Bored of Generic Career Advice?

The Top Five Graduate Qualities Employers Look For

From skills to attitude, here's how to stand out and secure your dream role after university. You’ve got your degree, your CV is polished, and you've sent out applications, but still no luck? The truth is, qualifications alone aren’t enough anymore. Today’s employers are looking for something more. Whether you're still studying or freshly graduated, here's what UK employers actually want to see, and how you can show it.

Still Looking for Career Inspiration?

Check out our picks from the Financial Times' UK's best employers 2025 list Are you looking for your first job and wondering where to start? Last week, we shared our top picks of UK employers from Great Place to Work’s best workplace report. This week, we’re continuing our mission to inspire all you job seekers out there, picking our favourite early careers employers from The Financial Times’ UK’s Best Employers 2025 interactive rankings. The FT highlights 500 top companies, based on the views of over 20,000 employees. If you’re still seeking career inspiration, this is a gold mine of potential opportunities that will help you kickstart the career of a lifetime. These companies excel across a range of factors, including pay, development opportunities, and working conditions, so you’ll be hard pressed to find a better place to start your career.

No Debt, Real Work, A Full Degree: Is a Degree Apprenticeship Right for You?

A high graduate salary, debt-free, three years of industry experience and a university degree. Sounds too good to be true? Welcome to the world of degree apprenticeships... What Is a Degree Apprenticeship? A degree apprenticeship is a unique blend of full-time work and part-time university study, designed to tackle the UK’s growing demand for higher-level skills. These programmes let you earn while you learn, working at least 30 hours a week for an employer while studying towards a Bachelor’s (Level 6) or Master’s (Level 7) degree, usually over two to five years. Unlike traditional university, you won’t pay tuition fees, and you’ll get paid a salary while gaining hands-on experience in your chosen industry. Degree apprenticeships, also known as graduate apprenticeships, are available across England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, and are referred to as Higher Level Apprenticeships (HLAs) in these regions.

Not sure where to start your job search?

Expand your career horizons with some of the UK's top workplaces If your job search has you feeling stuck or uninspired, it might be time to look beyond the usual names. There are hundreds of amazing UK companies out there creating positive, purpose-led, and people-first cultures; places you might not have heard of, but should consider. We dove into Great Place To Work’s Best Workplaces report, which surveyed over 250,000 employees from across the UK, and spotlighted 365 organisations for doing things differently. From small to super-large, these companies lead the way in employee wellbeing, purpose, trust, and growth. You can download your free copy of the report here: 2024 Best Workplaces Report Great Place To Work is the preeminent authority on workplace culture in the UK, so whether you're a student, a recent grad, or just figuring out what kind of workplace fits you best, this guide will open your eyes to what’s possible and some of the incredible employers of UK Talent.

The Do's and Don'ts of Job Applications

Improve your job search success with our quick and easy guide. In today’s fast-paced job market, your application is your first (and sometimes only) shot at making an impression. It’s not just about listing your qualifications; it’s about communicating your value, attitude, and potential in a way that resonates with both hiring managers and applicant tracking systems (ATS). The good news is that you now have more tools at your disposal than ever before. Grammar and spelling support software, such as Grammarly, and generative AI tools like ChatGPT can help you carefully craft the perfect application and increase your chances of submitting a successful job application.

Is it Even Worth Going to University Anymore?

To uni or not to uni? - That is the question. With tuition fees climbing past £9,500 a year and student debt reaching £45,000 over the course of a three-year degree, is university still the golden ticket it once was, or are apprenticeships and vocational training a smarter bet? Let’s examine the real costs, benefits, and alternatives to help you make an informed decision.

Inside the Assessment Centre: What You Need to Know to Stand Out

Read our guide to assessment centres: What they are, what to expect, and how to ace them every time. For many, assessment centres sound intimidating: a long day of being observed, judged, and compared to other candidates that you’ve never met before. However, with the right preparation, assessment centres are a golden opportunity to showcase your skills in action. This guide breaks down exactly what to expect, why employers use them, and how you can stand out for all the right reasons.

Nail that Interview: Here are the 14 Most Common Interview Questions and How to Answer Them

From “Tell me about yourself” to “Why should we hire you?”, this guide breaks down the most common interview questions and what employers want to hear.

Graduate Jobs vs Graduate Schemes: What They Don't Tell You at Uni

Read our no-nonsense guide to decoding the grad job jungle and choosing the path that actually fits your future. You’ve smashed your final exams, updated your LinkedIn, and set your sights on your job search to find the perfect role. After trawling the World Wide Web for inspiration, you may have noticed some big differences in these so-called “graduate opportunities.” For example, what’s the difference between a grad job and a grad scheme, and why does it feel like no one actually explains it properly? Don’t worry. We’re cutting through the corporate fluff to help you figure out which route actually works for you.

Just the Facts: What Today's Job Seekers Really Want

Discover what today’s job seekers expect, and what’s driving them to apply, disengage, or disappear from your hiring process. New research by Get Staffed uncovers the key trends shaping candidate expectations and behaviours. Whether you're an employer looking to sharpen your hiring strategy or a recruiter aiming to stay ahead, these insights are essential to attracting top talent in a competitive market. TL;DR: Job ads that include a specific salary attract 83% more applications. 39% of workers plan to look for a new job in 2025. Flexible and part-time jobs received 39% more applications than full-time roles. Remote roles receive 122% more applications than fixed-location roles. 75% of job-seekers research a company’s reputation before applying. 48% of candidates didn’t receive any feedback on their last application.

Change Up: How the Game is Changing for Graduates and Early Career Talent

AI, hybrid work, and rising job competition are transforming how companies hire. If you're a student, graduate, or just starting out in your career, check out our summary of 2025's talent trends. The world of talent acquisition, hiring, and recruitment is undergoing rapid transformation. From the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) to shifting expectations around work-life balance and remuneration, recruitment in 2025 is already looking very different from what it did even a few years ago.

Internships Unpacked: What They Are and Where to Find Them

Wondering what internships are all about or how to actually land one? From when to apply to what to expect, this is your no-fluff guide to getting your foot in the door.

Supercharge Your Job Search: Find the Right Role Faster with Mereo Talent

Tired of scrolling through endless job listings and getting nowhere? Discover how Mereo Talent’s smart search tools and curated categories can help you zero in on the perfect opportunity. Finding a job is difficult, especially when you aren’t sure where to begin or what you may be interested in doing. If you are anything like I was as a student, the hardest part of kickstarting your career is working out what is even possible. What kind of job opportunities are out there? What should I be looking for? Will I even be interested in this line of work? And most importantly, why do none of these job descriptions seem to tell me anything about the actual work I will be doing(!)?

The NEET Edge: Nearly 1 Million Young People in the UK are not in Education, Employment, or Training.

According to a BBC article from February of this year, the number of young people unemployed, not receiving education, or undertaking vocational training has reached an 11-year high. At Mereo Talent, we are passionate about supporting students, school leavers, graduates, and apprentices to unlock their potential and find meaningful work. Join the conversation today!

Interested in a career in Creative Arts and Design?

Interested in a career in creative arts and design? Not sure where to start? If you're not able to find what you're looking for on Mereo, we recommend exploring these leading UK graduate employers: The Walt Disney Company BBC The National Gallery The Tate Modern The Victoria & Albert Museum The British Museum Royal Albert Hall Merlin Entertainments Ubisoft Arcadis Ogilvy & Mather Abbott Me