What Candidates Need to do to Stand Out in the Current Entry-Level Job Market UK
We are all familiar with the well-trodden career path of finishing education, finding an entry-level role at a company and then working hard to climb the corporate ladder. For years, these junior roles, apprenticeships, trainee schemes and assistant positions acted as the foundation of the UK job market.
However, over the last 3-4 years the number of true entry-level vacancies has fallen, with HRreview and Adzuna reporting a decrease of over 30% since November 2022. Fewer roles mean an increase in the number of candidates per job and a larger candidate pool means employers are able to be increasingly selective about who they hire. Candidates are also finding that even junior positions now often require previous experience, advanced technical skills or evidence of immediate productivity.
Today’s UK job market sees candidates confronted by a very different landscape to that of even a few years ago. So, what is behind this decline in entry-level roles in the UK? And how do candidates ensure they stand out and secure an interview for one of these coveted positions?
The Shrinking UK Graduate Job Market
Historically, large organisations would invest substantial amounts of time, resources and money in graduate schemes to train and develop new talent and secure its future prospects. However, whilst these programmes still exist, there is a growing disparity in the number of positions available and the number of graduates entering the UK job market each year.
In 2025, some of the UKs leading accountancy firms (Deloitte, EY, KPMG and PwC) announced they were scaling back their graduate and school leaver recruitment programmes, and the graduate recruitment sector as a whole is at its lowest point since July 2020.
It used to be that simply having a degree was adequate to secure an interview. However, it seems that a degree alone no longer guarantees results. Evidence of internships, work placements, extracurricular leadership and digital skills are increasingly required by employers to even be considered for interview.
This is where a professionally written CV can make a major difference. Graduates can have many transferable skills beyond their qualification, yet communicating these in a concise and results-based way is a skill in itself, and one that many underestimate.
Non-Graduate Entry-Level Roles Are Also Declining
It is not just graduates that are feeling the squeeze on jobs, as non-graduate candidates are also facing cuts to entry-level and junior roles. This creates a frustrating cycle: employers want experience, yet opportunities to gain experience are becoming scarce.
That is where transferable skills come into play, as many non-graduate candidates often amass numerous transferable skills through the experience they do have. However, as with gradate candidates, the difficulty lies in successfully communicating these skills to recruiters on their CVs.
Why Has Competition Intensified?
There are many contributing factors to the growing pressure on entry-level applicants. Economic uncertainty, the political climate, rising operational costs and the increasing use of AI mean that businesses appear to be taking a more cautious approach to hiring, especially for junior and entry-level roles. Instead of investing in young new hires, it seems that they are more likely to increase existing staff responsibilities and automate basic duties.
In addition, increased numbers of remote and hybrid roles mean candidates no longer have to be local, streamlined application processes mean increased applicants per role and increased use of applicant tracking systems (ATS) mean many candidates are filtered out before a human recruiter ever sees their CV.
The Role of AI
Over the last couple of years there have been many reports of employers increasingly using AI systems to automate large portions of administrative, customer service, research and data entry roles. According to HRreview, one in five full-time workers report replacement by AI for certain tasks and job search engine Adzuna reports a drop of 31.89% in entry level roles since the wider commercial adoption of ChatGPT in November 2022.
That said, employers still see the value in human skills such as developing customer relationships, mentoring, collaborative working and management of sensitive or emotionally complex issues. It is widely acknowledged that people need people, and whilst AI is here to stay, it seems adoption is causing entry level jobs to evolve rather than outright eliminating them. The Institute of Student Employers (ISE) reports 50% of employers have made minor entry level role adjustments rather than complete redesign or removal, with 60% expecting to do this in the next 1-2 years.
What Candidates Need to Do Now
Whichever way you look at it, entry level roles are changing. There is more uncertainty for both employers and candidates and growing pressure to adapt and respond to an increasingly AI-led world.
However, despite worrying headlines of mass replacement by AI, troubles with the economy and increased operational costs, it is not all bad news. According to a recent ISE report, 53% of employers surveyed predicted that their entry level hiring would remain at current levels for the next 3 years and 27% expected it to grow. Only 17% of those surveyed said that they were planning reductions in the next 3 years.
In addition to this, M&S recently announced its intention to provide 1,000 6-month graduate-style training places for 18-24 year-olds across the country, with no degree requirement.
So where does this leave entry level candidates? Those that approach their job search strategically still have strong opportunities to succeed. Focusing on application quality over quantity and ensuring they have a strong, professionally written CV will give candidates a fighting chance at securing those valuable interviews. Cover letters can also provide another vital opportunity to highlight the relevance of your experience and skills and candidates should always submit one wherever possible.
In a crowded UK job market, making a lasting first impression is vital. Recruiters review dozens if not hundreds of applications per role, spending only seconds on each. Candidates who invest in presenting themselves professionally with a key-word optimised CV immediately improve their chances of standing out.
From the perspective of a professional CV writing company, this shift has created both challenges and opportunities for job seekers. An entry-level or graduate CV needs to show the candidate as a rounded person with proven skills as well as potential for growth. Optimised formatting, achievement-focused bullet points and an opening profile that mirrors their target company’s language can all help candidates stand out and get noticed.
