How To Find Your First Job as a New Graduate

Can’t find a job after uni? Struggling to find a role that’s a good fit for your skills?

University and college courses are great for teaching you all about an expert subject but if there’s one thing no course can prepare you for, it’s finding a job. When you step into the world of work, the only person who can propel you forward is you.

With that said, there are a few common pitfalls people fall into as well as opportunities they don’t realise they have. Today we’d like to discuss both, and help give you a springboard to launch your career from.

More Than a Grade

It’s easy to assume that getting your degree is the be all and end all of getting a job after uni – particularly if you have a good final grade from a prestigious institution. In reality that piece of paper is just the beginning.

If you want to get a good job after graduating from college, you’ll have to prove that you can do the work asked of you and that means having either a great portfolio or some first rate experience.

Of course, that’s not to say don’t apply for entry-level roles without either of those but rather that you should spend as much of your time as possible developing your CV and portfolio to make yourself more appealing to potential employers.

If you’re really struggling to find entry-level roles, consider taking on internships. If it’s appropriate to your field, you might even consider creating something as an example of your skills. You might also take on freelance work as a way of earning money while building up your portfolio (but always make sure to check with your clients before putting any work you do for them in your portfolio).

Where To Find Opportunities

If you’re just scrolling through Indeed and applying for jobs, then it’s time to rethink your approach. In 2025 there are countless avenues for getting yourself in front of potential employers and you should be utilising as many of them as possible.

First and foremost, make yourself a LinkedIn. Employers are always posting opportunities on there and it’s a great place to build a network. Once you’ve done that, make sure to connect with people on there – even if that’s just with friends and family, you never know who might be able to present you with an opportunity.

As for finding roles, you should also try a variety of job websites – both established and new. Established sites can be great because they bring in many employers but they’re also flooded market places. If you can find newer sites, then you have the chance to be part of a smaller pool of talent, potentially helping to nudge you towards the top.

The Benefits of Startups

If you want to make good money out of the gate and you’re not so worried about job security, then startups are absolutely the way to go.

Startup companies – particularly in the tech space – tend to offer higher wages to a smaller pool of talent. That said, they’re less likely to attract people with lots of experience because, ten years into their career, most people are in a position where they need some job security.

If you’re getting your first job after university, then you have the potential to really give your career a boost. Even if that job only lasts a year or two, the work you do for that company will represent invaluable experience later on when you’re searching for a more consistent, stable role.

All told, getting a job at a startup has the potential to increase your earnings by a factor of £10-£20K if you find the right company. And once you’ve had a job at that level, it’ll be even easier to find other well-paid roles.

Now’s The Time to Take Risks

If all that sounds a little worrying to you then remember that now more than ever is the time to take risks. As you go through your career, you’re likely to build up responsibilities. Whether it’s a mortgage on a house, a family, or just your car insurance, most people accumulate more and more reasons to need a stable income. If ever there was a time to experiment and take risks, then it’s now!

So if you’re stressing about how to get a job after university, just remember that your degree is far from the be all and end all of opportunities. It’s a great starting point, but now’s the time to go out and really prove yourself.