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 listingsInternship opportunitiesWork experience placementsEmployer profilesCareer Advice
CV and cover letter guidanceInterview preparationAssessment centre tipsNetworking strategiesLuminate: Labour Market Intelligence
Website: luminate.prospects.ac.uk
For data-driven career planning, Luminate provides:
What Graduates Do
Employment outcomes by degree subjectSalary data by sector and regionFurther study trendsSelf-employment statisticsLabour Market Information
Growing industries and sectorsSkills in demandRegional job marketsFuture trendsUse It To
Understand career options for your subjectSet realistic salary expectationsIdentify growth sectorsResearch specific occupationsHECSU Graduate Statistics
Website: hecsu.ac.uk
The Higher Education Careers Services Unit publishes detailed employment statistics:
Data Includes
Graduate employment rates by universitySalaries by degree and institutionEmployment types (graduate-level vs other)Further study ratesWhy It Matters
HECSU data helps you:
Compare universities by graduate outcomesUnderstand which degrees lead to specific careersSet realistic expectations for your fieldNational Careers Service
Website: nationalcareers.service.gov.uk
Government-backed career guidance offering:
Services
Skills Health Check: Assess your abilitiesExplore Careers: Browse 800+ job profilesFind a Course: Training and education optionsCV Builder: Free CV creation toolPersonal Advice
Free careers advice helplineWebchat supportLocal advice in personUse For
Understanding qualifications neededCareer change planningIdentifying skills gapsFinding training opportunitiesUnderstanding 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 strongGraduate-level employment: 75%+ is goodAverage 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 workDevelop skills: Technical and soft skills employers wantBuild networks: Alumni, industry contacts, LinkedInJoin societies: Leadership and teamwork opportunitiesConsider a year in industry: Dramatically improves prospectsGraduate Schemes
Many large employers offer structured graduate programmes:
Duration: Usually 2-3 yearsRotations: Experience different departmentsTraining: Formal development programmesSalary: Typically £25,000-45,000 to startApplication: Often opens autumn, year before startAlternatives to Graduate Schemes
SME roles: More responsibility, faster progressionStartups: Dynamic environment, equity potentialFurther study: Masters, PhD, professional qualificationsSelf-employment: Freelancing, starting a businessGap year: Travel, volunteering, work experienceUsing Your Careers Service
Every university has a careers service. They offer:
Services
One-to-one advice appointmentsCV reviews and feedbackInterview practiceEmployer events and fairsJob vacancy listingsSkills workshopsWhen to Use Them
First year: Explore options, plan experiencesSecond year: Secure internships, develop skillsFinal year: Apply for graduate rolesAfter graduation: Many services help alumni tooOnline Presence
LinkedIn
Essential for graduate job hunting:
Professional profile with photoDetailed education and experienceSkills endorsementsNetwork with professionalsFollow companies of interestPortfolio Sites
For creative fields:
Showcase your best workKeep it updatedInclude project descriptionsMake it easy to navigateClean Up Social Media
Employers do check:
Privacy settings reviewRemove inappropriate contentProfessional profile picturesConsistent personal brandThe Graduate Job Timeline
Second Year
Research careers of interestApply for summer internshipsAttend careers fairsBuild skills through activitiesSummer Before Final Year
Internship if possibleResearch graduate schemesUpdate CVAutumn of Final Year
Graduate scheme applications openPrepare for assessment centresNetwork at eventsSpring of Final Year
Continue applicationsInterview preparationConsider alternativesAfter Graduation
Graduate roles continue to recruitDon't panic if nothing securedUse careers service supportYour career doesn't have to be planned perfectly. Use these resources to explore options, but stay open to opportunities that arise.