How to find a graduate job

Leaving uni and stepping into the world of graduate employment? It can feel daunting to start your job hunt, so we’ve pulled together a handy guide on how to find a graduate job – from the tools available to help you, to tips on making yourself more employable.

Not sure what you want to do? Explore the information on our careers website and book a 20 minute ‘Getting started’ appointment where you can learn how to search for graduate jobs on our vacancy portal. You will also be given the opportunity to discuss your options with a graduate careers advisor and get support with making applications and preparing for interviews.

If you already completed your course please see our Graduate pages to see how you can continue to access our services by registering on our dedicated graduate platform.

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10 top tips for finding graduate jobs

Having a plan is the key to an effective job search. Watch this short three minute video to hear our top tips or read through them below.

1. Have a job search strategy

Without planning and organisation, graduate job searches can feel overwhelming. So take some time to find out what you want to do, research potential employers, what they look for in applicants and where they advertise their opportunities.

If you’re not sure, come down to Careers Corner in Catalyst and we can help you with where to get started.

A student talks to a Careers advisor in Careers Corner

2. Target your job search

Different job sectors and professions advertise vacancies and recruit graduates in different ways. So take some time to find out about recruitment methods in the job sector that interests you.

You can find out more about where to find jobs relating to specific subjects in our subject information pages.

Some regions or cities may have more opportunities than others depending on the role that you’re looking for, for example media roles in Manchester, or conservation roles in the Lake District National Park.

Do your research – find out where the job is located, you may need to consider the practicalities – can you commute or would you need to move? Read on to find out where to look for regional and national graduate opportunities.

The Prospects and Target Jobs websites are also good sources of information about where to find vacancies in specific job sectors:

Prospects Job Sectors
Target Jobs Career Sectors
Target Jobs’ most popular graduate UK 300 employers

3. Be open minded

Look at the large organisations that you’ve heard about and who you might see on campus, but also consider the medium and small size employers too. Graduate programmes can be a great option, but also look into immediate start jobs and other levels within an organisation that you want to join. It may be that these can offer you a stepping stone into the organisation or profession you’re interested in.

4. Research job websites and register

Research job websites and register with the ones most likely to have opportunities of interest to you. Be aware of registering with too many; they will all give you notifications and your inbox will be overflowing.

5. Consider the location

Some regions or cities may have more opportunities than others depending on the role that you’re looking for, for example media roles in Manchester. You might find it easier to find your ideal job in a city, rather than a small town.

Do your research – find out where the job is located, you may need to consider the practicalities – can you commute or would you need to move? Read on to find out where to find regional and national graduate employers.

6. Find out about recruitment agencies

Recruitment agencies can be really useful if you’re searching for jobs in specific sectors or regions, and they often have information about vacancies that aren’t advertised anywhere else. The National Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) is a good place to start to search for reputable agencies, or come along to Careers Corner and we’ll give you some starting points.

7. Make the most of social media

Many graduate employees will use social media to advertise their vacancies or to tell applicants about upcoming events. So follow employers, recruiters and professional bodies on X, Instagram, Facebook and Linked In and any other social media that you tend to use. Prospects gives some helpful advice on using social media in your job search.

8. Build your network

It’s estimated that over 60% of vacancies are never advertised so making connections, building your network and approaching employers to find out about opportunities will be an important part of your job searching strategy.

There are all kinds of ways of networking, you might find What Uni’s advice about how to network as a student helpful. Watch out for networking or industry events where you can meet professionals and ask questions. Why not take a look at the different events on the Careers portal?

9. Submit excellent applications

In a competitive job market, it’s never been more important to submit applications that are targeted, focused and well written. Remember Careers can help you with your applications so get in touch if you need to.

10. Don’t give up

Receiving rejections or not hearing back from employers can be very disheartening. It’s important not to give up and to be reflective. Consider what might have gone wrong and seek feedback wherever possible. Get in touch with Careers if you’re struggling.

Remember that Careers can help you with your graduate job search. We are here to help you as student and for three years after graduation. We can help you with career planning, job search, applications and the selection process. So get in touch!

Regional graduate employers

The North West is home to many vibrant and growing local, national and international organisations. Do some research to find out which employers are based regionally and which you are interested in working for.

You may find it helpful to register with the The Times Top Graduate Employers in the North West list; and you can find your local Chamber of Commerce to find out about local businesses, business events and opportunities in your local area.

The North West is made up of five county areas each with their own authorities and councils. Vacancies are advertised through the individual authority websites, you can find details of your local council through gov.uk and here are some examples of where to find government vacancies;

There are lots of useful websites to help you search for graduate jobs in the North West; for example

You can also use the national graduate job websites suggested below to filter by region to target your search.

National graduate job websites

A good starting point for your vacancy search is our Careers Vacancy Portal, but we also recommend exploring some of these useful job boards and remember to set up job alerts so that you’re notified by email of any new opportunities that meet your criteria.

Consider a graduate scheme

Graduate schemes can be a great leg up into a successful career, or allow you to get a taste of a career while bulking out your CV with real-life experience.

There are a huge range of graduate schemes available depending on what type of job you would like.

Common questions when job hunting

Further resources

Get in touch with Careers for support with your graduate job search.