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.

Explore healthcare graduate jobs in 2026: the roles open to new graduates, how to register in each market, and what entry-level pay looks like. Apply today.

Healthcare Graduate Jobs 2026: Roles, Routes and Pay

TL;DR

Health roles suit many degrees, not just medicine.
Most clinical jobs need a licence to start.
Non-clinical jobs are the quickest way in.
Rules and pay differ by market. Check yours.

Why Healthcare Graduate Jobs Suit New Graduates

Healthcare graduate jobs are open to many degrees. You do not always need a medical degree. Health teams hire graduates from science, business, data and care courses. They also hire people who want to help others.

Demand for staff is steady. People need care all year. That makes the sector more stable than most. Good employers train you on the job.

Two Tracks: Licensed and Open

Some roles need a licence. Others do not. Pick your track early. It shapes your first application.

Healthcare Graduate Jobs by Market: What to Check

Each market has its own health council. Check yours before you apply. The table below names the main ones.

Market	Body	What graduates must do
United Kingdom	Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC).	Register before you work.
Kenya	Nursing Council of Kenya.	Apply for a licence after your internship.
Uganda	Uganda Nurses and Midwives Council.	Apply for a licence once you finish.
Philippines	Professional Regulation Commission.	Pass the board exam for your role.

Two of these bodies look after nurses. Others cover lab staff, radiographers and therapists. Check the exact body for your role.

Roles Open to New Graduates

Clinical Roles

Staff nurse in a hospital or clinic.
Biomedical scientist in a lab.
Radiographer or physiotherapist.
Pharmacist in a shop or hospital.
Midwife after more training.

Non-Clinical Roles

Care assistant on a ward.
Care co-ordinator for a local team.
Health data analyst for a clinic.
Medical admin in a practice.
Trial assistant in research.

Non-clinical roles often hire faster. They are a strong first step.

How to Land Your First Role

1. Check Your Route

Ask the health council what you need. Ask early. Paperwork takes weeks.

2. Show Your Placements on Your CV

List your placements like jobs. Name the ward and the team. Add your duties and hours. Recruiters want proof of hands-on care.

3. Prepare for Values-Based Interviews

Health employers test how you treat people. Prepare short stories about teamwork and stress. Our guide to the STAR method for graduate interviews shows how to shape those answers.

Pay and Progression

Pay depends on your market, your employer and your role. In the United Kingdom, the NHS pays new biomedical scientists between £31,049 and £37,796 a year on Band 5, according to Prospects (2026).

Other markets pay less in cash terms. Living costs differ too. Check local job boards for the roles you want. Compare at least ten adverts before you set your target. Padgrad lists graduate roles with salary data when the employer shares it.

Skills Health Employers Want

Clear speaking with patients and staff.
Teamwork on busy shifts.
Care with records and doses.
Calm judgement when things go wrong.
Basic digital skills for records and rotas.

These are the same skills most employers ask for. Read our post on the graduate skills gap to see which ones recruiters say are missing.

If you hold a professional award, show it on your CV. Our guide to professional qualifications explains how to present them well.

The Bottom Line

Healthcare graduate jobs reward people who like to help. Pick your track. Check your council. Apply early. Then keep learning once you start.

Before you send anything, run your CV through our free CV checker. It finds the gaps recruiters spot first. When your CV is ready, build a clean version in the CV builder.

By Ori