It feels like the job market has never been as hard on graduates as it is today. Technological innovations like AI, skyrocketing business costs, like hikes in minimum wage and national insurance, and more competition amongst graduates, have all contributed to the great graduate job drought we see today.
Since there are fewer roles on the market, lots of graduates will need to choose their careers wisely to find something that’s a good fit for them, pays fairly, offers consistent opportunities for progression, and is accessible in the first place.
With graduate unemployment at a record high, there are likely many who have retreated and are looking to build a strategy that asks one simple question: Which entry-level role can give me the career that I want? If you fall into this category, then look no further. In this article, we’ve put together a guide to the entry-level jobs in the UK that can be the best possible springboard for a successful career.
Teaching
The UK needs teachers. Right now, lots of schools, but particularly secondary schools, are understaffed and in dire need of new voices, ideas, and leaders who can help realise the potential within the next generation of students.
If you’re considering an entry-level teaching job, you can expect to have your own classroom within a year, with regular opportunities for progression in either teaching and learning or pastoral positions within the school, either of which could develop you into a school leader in the medium-long term. On top of that, the profession sees regular salary uplifts, typically year-on-year.
Teaching is more accessible than most people think. The most typical route tends to be a degree in a chosen field, followed up by another year of postgraduate study, where students earn their PGCE (Postgraduate Certificate of Education). But the profession is also accessible by a Degree in Education, usually in either Primary Education or Secondary Education.
Even if you don’t have a degree, you can become a teacher by taking a Teacher Degree Apprenticeship (TDA). This takes roughly 3-4 years to complete, and involves working in classrooms while studying – all without the headache of tuition fees. All respectable teaching qualifications give students QTS, or qualified teacher status, meaning they’re legally qualified to teach in formal education settings.
Paralegal
The world of law is far-reaching and attractive, with a seemingly endless number of niches that prospective candidates can work within, all while earning good money. But how do Paralegals fit in?
Well, they support Lawyers (Solicitors or Barristers) by drafting legal documents, conducting legal research, and organising and maintaining important case files. The jobs themselves are in fairly high demand – they can’t be replaced by AI, and no matter how high business costs may be, Paralegals will always be needed by firms.
The work itself is extremely varied, depending on the industry that the individual operates in. One Paralegal could support with a psychological injuries claim at an established firm like Bond Turner, while another is playing a hands-on role with a major television production company on a copyright infringement case.
The job pays rather well – above the standard minimum wage of most private sector entry-level roles, and also has a variety of potential promotional routes as the career progresses. As Paralegals start working in senior positions, they manage more complex case loads and work with much more autonomy, all while being responsible for their own team of junior Paralegals.
Another popular path is to become a Chartered Legal Executive, as it effectively gives a Paralegal the role of a lawyer, just with a smaller remit in which they can operate. Finally, if Paralegals take the SQE – the Solicitors Qualifying Examination – they can become a fully-fledged Solicitor in their own right.
Digital Marketing Specialist
Marketing is a broad industry, full of accessible junior positions that can offer those with a more creative mindset the possibility of a secure, long-term career. There are lots of different places to start: organic social, paid social, SEO, email marketing, the list goes on. Furthermore, all of these roles can come about in all sorts of different industries, like fashion, healthcare, and sport, just to name a few.
You can also consider whether you’d prefer to work as part of a business’ internal marketing team or at an agency that works with lots of different clients from a variety of industries. Internal digital marketing specialists (also known as working on the client side) tend to support with content creation for social media accounts, website optimisation (for SEO purposes), and with digital paid media campaigns. In agencies, the work is often more specialised, with members of the team having clear-cut roles that service clients specifically in their area of expertise.
As for the qualifications you’d need for a role like this, well, marketing doesn’t really have any essential requirements. Much of it depends on the wants and needs of the employers themselves. Many of them will recognise that, for a junior position, there’s plenty of training required either way, so a degree in marketing, for instance, wouldn’t guarantee you the job. But it wouldn’t hurt. Employers may also value degrees in English, Communications, or Business, as they provide solid foundations for the profession.
If it’s longevity you’re looking for, then digital marketing can give you just that, if you’re willing to commit the time. If you manage to rise through the ranks of an internal marketing team or an agency, then it’s likely that you’ll eventually end up in a director-level position. These roles focus on developing long-term strategies that can sometimes take years to roll out.
Similarly, consultancy roles are an option for anyone who’s been working in the sector for a long time who want to work for themselves. They usually involve short-term contract work with businesses, where the consultant identifies areas for development and strategies to overcome those challenges.
Final Thoughts
It’s only natural for graduates who’ve been hit by this unemployment crisis to feel like they’re in limbo. For many, it’s the first time they’ve ever been lifted off the educational conveyor belt and forced to answer an important question: What now?
Well, we hope that this guide has helped to inform you on some of the more promising career options out there, and can help you to choose the path that’s right for you.