiwandiike wansi era okifuule omulimu gwo.

Ennaku 60-90: Bba n'Ow'Obuyinza Era Laba Mu Maaso

Kaakano oyise ekibago eky'entiisa. Bakolagana naawe bakulaba ng'ekitundu ky'ekibiina, so ssi omuntu omupya. Kaakano osobola okutandika okuba n'obuyinza obw'amazima:

Bba n'obuyinza ku mulimu omuto okuva ku ntandikwa okutuusa ku nkomerero. Ne mukolo omuto gwennyini gwe gwenyini gw'oba n'obuyinza kukuyigiriza okukola, okukuŋŋaanya, n'okuddukanya abantu ab'amaanyi.
Vumuka mu nkuŋŋaano Tetaaga kuba ddoboozi erisinga. Ekyogero kimu ekikkakkanye ku nkuŋŋaano kimala okulaga nti olina ekikulu.
Tandika okulowooza ku naku zo 90 ezijja Bye bukugu by'oyagala okuzimba? Weeyagala okubeera mu myezi mukaaga?

Ng'ebyo bya HESA bye bivuddeko, abava ku somero abateekateeka enkola yaabwe ey'okukulaakulana mu mwaka ogusooka basobola okufuna £3,000 ng'ekigereerero okuyitawo emyaka esatu okusinga abatakola bwe batyo. Omugabo gw'akamwonyezi mulimu.

Ebikwata ku By'okusooka mu Mulimu ogw'okuva ku Somero mu UK: Ebisobyo Ebisatu Ebigendererwa Okwewala

Okumanya eky'okwewala kya mugaso nga okumanya ky'okukola. Weegendereze enkwe zino ezigendererwa:

Okugerageza okulaga byonna mu wiiki esooka. Tewali akuite okumanya byonna. Weewummuze. Wawasibwa olw'amaaso go, so ssi obutuukirivu.
Okusirika mu nkuŋŋaano. Ne bw'oba toli mukakafu, yogera ekintu. Kigambo ekyangu ekigamba nti "Njagala okukebera ku ekyo nditule" kisinga okusirika.
Okwekenneenya abalala bava ku somero. Enda ya muntu omulayo si y'eyo. Weekuba ku nkola yo.

Okumanya ebisingawo ku kwewala ensobi mu mulimu omupya, soma obulagirizi bwaffe ku by'ebisobyo mu CV y'okuva ku somero abakungu mu UK bye balaba — amateeka gamu gakola ne ng'oli wakati.

Ekigendererwa Ekikulu

Ennaku zo 90 ezisooka si za butuukirivu. Z'okuzimba amaanyi ag'okugenda mu maaso. Wuliriza okusinga by'oyogera. Saba obuyambi bw'ogwetaaga. Zimba enkolagana ennannyanja n'ekibiina kyo. Era weewe ekisa — tewali ayiwa omulimu gwe ogw'okusooka ogw'okuva ku somero okuva ku lunaku olusooka.

Abava ku somero abatuuka bulungi si be bagezi ennyo mu kisenge. Be balabika, beesunga okumanya, era beeyongera okuyiga. Ggwe oli oyo kaakano.

Weteekateeke okukola olunaku lwo olusooka okubala? Kweka CV yo n'oluvannyuma ng'otandise — Padgrad AI CV Checker esobola okukuyamba okugifuula eya leero ng'ozimba obukugu obupya ku mulimu.

— Ori