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Graduate jobs and graduate schemes in the UK

You should not have to guess what a job pays or when it closes. Every graduate role here tells you the salary, the deadline and exactly what you need to apply, so you can decide if it is worth your time.

Live graduate jobs on Early Careers

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What counts as a graduate job?

A graduate job is a first professional role aimed at people who have finished, or are about to finish, a degree. Some are structured graduate schemes that rotate you through departments over one to two years. Others are direct hires into a single team, which often means more responsibility sooner.

Most UK graduate employers recruit from any degree subject. Your discipline matters far less than your ability to explain how you think, work with people and learn quickly.

  • Graduate schemes: structured, rotational, usually one intake a year
  • Direct-entry graduate roles: hired into one team, recruited year round
  • Degree apprenticeships: earn a wage while studying to degree level

Typical graduate salaries in the UK

Graduate pay varies widely by sector and region. Roles in London usually pay more but come with higher living costs. We publish the actual salary or salary range on every listing, and we do not accept adverts that say 'competitive salary'.

Where a role advertises on-target earnings (OTE), the listing separates the guaranteed base salary from commission so you can compare offers honestly.

How to apply for graduate roles

Applications usually open in the autumn for schemes starting the following September, but direct-entry roles are advertised all year. Apply early: many employers close a scheme as soon as they have enough strong applicants.

Use one tailored CV per employer, and answer the application questions with concrete examples from study, part-time work, volunteering or societies.

What a strong answer looks like

Real examples you can borrow the shape of. Do not copy them word for word, employers read hundreds of applications and they can tell.

Why do you want to work for us?

I spent a summer temping in a council housing team, so I have seen what happens when systems do not talk to each other. You rebuilt your case management platform in-house last year rather than buying one off the shelf, and that is the kind of work I want to be near. I am applying to the technology scheme because I want to build things people are forced to use, where getting it wrong actually costs someone their afternoon.

Why it works: It names something specific about the employer and connects it to something you have actually done.

Tell us about a time you handled a setback.

I ran the finances for a student society and found in February that we were 800 pounds short because we had been under-charging for events. I went through the previous year's figures, put together a corrected price list, and pitched it to the committee with the numbers. We raised ticket prices by two pounds, cut one event, and finished the year 200 pounds up.

Why it works: It uses one situation, says what you personally did, and finishes with a number.

What are you weaker at?

I take on too much and then hold onto it. On my final year project I was doing the analysis and the write-up until my supervisor pointed out the other two had nothing to do. Now I split the work in the first meeting and put names against tasks, which is not natural to me but it works.

Why it works: A real weakness with what you changed. 'I am a perfectionist' fools nobody.

Mistakes worth avoiding

  • The same 'why this company' paragraph for every employer

    Change one paragraph per application, naming something real: a project, a product, a client, a location. Recruiters spot the copy-paste immediately.

  • Listing what a team did

    Say what you did inside the team. 'We ran an event' tells them nothing about you.

  • No result at the end

    Every example needs an ending. A grade, a number, money saved, a deadline hit.

  • Applying in April for a September scheme

    Most schemes open in the autumn and close when they are full. Apply early rather than perfectly.

  • Writing to the word limit with filler

    Under the limit with substance beats on the limit with padding. Cut anything that could appear in someone else's answer.

Want a second pair of eyes before you send it? Ask us for free help or read our CV and interview guides.

Common questions

When should I apply for graduate jobs?
Most large graduate schemes open applications between September and January for a September start the following year, and many close early once they are full. Direct-entry graduate roles are advertised throughout the year, so it is worth checking weekly.
Do I need a 2:1 to get a graduate job?
No. A growing number of UK employers have dropped degree classification requirements and assess strengths or work samples instead. Every listing on Early Careers states the entry requirements clearly, so you can see whether a 2:2 or a third is accepted.
Can I get a graduate job with no experience?
Yes. Graduate roles are designed for people at the start of their career, and many are marked as no experience required. Part-time work, volunteering and university projects all count as evidence of your skills.

  • Apprenticeships

    Search UK apprenticeships from Level 2 to degree level. See the wage, the qualification and the training provider on every opportunity before you apply.

  • Entry-level jobs

    Entry level jobs across the UK with no experience required. Real salaries, clear requirements and training from day one, plus free application support.

  • Internships

    Find paid internships, summer internships and placement years across the UK. Every listing shows the pay, the dates and what you will actually be doing.

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