Written by Dr Kay Barbour, Careers Consultant
As the dust starts to settle on your framed degree certificate (yay! congratulations!!) and your graduation ceremony becomes another treasured Edinburgh memory, the big question for many is: What now?
If you’ve graduated this summer, you’re stepping into a graduate job market full of opportunities – and challenges. While employment rates remain relatively strong in some areas, sectors are shifting rapidly due to economic pressures, the impact of AI and evolving workplace expectations. But don’t panic – there’s plenty you can do right now to give yourself a solid start.
Understand the graduate market
The UK job market in 2025 continues to reflect post-pandemic recalibrations. Hybrid working is now standard across many sectors, although graduate starts might be expected to have more office time and there’s an increasing emphasis on digital skills – even in non-tech roles. Sectors such as finance, tech, green energy, logistics and AI-driven industries are experiencing notable growth, while traditional corporate schemes continue to be super competitive. Use MyCareerHub and our careers sectors info to get a grip on how your marketplace is looking.
Start early, but be flexible
If you haven’t secured a job yet, don’t stress – it honestly is the norm. Only a minority of students walk straight from McEwan Hall into their full-time perfect graduate role. The key is to start actively exploring, researching and strategising – but not panic-applying to every job out there. Use this time to reflect on your skills, interests and career goals. And it’s ok if these are still evolving. Use Career Planner to give you some direction or tap into some of the self-awareness tools on Careers Service Plus.
Set weekly application targets and customise your CV and cover letters for each opportunity. Companies often hire on rolling deadlines, so staying proactive will open more doors.
Tap into your University of Edinburgh Career Service
Your Careers Service support doesn’t disappear the moment you graduate. The University of Edinburgh Careers Service is open all summer – you can use us for a further two years to support you through the highs and lows of the graduate job search. Get some feedback on your profile and presentation, feel the fear and succumb to a practice interview (with added coaching tips), ping your questions through MyCareerHub or talk plans through with a Careers Consultant to get a strategy in place for your own particular situation.
Reach out now, just 15 or 30 minutes with a careers professional could completely refocus your job hunt.
Build a strategic online presence
Employers will Google you and check out your online profiles. Make sure what they find helps your case. Update your LinkedIn profile with your degree, achievements and any internships, project or volunteer work. Everything counts!
Posting thoughtful content – even just now and then – about your field or job search can help you stand out and show initiative. It also subtly signals to recruiters that you’re engaged and motivated. Meanwhile, start following companies and industry voices you are interested in and continue your research and networking digitally.
Stay grounded: It’s OK to take a breather
It’s tempting to jump into job hunting at full throttle, but burnout in the first few weeks can derail your motivation. If you need a few weeks post-graduation to rest, that’s valid. What matters is how you plan your time from that point on.
Structure your job search like a part-time job: a few hours a day of targeted applications, networking and upskilling can yield better results than frantic all-nighters (now you know that one is true, don’t you?)
Upskill where it counts
Short online courses can give you a competitive edge. They can corroborate a stated interest or plug a gap in your CV. Platforms like edX, FutureLearn, Coursera, Duolingo and OpenCulture are good places to start, often with levels of free access. A free LinkedIn Learning account – with access to 1000s of courses – is available for UoE graduates for six months after graduation. Focus on in-demand areas like AI, Excel, data literacy, project management, digital marketing or basic coding. Use Forage to find free online bite size internships and job simulations from top employers. The learning never stops!
Final thoughts
Graduation marks a fantastic achievement and a big transition. With change comes some uncertainty but lots of possibility. Be kind to yourself, seek support and stay adaptable and open to new opportunities. The UK job market may be evolving, but so are you and the future’s bright!
