If you’ve spent the last few months sending out applications into what feels like a black hole, you’re not imagining it. It really is harder out there right now. More graduates, fewer entry-level roles, and a lot of employers using software to filter CVs before a human ever sees them.
So no, it’s not you. But there are things you can do that genuinely change your odds, and we’ve watched hundreds of graduates go from “why won’t anyone reply” to “I start Monday.” Here’s what actually works, from the people who see the process from the other side.
Your CV needs to survive the robots before it impresses a human
A lot of graduate CVs get filtered out before anyone reads them, because the software scanning them is looking for specific keywords from the job description. If your CV is a general list of modules and responsibilities, it won’t match closely enough to get through.
Fix: pull the exact language from the job advert (skills, tools, phrases) and mirror it where it’s true. Swap “responsible for” for what you actually achieved. “Increased Instagram engagement by 30% over a student campaign” beats “managed social media” every time, even if the campaign was for your uni society, not a company.
Layout matters just as much as content here too. A recruiter might only glance at your CV for a few seconds before deciding whether to read on, so clean formatting, strong action verbs, and real numbers all earn their place. We’ve put together our Complete CV Guide covering exactly this, from layout and structure to what to include (and what to leave out). It’s free to download, so grab it before you send off your next application.
"No experience" doesn't mean "no evidence"
Here’s the thing employers are actually trying to work out: can you think, solve problems, and follow through? A part-time job, a society you ran, a project you built off your own back, all of that counts if you present it properly.
Don’t just list what you did. Say what changed because you did it. What did you build, fix, grow, or improve? That’s the bit that makes a recruiter stop scrolling.
Register with a recruitment agency, not just job boards
This is genuinely one of the biggest differences between grads who get hired quickly and grads who don’t. Job boards put you in a queue with hundreds of identical applications. A good recruitment agency puts you in front of a person who already knows the hiring manager, knows what they’re really looking for beyond the job description, and can put your name forward directly.
At Zenith, we do exactly this every day across the North East. We know which employers are genuinely growing, which roles are about to open before they’re advertised, and what’s going to make you stand out for a specific business, not just “a good candidate” in general. That’s the advantage a good agency gives you that a job board never will.
And unlike the automated systems we mentioned earlier, when you apply through Zenith your CV is read by an actual person on our team, not a piece of software scanning for keywords. So even if your CV wouldn’t tick every box for an algorithm, we’ll still see the potential in it.
Say yes to the roles that don't feel like "the one"
It’s tempting to hold out for the perfect graduate scheme. But a lot of successful careers start somewhere sideways: a temp contract, a role slightly outside your degree, an apprenticeship that builds real skills while you earn. These aren’t consolation prizes. They’re how you get the experience that makes the next move easier.
Stay visible and keep going
Update your LinkedIn so it actually reflects what you can do. Follow up on applications instead of just waiting. And don’t measure your progress against everyone else’s highlight reel, most of what you see online is the good bits, not the six months of silence before it.
We're here to help with this bit
Finding your first proper job shouldn’t feel like shouting into the void. That’s genuinely what we’re here for. Get in touch with the Zenith team, tell us what you’re after, and let’s find you a role that actually fits, not just the first thing that comes up in a search. And while you’re at it, download our Complete CV Guide to give your application the best possible shot before it lands in front of us.
