Graduate Careers: Essential Employment Resources for Students | uni-uk.ai Blog
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Graduate Careers: Essential Employment Resources for Students Planning life after university? Discover the best career resources, employment statistics, and professional guidance to launch your graduate career successfully.
Graduate Careers: Essential Employment Resources for Students What happens after graduation matters. These resources help you understand career prospects and plan your professional future.
Prospects: The Graduate Careers Expert Website: www.prospects.ac.uk
Prospects is the UK's leading graduate careers service, offering:
Career Planning Tools What can I do with my degree? : Explore careers for every subjectJob profiles : Detailed information on hundreds of careersSkills assessments : Understand your strengthsSector guides : Industry-specific adviceJob Search Graduate job listings Internship opportunities Work experience placements Employer profiles Career Advice CV and cover letter guidance Interview preparation Assessment centre tips Networking strategies Luminate: Labour Market Intelligence Website: luminate.prospects.ac.uk
For data-driven career planning, Luminate provides:
What Graduates Do Employment outcomes by degree subject Salary data by sector and region Further study trends Self-employment statistics Labour Market Information Growing industries and sectors Skills in demand Find your perfect UK university Use our AI-powered search to discover universities that match your interests and goals.
Regional job markets
Future trends
Use It To
Understand career options for your subject
Set realistic salary expectations
Identify growth sectors
Research specific occupations
HECSU Graduate Statistics The Higher Education Careers Services Unit publishes detailed employment statistics:
Data Includes
Graduate employment rates by university
Salaries by degree and institution
Employment types (graduate-level vs other)
Further study rates
Why It Matters
Compare universities by graduate outcomes
Understand which degrees lead to specific careers
Set realistic expectations for your field
National Careers Service Website: nationalcareers.service.gov.uk
Government-backed career guidance offering:
Services
Skills Health Check : Assess your abilities
Explore Careers : Browse 800+ job profiles
Find a Course : Training and education options
CV Builder : Free CV creation tool
Personal Advice
Free careers advice helpline
Webchat support
Local advice in person
Use For
Understanding qualifications needed
Career change planning
Identifying skills gaps
Finding training opportunities
Understanding Graduate Employment Data
Key Metrics Graduate Employment Rate : Percentage in work 15 months after graduation
Graduate-Level Employment : Jobs requiring a degree - the more meaningful statistic
Average Salary : Varies hugely by subject, institution, and location
What Good Looks Like
Graduate employment rate: 85%+ is strong
Graduate-level employment: 75%+ is good
Average salary: Depends on field (check sector-specific data)
Career Planning by Degree Subject
High Employment Fields Medicine/Dentistry : Near 100% employment, clear career path
Nursing : Strong demand, NHS pathways
Engineering : 80%+ graduate employment, good salaries
Computer Science : Strong demand, varied opportunities
Fields Requiring Planning Arts/Humanities : Diverse careers, may need work experience
Social Sciences : Many paths, graduate schemes popular
Languages : Varied outcomes, often combined with other skills
Media/Creative : Competitive, portfolio matters more than degree
Making Yourself Employable
While at University
Get experience : Internships, placements, part-time work
Develop skills : Technical and soft skills employers want
Build networks : Alumni, industry contacts, LinkedIn
Join societies : Leadership and teamwork opportunities
Consider a year in industry : Dramatically improves prospects
Graduate Schemes Many large employers offer structured graduate programmes:
Duration : Usually 2-3 years
Rotations : Experience different departments
Training : Formal development programmes
Salary : Typically £25,000-45,000 to start
Application : Often opens autumn, year before start
Alternatives to Graduate Schemes
SME roles : More responsibility, faster progression
Startups : Dynamic environment, equity potential
Further study : Masters, PhD, professional qualifications
Self-employment : Freelancing, starting a business
Gap year : Travel, volunteering, work experience
Using Your Careers Service Every university has a careers service. They offer:
Services
One-to-one advice appointments
CV reviews and feedback
Interview practice
Employer events and fairs
Job vacancy listings
Skills workshops
When to Use Them
First year : Explore options, plan experiences
Second year : Secure internships, develop skills
Final year : Apply for graduate roles
After graduation : Many services help alumni too
Online Presence
LinkedIn Essential for graduate job hunting:
Professional profile with photo
Detailed education and experience
Skills endorsements
Network with professionals
Follow companies of interest
Portfolio Sites
Showcase your best work
Keep it updated
Include project descriptions
Make it easy to navigate
Clean Up Social Media
Privacy settings review
Remove inappropriate content
Professional profile pictures
Consistent personal brand
The Graduate Job Timeline
Second Year
Research careers of interest
Apply for summer internships
Attend careers fairs
Build skills through activities
Summer Before Final Year
Internship if possible
Research graduate schemes
Update CV
Autumn of Final Year
Graduate scheme applications open
Prepare for assessment centres
Network at events
Spring of Final Year
Continue applications
Interview preparation
Consider alternatives
After Graduation
Graduate roles continue to recruit
Don't panic if nothing secured
Use careers service support Your career doesn't have to be planned perfectly. Use these resources to explore options, but stay open to opportunities that arise.
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