If you have just finished your degree or are close to finishing, you are likely thinking about which jobs you could do with your degree. Whilst some people choose to work in the exact field they studied, graduates should not feel restricted to an industry if they wish to explore other career paths. In this article, we will take a look at jobs that you can do with any degree in the UK and the resources to help you do so.
Most graduate jobs do not require a specific degree subject
Yes, you read that right. Most graduate jobs do not require a specific degree.
In fact, recruiters hire graduates from a broad range of degree disciplines to introduce more diversity to their workforce. It is a little-known fact that graduate jobs can be divided into three typologies, specialists, knowledge architects and communicators.
Think of your degree as an entry pass to the graduate job market
Now that you have your degree, the graduate job market will open up for you.
Most graduate jobs and graduate schemes ask for a minimum of a 2:1 degree in any subject. The academic requirements will vary across companies. So do not despair if you achieved a 2:2. However, simply having a degree does not guarantee you a graduate job. The graduate market is incredibly competitive.
It’s a sobering statistic, but only 52% of graduates get graduate-level jobs. The rest become underemployed and work in jobs that did not require a degree.
To put it bluntly, your academics alone, will not impress graduate recruiters.
Graduate recruiters are looking for workplace-ready graduates who can demonstrate their employability skills.
This is why getting a Masters degree straight after your bachelors won’t necessarily help you to get a job.
All that being said, here are some graduate jobs you can get with any degree.
Law
It is a common misconception that you need to have studied an LLB in Law in order to get a career in the legal field.
This could not be further from the truth with many city law firms hiring 50% non-law graduates.
If for example, you wish to become a solicitor at a city law firm, the company will pay for you to take a conversion course and to get the required legal practice to qualify as a solicitor.
Some examples of law firms that recruit graduates with law and non-law degrees include Linklaters, Weil, Clifford Chance, Reed Smith and many more.
Resources for launching a graduate career in law
A to Z of law firms
How to get a training contract
Bright Network – Commercial law
Case study – how an American Studies graduate secured a training contract at Shoosmiths
Consulting
If you have an aptitude for analysis and are commercially aware, a career in consulting might be for you.
Like law, consulting is very competitive to get into. Once you tick the academic box, you’ll need to be able to demonstrate a broad skill set. Graduate recruiters in consulting look for very specific skills and aptitudes in graduates.
Consulting firms that hire graduates include, PwC, Bain, McKinsey, Accenture, EY, Deloitte, BCG, KPMG, IBM and more.
Resources for launching a graduate career in consulting
Consulting graduate schemes – A guide by Bright Network
Human Resources (HR)
You don’t need a degree in HR to get a job in this area. In a HR role, you will help to manage the workforce. This may involve recruitment, training staff, reviewing salary and more.
All large companies across all industries will have a HR department. Network Rail, Shell, Ford, Virgin media are all examples of companies that hire graduates for HR roles.
Many employers help the graduates on their HR graduate schemes to gain a CIPD-approved postgraduate qualification.
Resources for launching a graduate career in HR
Aoibhean’s story – HR Graduate at Network Rail
Civil Service
The Civil Service Fast Stream is an award-winning leadership development programme. It develops people from a wide range of backgrounds who have the potential to be future leaders.
The Civil Service Faststream offers 15 different programmes for graduates, and specifically mention on their website that there are schemes available no matter what you studied for your degree.
Most of the fast stream programmes have a minimum of a 2:1 or 2:2 degree in any subject.
The Fast stream offers a competitive starting salary starting from £27,000 – £28,000. This rises to £45,000 to £55,000 upon completion.
Some of the streams include commercial, digital data and technology, Human resources, Finance and more.
Resources for launching a graduate career in the Civil Service
Follow The Civil Service Fast Stream on Twitter
Link to apply for the Fast Stream
Accounting
You do not need a degree in accounting to become an Accountant.
The Big four accounting firms don’t ask for a specific degree subject. Some do not even ask for a minimum of a 2:1.
They are much more concerned with your skills and potential. They are willing to invest in high calibre candidates and support them by gaining the necessary qualifications to become a professional in the field.
Resources for starting a graduate career in accounting
What you can expect to earn in a career in accounting.
How to become an accountant – Prospects
Investment Banking
Investment banking is all about buying, selling, dividing and combining companies or entities.
Investment banks can be divided into three categories, front, middle and back-office. Roles within the front office include traders, strategists, sales, analysts.
Roles within the back and middle office include legal and compliance, HR, Technology and risk management.
A career in investment banking is not just for finance, economics and maths graduates. Investment banking is another field that is open for graduates from all degree disciplines.
Leading graduate recruiters in Investment Banking include Barclays, Citi, Credit Suisse, Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan, HSBC, Nomura and more.
Resources for getting a graduate job in investment banking
Can I work in Investment Banking with a Humanities degree?
Getting into Investment Banking with an Engineering degree
Youtuber: Heroine In Heels
Working for a charity
If you are a socially-conscious graduate, who wants to make a real difference, there are opportunities in the third sector.
The larger charitable organisations are more likely to offer graduate jobs to graduates with any degree.
Resources for getting a graduate job in the charity sector
Cancer Research UK Graduate scheme
Charityworks Graduate trainee programme
Technology
Some jobs in technology are for specialists who have studied a degree in a STEM subject.
However, if you did not study a STEM-related degree such as computer science, but have a passion for technology, there are opportunities for you.
If you fall into the communicator or knowledge architect graduate job typologies your skills will be valued in the tech field.
Tech companies and consulting firms need people who can relay technical concepts to client and internal teams effectively.
Capgemini divides its technical graduate jobs into three categories:
- Technical roles – for those with a technical background
- Technology consulting roles – for those who are tech enthusiasts who want to work with technology, but not build the technology
- Business/ consulting roles– for those wanting to work in the tech sector but in a client-facing or operations role.
As you can see, only one of the three categories requires a tech-related degree. Anyone with a degree in any other subject can get a job in technology consulting roles.
Resources for getting a graduate job in technology
Guide on tech graduate schemes – Brightnetwork
Digital Marketing
Digital Marketing is another field that attracts graduates with a degree in any subject.
If you are a graduate who is both analytical and creative, a career in Digital marketing might be for you.
You may decide to specialise in a specific area of Digital Marketing such as PPC, SEO, Programmatic Display, Social Media or digital PR.
Here at Graduate Coach, we have helped several graduates to launch successful careers in Digital Marketing!
Resources for starting a graduate career in Digital Marketing
Digital Marketing Graduate Career profile
How to help graduates launch their digital career
Graduate Coach Digital Marketing Internship
Working at a start-up
Perhaps working at a large corporate isn’t for you. Maybe you would prefer to be a big fish in a small pond.
If so, you might want to consider working at a start-up.
One of the best solutions, when you don’t know what job to get with your degree, is to gain broad experience.
Working at a start-up will often allow you to “wear many hats” or in other words try out many roles.
Many start-ups and smaller companies will gladly take on entrepreneurial graduates with degrees in any subject.
If you are interested in getting a job at a start-up company, you’ll need to do lots of research. This is because opportunities at start-ups will be less advertised.
Resources for graduates looking to get a graduate job at a start-up
The skills growing start-ups look for
Teaching
Have you considered becoming a teacher?
If you are considering becoming a teacher at a UK state school, you’ll need to have a degree and a recognised teaching qualification.
Teaching might be a good option for you if you are really passionate about the subject that you studied at university. You’ll be able to use your passion to inspire the next generation.
Resources for graduates considering a career in teaching
UCAS – How to get into teaching in the UK
How to become a qualified teacher
Policing
Police officers work with their community to maintain law and order and to protect members of the public.
It is a challenging career path for graduates from any degree subject.
Police now offers two graduate training programmes, the national detective programme and the national graduate leadership programme.
Resources for graduates who are thinking of becoming a police officer
Graduate Coach blog on police graduate schemes
How Graduate Coach helps students find a Graduate job
Graduate Coach helps students by giving them the necessary training and experience that they need to succeed in the workplace, something you don’t always get over the course of your degree.
Graduate Coach will help you build and optimise a CV that will look great for employers, while also giving you interview tips and practice to increase your chances of getting employed as much as possible.
Check out the Graduate Coach Digital Marketing Internship here.
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