How to land your first job: What UK students need to know
If you're a recent UK graduate or heading towards being one in 2026, you'll already know the graduate job market has slowed down. Recent news reports show that students are making more job applications than ever — and their success rate is among the lowest in at least 30 years.
Data also suggests that competition for graduate jobs is at a record high, thanks in part to some firms reducing the number of places on graduate schemes. Yet UK employers have reassured university leavers that jobs are available, just maybe not in the UK's major cities.
So if you're worried about AI bots taking over entry-level roles, algorithms influencing hiring decisions and being lost in the multi-stage interview process, here's what you can do to help land your first job.
Build experience
Hard as it is, employers aren't just looking for a degree anymore—they want evidence you can do the job and want to see what else you can offer them.
What to do:
• Look for internships and work placements. Many short-term internships are paid, offering industry insight and credible experience. Summer internships, spring weeks, or year-in-industry placements also dramatically improve your employability.
• Consider part-time work that demonstrates transferable skills while you job search. Retail, hospitality, tutoring, or customer service roles demonstrate that you can communicate, handle pressure, work in teams, and take on responsibility. Don't underestimate these on your CV, especially if you're currently waiting for interviews or the right job to appear.
• Volunteer, as this also demonstrates initiative and responsibility. Choose opportunities that build relevant skills—event organisation, mentoring, charity work, or roles requiring problem-solving and leadership.
Tailor your applications
Generic applications get rejected. Hiring managers can spot a copy-paste or ChatGPT cover letter immediately.
What to do:
• Research the company thoroughly—know their values, recent news, competitors, and challenges.
• Use keywords from the job description in your CV and cover letter, and show how your skills cover this.
• Tailor specific examples of how your experience matches their requirements.
• Explain why you want this job at this company, not just any job.
Use LinkedIn properly
Nearly 80% of students in the Cibyl UK Graduate Survey (67,688 surveyed) said they use LinkedIn for career-related purposes. Contrary to popular belief, LinkedIn isn't just an online CV - it's a tool to build your personal brand, grow your network, and present yourself professionally to employers and recruiters.
What to do:
• Create a professional profile, connect with peers, lecturers, and professionals in your field.
• Promote your work experience in your summary and within your profile.
• Engage every few days with industry content. Share and comment on relevant articles.
• Contact professionals in your field to learn about their career paths.
• Set up job alerts and the tab 'open for work'.
• Sign up for LinkedIn free courses and webinars.
Develop skills employers want
The Cibyl Graduate Research UK survey reveals the 300 most popular employers in the UK, as voted for by students and graduates, and found that.
Employers are shifting towards hiring based on a candidate's skills rather than just their degree subject. The big takeaway from LinkedIn's Workplace Learning Report 2025, titled The Rise of Career Champions, also makes a compelling case for career development for everyone.
What to do:
As well as your academic credentials, certain skills make you significantly more employable:
• Digital literacy: In addition to Microsoft Office, include data analysis basics (Excel, Google Analytics), project management tools (Asana, Trello), or industry-specific software
• Problem-solving and critical thinking: Employers value people who can analyse situations and propose solutions, not just follow instructions.
• Adaptability: The ability to learn quickly and handle changing priorities is increasingly important in fast-moving industries.
• Consider business tutoring for all of the above, online courses and build credentials in these areas. Certificates look good on CVs and demonstrate initiative.
Apply broadly and be open-minded
Don't be too rigid about your "dream job. Your first role is a stepping-stone, not your entire career.
What to do:
• Apply to graduate schemes in adjacent industries to your ideal sector
• Look at smaller companies or start-ups, where you'll gain varied experience quickly
• Consider locations you hadn't initially considered; moving could be the breakthrough you need.
• Further study, such as a master's degree, professional qualification, or vocational training, can open doors.
• Degree apprenticeships and higher-level apprenticeships offer a chance to earn-while-you-learn with good progression prospects.
• Freelancing: If you have marketable skills (writing, design, coding, marketing), freelancing builds experience and income while you search for permanent roles.
Don't be scared of using AI as a tool
The key with AI is to use it as a tool to craft and guide, not as a replacement for your voice.
Where AI can help:
• AI tools can help you tailor your CV to job descriptions, identify keywords, and draft initial cover letters—but always personalise the ideas and craft them into your own voice with your own insights.
• Interview preparation: AI can generate practice interview questions based on job descriptions, help you structure answers, or simulate interviews.
• Job matching: LinkedIn, Indeed, and specialised platforms use AI to suggest relevant roles based on your profile and search history. This can give you opportunities you might have missed.
• Networking insights: LinkedIn's AI suggests connections, identifies mutual contacts, and recommends whom to reach out to at target companies.
• Skill gap analysis: Some AI tools analyse job requirements against your experience and suggest skills worth developing or courses to take.