At Broster Buchanan, we’re receiving a lot of CVs from recent graduates at the moment. With the UK unemployment rate currently sitting at 4.9%, according to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics, competition for jobs can be tough. Office for National Statistics
So, while Broster Buchanan isn’t usually the right recruitment agency for someone at the very start of their career, we thought it would be useful to explain why that is and, more importantly, share some advice that might actually help graduates and other people looking for their first entry-level role.
Broster Buchanan specialises in experienced and senior hires across Finance, Risk & Assurance, Technology, Business Transformation, Private Equity, Executive Search and Senior Interim Management.
That means we’re less likely to be the right fit for someone looking for their first graduate job or entry-level role. However, we know how quickly a career can take off, so we’d always want to keep the door open and help where we can.
It’s worth understanding why this is the case for graduate and entry-level roles, because it isn’t personal.
Recruitment consultants are most often brought in by hiring managers to find hidden or harder-to-reach talent. That could be experienced, specialist or senior professionals who aren’t actively looking and are unlikely to be found through a standard job advert. It could also be a rapid interim hire where an employer needs someone experienced who can come in and hit the ground running.
Graduate and entry-level roles are different. They tend to attract plenty of direct applicants, so employers will often manage these vacancies through their own internal talent teams rather than using a recruitment consultancy.
So, if your applications to recruitment agencies aren’t landing, it’s very likely nothing to do with you. It’s simply how much of the recruitment market is structured.
At Broster Buchanan, our teams have a combined total of more than 150 years’ recruitment experience. We’ve seen thousands of applications over that time, and we’d always rather offer some useful advice than simply give a prospective candidate a polite brush-off.
So, if you’re looking for graduate jobs or your first entry-level role, here are some of the things that genuinely make a difference.
The single biggest mistake we see is the ‘spray and pray’ approach: one generic CV fired off to 50 employers without changing a thing.
It can even be as obvious as having “I’m looking for an entry-level role in marketing” in the opening paragraph of a CV that’s then sent for a finance position.
It’s understandable when you’re applying for lots of jobs and running low on energy, but it rarely works.
Employers can spot a generic application very quickly. More importantly, it tells them that you haven’t really thought about their role or business.
In a world where employers are increasingly seeing AI-generated applications, sounding like an actual person matters more than ever.
Read the job description properly. Pick out the skills, experience and terminology the employer is looking for, then make sure your CV and covering note speak directly to those requirements.
You don’t need to completely reinvent your CV for every application. A few well-considered changes can make a big difference.
Show that you understand what the company does. Mention something you genuinely like about the business, reference something that stood out in the job advert or explain why the role appeals to you.
That little bit of effort can put you ahead of a surprisingly large part of the applicant pool.
The same applies to your covering message. And, if you’re genuinely prepared to relocate for the right graduate job, say so.
Mention where you currently live, where the employer is based and how you would manage the move. If you already have friends or relatives in the area, it can be worth mentioning that too.
Relocation can sometimes be a concern for employers. We’ve seen candidates accept roles and then change their minds when the reality of moving starts to sink in. Being clear about your plans can help remove some of that uncertainty.
Here’s a genuine opportunity for people entering the workforce in 2026, and it’s one that plenty of candidates are quietly giving away.
Younger applicants are often less comfortable using the phone. That’s understandable. Calling someone you’ve never spoken to about a job can feel awkward, particularly when you don’t know what they’re going to ask.
But that discomfort can actually work in your favour.
Many employers and recruiters still value candidates who are comfortable communicating over the phone, particularly in roles where speaking to clients, customers or colleagues is part of the job.
If you’re uncomfortable making or answering calls, you’re certainly not alone. But if most of your competition is choosing not to pick up the phone, the people who do can stand out.
A well-judged, polite call to a recruiter or hiring manager can make you memorable in a way an email often doesn’t.
Introduce yourself. Ask a sensible question about the role. Follow up on an application. Show that you’re genuinely interested.
You don’t need to sound slick or rehearsed. You just need to sound like yourself.
Jot down a couple of notes beforehand, take a breath and make the call.
It genuinely can make a difference.
Because graduate and entry-level jobs are often handled internally by employers, it’s well worth applying directly to businesses you’d like to work for and regularly checking their careers pages.
Don’t rely solely on recruitment agencies or job boards. Some of the best opportunities can appear directly on an employer’s website.
Alongside that, there are plenty of useful places to start your search:
Get your LinkedIn profile sorted. A complete, up-to-date LinkedIn profile makes it much easier for the right people to find you. Add a professional photo, write a headline that actually says something useful and make it clear what type of role you’re looking for.
Don’t forget to include voluntary work, university projects, part-time jobs and anything else that demonstrates useful skills. If you’ve worked with people who are willing to recommend you, LinkedIn recommendations can also help your profile stand out.
Set up job alerts. Make the job search work for you rather than spending hours every day looking through job boards. Set alerts for the roles, locations and sectors you’re interested in and let the opportunities come to you.
Ask for feedback. Not every employer will provide it, but it’s always worth asking when you’re unsuccessful. Even a small piece of feedback can help you improve your next application or interview.
And don’t underestimate the value of a simple thank-you email. It takes 30 seconds and can help you leave a positive impression.
Be persistent. The first job is often the hardest one to land. It can take longer than you hoped, particularly when you’re competing against lots of other graduates and entry-level candidates.
That doesn’t mean you’re doing something wrong. Sometimes it simply takes time.
Once you’ve got a few years under your belt and you’re building a career in Finance, Technology, Business Transformation, Risk or one of the other areas we specialise in, please do get in touch.
That’s exactly where Broster Buchanan can help, and we’d love to hear from you then.
A ‘no’ is almost always a ‘not yet’ when it comes to recruitment.
For now, though, we hope this gives you a few useful ideas and helps you approach your graduate job search with a little more confidence.
Good luck with the search.
