There are many reasons why this could be. To start, check the ‘Where can I search for jobs’ box on our Graduate jobs page to make sure you’re looking in the right places. If you’re still having no luck, stop and think why that might be. Are you:

• looking on the wrong job sites? Websites like Indeed pull together job adverts from across the internet, but there can be so much there that it’s really difficult to find exactly what you’re looking for. Instead, try searching job sites that specialise in vacancies for the sector or type of work you want to do. You can find sector-specific websites on our job sector pages and on the job profiles on the Prospects website.
• searching using the wrong words? Quite often a job might not have the title that you expect. Try browsing LinkedIn or York Profiles & Mentors to get an idea of what job titles people actually have.
• looking for jobs usually found through the hidden job market or via recruitment agencies? Many jobs are never formally advertised which is why networking and sending speculative applications can be an important part of your job search. Some jobs - especially in the sciences - are often advertised using specialist recruitment agencies, so you may not find them on general job sites. Read more about recruitment agencies and science recruitment agencies.
• searching for jobs in the wrong location? Demand for jobs varies across a country. For example, in the UK you will find a lot of jobs in the publishing industry in London but comparatively fewer elsewhere, and you’ll find more science and research focused jobs near university cities compared to elsewhere. Read more about labour market information and how it can help you in your job search.

If you’re not sure what to do next, talk to us at a drop-in or book an appointment. Find out more about our appointments.

It’s true that work experience is important and if you have nothing at all to put on your CV, you might find it difficult to get the graduate job you want. But it’s unusual for someone to have nothing to put on their CV. To start with, read our advice about writing a CV when you have little or no experience. You'll probably find you have more than you first thought.

If you know that you need more experience, then arrange some! It’s never too late to start networking or arranging job shadowing. Getting work experience isn’t something that stops after you graduate. If you can’t get the job you really want, think about what you need to get there and make a plan. That could mean applying for a lower level position and building up additional experience in your free time.

We can help you think about these things. Read more about our appointments.

That’s probably not true. While there are early deadlines for many graduate schemes, the same isn’t true for the vast majority of other jobs that graduates go into. Read more about the timescales for applying for jobs and find out about the difference between graduate schemes and graduate jobs.

If you are certain that you want to apply for a specific grad scheme and the deadline has passed, you may have missed it for this year, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t apply next year and spend your time until then working in another graduate job or combining part-time work with gaining work experience so you are ready to put in a strong application in the future.

We can help you think about your next steps, so talk to us.