Archive Website of the UK government

Getting into the world of work

A full-time job isn’t the only way to start your career. There are lots of other routes into the world of work, so it’s worth considering other options too.

A placement, internship, volunteering opportunity or part-time work can help develop your practical skills – complementing your qualifications and enhancing your employability.

Whichever opportunity you’re interested in, it’s a good idea to treat your applications like an application for a permanent job. Much of the advice on this page applies whether you’re looking for a graduate job or a placement.

To find out more about how placements work, see ‘Graduate placements and internships’.

• Graduate placements and internships

• Volunteering (home and community section)

Finding a job

Your university or college careers service is an excellent source of information on vacancies, including graduate training schemes. You can also find out about opportunities at graduate careers fairs. These take place across the country, usually from June through to the autumn.

Graduate vacancies can become available all year round. However, many companies advertise in the autumn (with closing dates often around December/January). Smaller employers often advertise from May onwards.

• Prospects: get in touch with your university careers service Opens new window

• Find out more about careers fairs Opens new window

Expanding your job search

As well as checking newspapers and websites, it can pay to make ‘speculative’ applications to organisations.

If you’ve made contacts in the area of work you’re aiming at (for example, through a work placement), get in touch. Even if they don’t know of any vacancies now, you can ask them to keep their eyes open.

University networking events are another way of making contacts. You can find out about them through your university or college’s alumni association.

There are also a number of graduate recruitment websites that advertise jobs and placements in specific parts of the UK:

North of England

• Graduates Yorkshire - graduate jobs and placements Opens new window

East of England

• GradsEast: graduate recruitment in the East of England Opens new window

Midlands

• Grad Central: graduate jobs in the West Midlands Opens new window

• Graduate Advantage: student and graduate placements in the West Midlands Opens new window

• Hot Prospects: graduate jobs and internships in the East Midlands Opens new window

South of England

• Gradsouthwest: graduate opportunities in the South West of England Opens new window

• Graduate Jobs South: jobs and placements in the South of England Opens new window

• Mayor of London site: jobs and placements for graduates Opens new window

Applying for a job or placement

To give yourself the best chance of success, your application should stand out from the crowd. Even if you’ve got top class qualifications, it’s important to demonstrate qualities that employers value - like enthusiasm and attention to detail. So be prepared to tailor your applications to the position and organisation you’re applying to.

There are many websites with advice on CVs and applications, and preparing for interviews. Cross & Stitch and Prospects are just two of them.

You can find out what to expect when applying for graduate jobs in particular industries on the WikiJob site - and share your own experiences.

• Help and advice when applying for a job (employment section)

• Prospects: graduate jobs and work Opens new window

• WikiJob Opens new window

If at first you don’t succeed

If you’re having difficulty getting the job or placement you want, you could consider taking a lower-level position in the same field. This will show potential employers that you’re serious about building a career in their industry, and could open up other opportunities. Be prepared to be asked whether you’re overqualified, though.

You could also consider applying for temporary administrative work. However, there’s likely to be lots of competition, so you may have to consider other options. The more flexible you can be, the better your chances of finding work.

Jobcentre Plus

If you don’t find work straight away, you can get help and advice from Jobcentre Plus.

While you search for work, you may also be entitled to claim benefits like Jobseeker’s Allowance.

• Looking for work (employment section)

• Benefits and help when looking for work (money, tax and benefits section)

• Contact Jobcentre Plus

Starting a job or placement

Pay

If you’re starting a job, the salary you’ve agreed with your employer will be stated in your employment contract.

If you’re on a placement or internship, some are paid, others are not. See ‘Graduate placements and internships’ to find out more.

• Graduate placements and internships

• Being paid and payslips (employment section)

• Workers entitled to the national minimum wage (employment section)

Other rights and responsibilities

It’s important to be aware of rights and responsibilities at work – yours, your colleagues’ and your employer’s. You can get detailed information about these from your employer’s human resources department. In smaller organisations, you may need to speak to your manager.

You should act responsibly and not do anything that puts yourself, colleagues or members of the public at risk. You should also make sure you understand and follow the company’s health and safety policies.

You should also be aware that everyone in the workplace has the right to be treated fairly, and judged solely on their skills and abilities. There are laws about discrimination on a number of grounds, including race, age, disability, gender and sexuality.

If you’re on a placement, it’s a good rule of thumb to behave as you would if you were a permanent employee.

See Cross & Stitch’s employment section for more on rights and responsibilities at work – including pay, working hours, equal opportunities, health and safety, joining a union and how to resolve problems.

• Employment section

More useful links

• Opportunities for graduates in Northern Ireland Opens new window

• Graduate careers in Scotland Opens new window

• Go Wales - jobs and work experience for graduates in Wales Opens new window

• Download a guide to employability for black, Asian and minority ethnic students and graduates (PDF, 614K)

Useful contacts

• Graduate Prospects

• Universities and Colleges Admission Service (UCAS)

• Universities and higher education contacts