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.

Starting your first graduate job soon? Use these nine practical steps to sort money, skills and housing before day one, then get set up on Padgrad today.

Starting Your First Graduate Job: Nine Smart Preparations

Starting your first graduate job is a big step. Most offers arrive months before day one, so you have time to get ready. Use that gap well and your first week feels calm. Waste it and you arrive tired, broke and behind.

TL;DR

Confirm your start date, contract and notice terms in writing before you plan anything else.
Fix your money early: tax code, bank details, pension form and a simple monthly budget.
Build one or two skills the role really uses, not ten random courses.
Sort housing and travel before the final month, then rest in the last two weeks.

Lock Down the Contract First

Before you plan a single thing, get the paperwork straight. Ask your new employer for the written contract and read it slowly.

Check four things:

The exact start date and where you report on day one.
Your salary, and when the first pay day falls.
The probation length and what happens at the end of it.
Holiday allowance, sick pay and any travel or relocation support.

If something is unclear, email your recruiter and ask. They expect questions. A short polite email now saves a mess later. Our guide to accepting a graduate job offer covers how to reply well and what to keep on file.

Sort Your Money Before Starting Your First Graduate Job

Money admin is boring and easy to delay. Do it in one afternoon and forget it.

The five-minute jobs

Send your bank details to payroll.
Fill in the starter form for tax, even if you have no P45 yet.
Join the pension scheme, or note the date you can opt in.
Check if a student loan repayment will start from your first payslip.
Update your address with your bank and your university.

Build one simple budget

Write down your expected take-home pay. Then list rent, travel, food, phone and fun. Keep the fun line real, because a budget you ignore is useless.

Pay yourself on pay day. Move a small amount to savings the same day the money lands. Even a tiny amount builds the habit. For a worked example, read our guide to a graduate budget on a first salary.

Build the Skills the Role Actually Uses

Do not sign up for eleven online courses. Pick the two things your team uses every day.

Common picks:

Spreadsheets. Learn lookups, pivot tables and clean formatting.
Clear writing. Practise a short email with one ask and no waffle.
Slides. Learn to build a simple deck that makes one point per slide.
AI tools. Learn where your employer allows them, and where it does not.

Spend twenty minutes a day, not four hours on a Sunday. Small and steady beats one big panic session. If your CV still shows no proof of these skills, tidy it now with our CV builder.

Plan Housing, Travel and the Daily Routine

Housing is the task that eats the most time, so start early.

Decide whether you will live at home, rent near the office or commute.
Work out the real monthly cost of each option, including bills and travel.
Check the commute at the exact times you will travel.
Keep a spare set of work clothes ready before week one.

If the job means a new city, read our guide to relocating for a graduate job before you sign a lease. View a place in person, or ask for a video walkthrough.

Make Contact Before Day One

One friendly message can settle a lot of nerves. Ask your manager two questions: what the first week looks like, and what you should read or learn first.

Keep it short. Thank them for the offer, say you are looking forward to it, and ask your question. Do not ask about pay, hours or holiday again. That is settled in the contract.

You can also ask to be introduced to your buddy or mentor. Many schemes assign one. A quick hello now makes day one easier.

Use the Last Two Weeks Well

This is the part people skip. Do less, not more.

Stop any big course or side project two weeks out.
Fix your sleep pattern so the first early start does not hurt.
Plan your first three days of travel and meals.
Take one proper rest day with no job search, no email and no planning.

Arrive rested and curious. Nobody expects you to know the job on day one. They expect you to be on time, polite and ready to learn.

What Starting Your First Graduate Job Really Tests

The first month tests three things: reliability, how you ask for help, and how fast you learn names. None of them need talent. They need preparation and calm.

Keep a small notebook. Write down every task, name and acronym you hear. Review it each evening for five minutes. In a month you will sound like you have been there a year. Our tips for your first week in a new job walk through day one in detail.

Get Job Ready With Padgrad

Padgrad helps graduates find roles, sharpen applications and walk into day one prepared. Check your CV with the free CV check, then build a version you can update as you grow. Create a free account and start today.

By Ori