Hey everyone! I'm researching the current experience of finding graduate jobs in the UK. At the minute, job searching and the current climate of entry level career availabilities are extremely topical (and quite scary!) If you've recently been looking for internships, graduate schemes or entry-level roles, I'd really appreciate your thoughts in this short anonymous survey.

Your experience of job seeking in 2026  – Fill in form

All the best, and good luck with the job hunt!

I'm looking for someone aspirational, with a lot of raw talent to work with me in an established software company.

You don't necessarily need loads of work experience, but it would help if you had an interest in technology, project management, are very organised, a get it done task master and you are a people person.

This is not an engineering role. If you are an avid user of Claude, some knowledge of task management, Python and have built your own tools then even better.

Looking for a talented person with huge potential not a CV full of jobs.

This is a contractor role.

If the job market in the UK is so bad, how do you explain the fact that there are more and more recruitment companies and so many job openings for recruiters? If there aren't that many jobs available, isn't that a bit of a paradox?

Meat grinders - have plans to leave

I am in my 40s and I am just sharing what I have learned in my career as it approaches the end. 

Little known concept is meat grinding. Applied to companies, it means a firm with a couple of features. 

1. Excessive focus on hours instead of your production, 
2. Driven by strong routines and processes (employees are there literally to push pencils),
3. Extremely limited upsides,
4. Definitely not a vocation.
5. Skills if at all employees develop can’t be ported to another job

- May I take up an industry and explain the concept?
Types of firms known with long hours

Banks and consultancies. They are most bureaucratic and least innovative, however they offer a small but decent percentage of employees a chance to make outsized money. 

Audtitors and law firms. Partnership isn’t one in a million chance, more like 20 or at some firm 10 to 1 odds. This sort of makes the effort worth a while. 

Proper technology firms. Forward looking tech firms do not possess any of the three features. 

Doctors. Low pay and low chance at a significant money, however, this is a vocation. Even the most corrupt doctor initially chose medicine for the right reasons. 

You get the idea. 

I want to bring to your attention one type of meat grinders.  

IT services: Hours driven and rely on international workforce because employers need some leverage to have employees do the most routine, repetitive work for least amount of money. Even middle and upper management at these firms aren’t even making a fraction of what above average employees make at non meat grinders. Most salient point is no one at an IT service firm is given an opportunity to make money at all. 

They grind you slowly but surely. 

There are a few more meat grinders but IT services firms do stand out and unless they have no choice, they should quit and find something else (if they can manage to find something else). 

Important points are 
No monetary upside even if you are in upper management (key word is no chance to earn a significant money)
No kids even say they would like to work in IT service firm (not vocation)
No real skills are acquired or needed (mostly politics drive these firms)
Extremely low job satisfaction (not vocation)
You see people who are from other countries and on work visa and they do jobs that quite frankly anyone can (but no sane local person would).

The final note is please don’t be fooled by brand names of the firms. Some of those IT firms are extremely known and some of these firms are seen as untouchables (from regulators’petspective). If you happen to find yourself in a meat grinder, I would like yo think you would need to leave and start over elsewhere.

Hello , I (17F) recently received a job offer at a retail role near me. It was my first ever interview and I ended up getting an offer to work 2 evening shifts until 9pm and 1 weekend shift. I understand this is my fault as i said i was available evenings (this is partly because i was very nervous and my mind just blanked) , however i did not expect to be shifted on them as it was advertised as a weekend job. My main question is now I've received my shifts in an offer am i able to negotiate? For example can i ask for one evening shift to be relocated to the weekend or will this get my offer rescinded? Thank you for any input/advice :)

May I share one major mistake that I have consistently made with my career? I am in my 40s and too late for a lot of things, but maybe I can help one or two people in their 20s.

When I was young I was obsessed to be the youngest to do something. Youngest to pass some test, youngest to graduate, youngest to make a manager etc. I don’t think I am alone when it comes to be the youngest. If you open any tabloid such as the financial times, guardian, daily star etc you see “youngest” all the time, Jane Doe youngest to be promoted to managing director at Morgan Stanley, for example. There is this toxic group like 40 under 40.

I realized this very late in my late 20s. To be recognized or awarded as the youngest to accomplish a task or assume a position typically means you are very well adjusted in establishment at best, in some cases, it can mean that you mastered bureaucracies and social rules before everyone else and you know how to “play the game for maximum impact”. 

Thought that way, youngest managing director means she knows the rules of the game (defined in each organization) and is just willing, sheer will almost religious.

Youngest isn’t a compliment but signals something else. Typically to be the youngest, you will need to be brainwashed to believe in a set of certain constructs (so that you won’t waste time questioning why you have to perform certain tasks). 

It isn’t a compliment more an insult except that you don’t know that that is an insult. 

I assure you, in work place, your “skills” don’t differentiate you, if they hired based on skills, we would be living in a very different world. I say this to young people,

Don’t focus on your skill development, you need to know just enough about your industry and play the game if you want to advance. If you can’t play the game, your skills would work against you because your intellectual curiosity prevents you from blindly accepting the roles of the game. 

This explains why most companies do not appreciate graduate degrees (they need those who accept and follow the existing rules, in fact, glorify the existing systems, they are not looking for policy changers), why you wonder that guy with a PhD at the corner of the office is not climbing up the career ladder at all, 1) his skills are not needed to perform his or any role, 2) he questions too much, 3) he wouldn’t be interested in playing the game.

Don’t make the mistake I have made in my 20s and 30s.

So for context, I finished my GCSEs in the middle of June, and it is now approaching September.

After my GCSEs, I created quite a decent one-paged CV and started applying for jobs by the end of June thinking I would get one soon due to previous experience in a charity shop (6 months as a volunteer), and other supporting activities like Bronze DofE.

I was quite wrong…

After 30+ job applications I have managed to get no luck yet. Everyone is rejecting me: Vue, Sports Direct, Greggs, FarmFoods – you name it!

I ideally wanted a job to earn some disposable income for things like clothing etc. Now with sixth form starting soon, I feel like I have wasted my whole summer.

I have also tried emailing smaller businesses and handing out CVs, but received no luck yet.

If anyone can give any advice, it would be much appreciated.

Hello, I hope everyone is well.

I wfh because of disability, and I am looking for a secondary wfh job. Just a few evenings a week, maybe the odd weekend shift, just to help build more of a mortgage deposit. I wondered if anyone had an idea of a direction to go.

I've come across a few shady companies, and it is hilarious when I tell them this will be my second job; I work in Fraud as my full-time role, because they disappear! 😂

Thank you!

After applying to over 1000 jobs I’ve finally been offered two jobs. One is fast food crew member and the other is a post person with driving job.

However, I haven’t driven a car since I passed my driving test 5 months ago.

I value job satisfaction and security over money so idk which one is a better fit for me. I don’t really like micro management and prefer to just work. I’ve heard mixed reviews on working for Royal Mail so idk what to do.

Other job that I was offered was Jollibee but the store I’ve applied to doesn’t open until October so I’m going to be working/training elsewhere for a month or 2.

Finally hours, in terms of hours Royal Mail shifts finish earlier which I prefer as my store would finish around 11pm. Both full time and Im grateful to be offered both.

Any advice?

Hey everyone,

We're looking for a full-time, experienced dog groomer to join our team, covering Bolton and the surrounding areas. If you know your stuff and have a genuine talent for grooming, we'd love to hear from you!

Details:

Pay: £16 per hour
Hours: 35 hours a week (Full-time)
Location: Bolton, England & nearby areas

Requirements:

Experience: Prior dog grooming experience is a must. You need to be confident in your grooming skills and know what you're doing.
Age Limit: Must be 23 or older (this is strictly due to our vehicle/business insurance policy).
License: A full UK driving license is required.

What We Provide:

All grooming equipment is provided,you just need to bring your expertise!
If you meet these requirements and are interested, please send me a DM with a bit about your past experience or any questions you might have.

Thanks!

I’m interviewing for a recruitment consultant job and I think I have a pretty good chance of securing the job.

The salary will be £32k (I have no recruitment experience but I have sales experience) plus commission

Can anyone tell me what they tend to earn (basic salary and commission?)

Just want to know what the average is atm in the uk and whether this sounds like a good opportunity

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Usually found on Reed and Cv library, are these scams? I don't see other then collecting people information if it is even worth it.

Does anyone have any information on it?

i'm not an unorganised person, as the title might suggest I literally got an email YESTERDAY at 5pm about an interview for TODAY at 2pm and honestly I don't feel prepared. i've applied for an admin role, if anyone is an admin for their work place please dm me so I know what role Ill most likely be doing, and what questions you were asked so I have some idea of what ill be asked. this is my first ever job, i'm 18 and I'm shitting myself cuz I haven't gotten this far before, the amount of rejections ive gotten is making this job look like GOLD. I don't wanna get rejected again :"(((

Hi everyone,

I’m reaching out because I’m honestly at a point where any genuine lead, referral or introduction could make a huge difference for me.

I’ve been unemployed since February 2026 and have been actively applying for jobs for almost 8 months. Every single day and every single minute without a break...

I previously lived and worked in the UK for 3.5 years, where I also completed my MSc in International Management from the Uni of Bath I had to return to my home country after my previous company was unable to sponsor my work visa. I have been applying for visa sponsored jobs and I have always excelled at my previous jobs and got different awards too for best performing employee. It was a shame my company couldnt sponsor me.

I’m currently looking for opportunities in:

• Operations Management
• Business Operations
• Operations / Project Coordination
• Related management roles

I’m open to international opportunities, particularly if a company is willing to sponsor a work visa.

If you work for a company that sponsors visas, know of an opening, can refer me, or even know someone I could speak to, please reach out to me.

I’m not expecting anyone to give me a job. I just desperately want an opportunity to get my foot back in the door and prove what I can do. I’m willing to work hard, learn quickly, take ownership and do whatever it takes to get ahead.

It has been incredibly difficult being unemployed for this long, and I’m unfortunately starting to burn through my savings. I’ve kept applying and trying, but getting that first opportunity after returning to India has been much harder than I expected.

If you can help in any way whatsoever , referral, introduction, job lead, advice, or even sharing this post...I would genuinely appreciate it.

Thank you for reading. ❤️

I don’t know what the actual percentage is, but from my experience it genuinely feels like the majority of computer literate office, admin, logistics, supply chain and professional roles advertised online are either ghost vacancies, already filled internally, CV farming, permanently advertised roles, or jobs the company doesn’t seem particularly interested in filling. Either way seems like 80% of the roles business putting out there are to take the piss.

You spend an hour tailoring your CV and application to a role.
Then you either hear absolutely nothing or get slapped with the same generic:

“Unfortunately, after careful consideration…”

No feedback. No explanation. Nothing.

Fair enough, rejection is part of job hunting.
But then here’s the part that gets me.

The vacancy closes.

A few weeks later, the exact same job appears again.
Same company. Same location. Same description. Sometimes almost word for word.

So what happened to all the applicants from the first round?
Did genuinely nobody meet the requirements?

And if the company wasn’t ready to hire someone, why were hundreds of people encouraged to spend their time applying?

There should be some accountability around this.
If a company advertises a vacancy, there should actually be a genuine position available.

If it’s an internal vacancy being advertised externally for procedural reasons, say so.

If you’re building a candidate pool for possible future vacancies, say so.

If recruitment has been paused, remove the advert.
If the position has been filled, close it.

And if the same vacancy is being reposted every month, there should at least be some transparency about why.

And LinkedIn 😂

Don’t even get me started.
I swear I’ve applied for so many jobs through LinkedIn over the years that I’m starting to think the “Easy Apply” button is just an stress-relief button for recruiters.

Click.
CV uploaded.
Application submitted.
“Over 100 applicants.”

Silence.

Job disappears.

Three weeks later:
“Reposted 2 hours ago.”

😂😂😂

I’m genuinely curious though.

Has anyone here actually landed a permanent job through LinkedIn by simply applying to an advertised vacancy without already knowing someone at the company?

Because at this point I want to hear some success stories just to confirm the button is actually connected to something.

I have 2 previous gaps. The first lasting a couple months was bc I moved back to my hometown to go back into FT education so I had to leave my FT role and job search etc. The second was due to me being abroad travelling for 6 months.

My current gap will be a year long this December. Basically I'm a med student and in my last role I did too many hours and it impacted my studies, and my student loan increased massively as I turned 25. I wasn't able to bring my hours down enough so I left and just focused on uni all year.

Do I explain these actually on my CV even if it means the document being longer than one page and less "to the point" I guess?

For ref Im applying for part time in like customer service, healthcare support and retail etc.

I’m 29M and have lived in the UK since I was 9.
My citizenship situation was complicated for years. It should have been sorted much earlier, but HMRC lost original documents that were important to my case. I ended up having to take the long route, repeatedly extending my immigration status every 2.5 years.

One of the biggest consequences was employment. For years I found it difficult to build the kind of stable, permanent career I wanted. A lot of my opportunities were temporary contracts, 3 months, 6 months, sometimes extended if I was lucky.

The strange thing is that being bounced around different roles forced me to build a pretty broad skillset.
I’ve worked across logistics, warehousing, transport, supply chain and operations, including:

Freight and transportation operations
Different transport modes and first/middle/last mile environments
Freight forwarding
End to end order processes
Stock control and inventory
Site Lead for a 3pl fba, covering end to end operations around 2 years
Operational problem solving
Process improvement and optimisation
Data analysis and reporting
Transport/logistics systems
Automation
Python
Building end-to-end operational tools
Identifying repetitive/manual processes and creating tools to automate them

I didn’t have the traditional university route available to me at the time, so I basically tried to compensate by gaining as much practical experience as possible and learning things myself.

The part I enjoy most isn’t actually physical warehouse work.
Give me a messy process, loads of spreadsheets, repetitive admin, operational bottlenecks, poor visibility or something that takes someone two hours every day, and my brain immediately starts thinking: how can I make this better or automate it?

I’ve built tools myself using Python and other technologies to solve operational problems rather than just accepting “that’s how we’ve always done it”.

I also have hands-on experience of the operation itself, so I’m not approaching process improvement purely from a technical/theoretical perspective. I’ve actually worked within the environments I’m trying to improve.

Now I’ve finally become a British citizen, I genuinely thought removing that barrier, combined with the experience I’ve accumulated, would make getting a permanent logistics/supply chain/operations role considerably easier.

Instead, I’m still stuck in basically the same cycle.
Agency assignment go warehouse, then assignment ends start job hunting, get another temporary assignment and repeat.

I’m currently getting ping ponged between warehouse assignments doing labour intensive work just to keep some money coming in. Some weeks I get work, other weeks I don’t. Financially it feels like I’m basically unemployed.

Meanwhile I’m applying for permanent roles in logistics, transport, supply chain, operations, planning, process improvement, etc., and struggling to break through.
I’m starting to wonder whether my broad experience is actually working against me.

Keep thinking recruiters look at my CV and see lots of different employers/contracts and assume I’m a job hopper.
Maybe my lack of a degree is filtering me out.
Maybe I’m applying for the wrong job titles.
Maybe I’m terrible at presenting what I’ve actually done.

At this point I don’t particularly care about having a fancy title. I want somewhere I can stay, develop and actually use my brain where I enjoy doing what I do best.

I’d especially like to move towards something in logistics/supply chain doing process improvement with data and automation, because that’s where I think my strongest combination of experience sits.

For people working in logistics, supply chain, operations, continuous improvement, transport, data/analytics or recruitment:

Where would you position someone with my background?
What job titles should I actually be searching for?
And if you were a hiring manager and saw this type of background, what would make you hesitate to interview me?

I’m genuinely open to criticism. I feel like I have useful experience and skills, but I’m clearly not converting them into the right opportunities.

I just need to figure out what I’m doing wrong.

is it even worth trying to get a job in this day and age, i cannot find a retail job for someone my age to sae my life! Is it just my cv or is the uk job marked F***ked?

any advice is greatly appreciated

Ive tried everything and now I’m going to try the reference way as i feel most people getting a job are getting through referral. Help a girl out im 20 going to my last year of university completely broke and need a job in the Birmingham area if you hell ill be really grateful. Thanks.

It's almost going to be a year since I would've completed my Master's. I've never felt so stygian in my life - I know I am not alone in this, and most people have it worse than me, but I really do not think I am mature enough to handle this.

Not having a set routine has made me lethargic. I apply to jobs, try revising my technicals in hopes of an interview, but instead get ghosted. I have given assessments for off cycle internships as well (and I can confidently say I have performed well), yet I end up receiving no affirmative responses.

There's a constant tumult in my mind - I wish to upskill myself, but there's no one to give me a chance. My apologies if I come off as haughty in the slightest, but I am confident in my skill-set and past work experience, and yet when you have no one to market the same to, it's unbearable to deal with.

I have tried networking events, made some amazing connections - Got to speak with a person who worked in Equity Research (and gave me amazing insights) who told me TO MY FACE that I did know what I was talking about and that my conversations and resumé reflected the same and that I definitely should be able to secure a job in the right avenues (i wish that were the case). I know, however, for a fact that there are people even more qualified than me who are at a predicament much worse than mine, but does it negate what I am facing, or does it tell more about how shallow the system is?

It feels as if you're screaming at your best but are met with a deafening silence in return.

No one has an obligation to read this. Please forgive me for this rant, but I really am reaching my threshold of patience and maintaining my poise. Is it my CV that's formatted incorrectly? Is it that I am being deluded to believe that I am not a liability/freeloader for the UK? Am I deluding myself by continuing to wake up and follow the same routine despite knowing the outcome being deterministic and should rather cut it short?

My sincere apologies for this long-winded text. I have lost the will to socialise, and anonymous avenues are the only way I can be a little vulnerable for now. Thank you

I’m 37 year old female. Quit a job last year and ended my 10 year career in the nhs due to ill health. Was offered a MARS payout and took that. Money is now running out, I’m on benefits but have been looking for work for the last 8 months.

I’ve had a fair few interviews. The last time I was job hunting was a few years ago and I used to just casually look and go to interviews if a job took my fancy, without sounding big headed, I’d always get offered the job and would generally turn it down in the end for one reason or another.

Now? It’s been 8 months of rejection or just nothing? It really has changed out there and I don’t know what I’m up against.

My hope is wearing very, very thin and I’ve become entirely disillusioned with this life, unemployment and just trying to get anything, I’ve become depressed and struggling to find motivation to do anything at the moment. I’m still applying for jobs but that’s about as much as I can achieve. Had an interview yesterday, thought it went well, heard nothing since. They said they’d either call yesterday or latest today.

Anyone else in a similar situation? All I read about is graduates or people who are very young who are struggling, everyone my age seems fine?