How to Get Your First Job After University (Without Experience)
Quick answer: apply to fewer role types with better evidence. Choose three target titles, convert projects and part-time work into achievement bullets, apply within days of a posting going live, and treat assessment centres as a skill you rehearse.
Pick three target roles, not thirty
Graduate applications fail on scatter. Choose three role families where your degree, projects and part-time work all point the same way. Everything else — resume wording, portfolio, interview stories — becomes easier once the target is fixed.
Turn what you have into evidence
'No experience' usually means 'unstructured experience'. Coursework, society roles, freelance work and part-time jobs all produce results you can quantify.
- Final-year project: scope, method, result, tools used
- Society or club role: budget managed, events run, people coordinated
- Part-time job: throughput, accuracy, customer volume, training given
- Self-directed work: a small portfolio artefact anyone can open in 30 seconds
Handling the experience requirement
Most 'two years required' entry roles hire candidates who demonstrate the underlying skill. Apply anyway if you meet roughly 60% of the listed requirements, and use the cover letter to close the gap with proof rather than apology.
Assessment centres and graduate schemes
Structured processes reward rehearsal more than raw talent.
- Practise numerical and situational judgement tests before the real one
- In group exercises, be the person who summarises and keeps time
- Prepare six STAR stories that can be reused across competencies
- Apply on day one of the intake window — many schemes close early when full
Build a weekly rhythm
Applications on Monday, practice on Wednesday, follow-ups and networking on Friday. Consistency beats bursts, and automation keeps the volume steady while you focus on interviews.
Frequently asked questions
How many graduate jobs should I apply to?
Around 10–20 well-targeted applications a week during peak season, concentrated in your three chosen role families.
Do grades still matter?
Some schemes still filter on them, most do not. Where grades are weaker, lead with a portfolio artefact and measurable results.
Are internships required?
No. Freelance projects, society leadership and a visible portfolio can carry equivalent weight when described with outcomes.