While some undergraduate degrees, such as medicine or law, set you up for a specific career path, others leave the door wide open. This article looks at 10 great graduate careers with any degree.
10 Excellent Graduate Careers With Any Degree
Not all degrees set you up with a concrete career path. While this is great in many ways because it gives you plenty of flexibility, it can also make it tough to decide what’s next.
If you’re a recent graduate looking for a great career path, take a look at our top 10 graduate career opportunities you can apply for with any degree.
1. Human Resources (HR)
You don’t need to have a specific degree to begin a career in human resources, although most employers will expect you to obtain a 2:1. Graduates usually begin a career in HR in roles such as HR administrator or HR assistant. In some cases, you may need to get a postgraduate qualification, such as a Certificate in Personnel Practice (CPP).
As an HR professional, your role is to oversee employee-related issues, including recruitment, employee processes and procedure, and payroll. You will need to be empathetic and a clear communicator as you clarify important company information.
Entry-level HR professionals typically earn between £16,000-£27,000 per year.
2. Sales
Sales is one of the most popular graduate careers with any degree. It’s fast-paced and exciting, with huge earning potential. Plus, you can begin a career in sales with a degree in any background.
To excel in sales, you need to leverage your communication, negotiation, and rapport-building skills to persuade clients to buy your product or service. It’s a ruthless job that requires a thick skin and plenty of drive. Salespeople usually work to daily, weekly, or monthly KPIs, so a level head under pressure is key.
Graduate salespeople in the UK typically earn around £21,000 per year, with the potential to earn much more in commission. And on top of that, there are plenty of graduate sales jobs in the UK.
Additional reading ? How to nail your first graduate job interview
3. Marketing
The world of marketing is a competitive market, but there are plenty of great opportunities for graduates from any background. Don’t worry if your degree isn’t in marketing; you can still break into marketing if you have a 2:1. You will also need to be creative, great at solving problems, and tech-savvy.
There is a wide range of marketing-related graduate careers to consider, such as copywriting, social media management, or media planning. Therefore, it’s important to narrow down the area of marketing you’re interested in pursuing. Graduates that don’t have a marketing degree will need to have a strong graduate portfolio to showcase their creative skills.
An entry-level marketing associate earns roughly £26,500 per year.
4. Teaching
Graduates from all educational backgrounds can start a career in teaching. However, they will need to complete a postgraduate teacher training course first. In the UK, a PGCE is the most common post-graduate teaching qualification. It’s an intense course that prepares you for a career in teaching. As part of the course, you will gain real-world experience in a classroom.
To be successful as a teacher, you will need to be patient, organised, and a great communicator. Time management and great people skills are huge assets.
In the UK, entry-level teachers earn around £25,000-£32,000 per year.
5. Accountancy
You don’t need a degree in finance, mathematics, or accountancy to start a graduate career in accountancy. That said, you will need to prove you have excellent numeracy skills. Most accountancy firms will accept graduates from any field of study, provided they achieve the desired grade.
You will need to complete a range of exams to become a qualified accountant. Typically, your firm will help cover the costs of these exams, and you are able to work as you complete them. Accounting is one of the most in-demand sectors for graduates in the UK.
The average annual salary for a junior accountant is between £18,000-£27,000
6. Public Relations (PR)
PR is a popular graduate career path you can apply for with any degree. As a PR professional, it’s your job to manage clients’ reputations. To succeed in this role, you need to have strong communication skills, excellent people skills, and empathy. While it helps to have a degree in communications, marketing, or business, most employers will consider graduates with any degree.
Thanks to the glitz and glamour, PR is a competitive field to break into. Gaining some work experience in related areas such as event management or advertising is a definite bonus. It’s also important to keep your finger on the pulse and be up-to-date on current affairs. PR is all about who you know, so be sure to check out our online networking tips for graduates.
An entry-level PR assistant typically makes around £18,000 to £24,000 per year.
7. Project Management
Project management is one of the most popular graduate careers with any degree. Working as a project manager is a great way to put your leadership skills and industry knowledge to good use. You don’t need a specific degree to become a project manager, but you will usually need to obtain a qualification, such as the PMP certification. This 8-12 week course gives you the tools and techniques to manage projects, including managing timelines, budgets, and teams.
There is a huge demand for project managers in the UK, so it’s a great career path for graduates. Once you have your qualification, you can choose to work within the field of your degree or a totally new sector.
Worth a read ? Professional courses for graduates
8. Insurance
There’s no shortage of graduate career opportunities in the world of insurance. You don’t need a specific degree to start a career in insurance, but a qualification in accounting or finance, business, management, economics, or mathematics is a plus. Generally speaking, a strong degree from any field will be enough to break into the industry.
As an insurance broker, you will work with both clients and insurance companies to pair your clients with the best insurance deal. You will need to develop a sound knowledge of the insurance market to conduct a risk analysis and ensure your clients get the best deal possible. Many insurance firms, such as Lloyd’s, offer graduate training schemes to help you gain the knowledge needed to become an insurance broker.
An entry-level insurance broker usually makes about £18,000 to £22,000 per year. This rises to £22,000 to £28,000 for those who are part of a graduate training scheme.
9. Recruitment
If you are a people person who thrives in a high-pressure environment, then a career in recruitment could be for you. As a recruitment consultant, you work with both employers and candidates to match the best person for the job. You will need to screen candidates and prep them for interviews. Most recruitment consultants will work to targets, earning a performance-based commission.
There is no official qualification or degree needed to work in recruitment. As long as you have the drive and are willing to put the work in, you can apply for graduate careers with any degree.
An entry-level recruitment consultant in the UK earns around £22,000 to £30,000 per year.
10. Retail management
This line of work is open to graduates from all areas, although those with a degree in retail management, business, or marketing may have an advantage. Most employers will focus more on your skills. To thrive as a retail manager, you will need excellent people skills, communication skills, and leadership abilities. Some previous experience in retail is a plus.
A career in retail management is never dull. In this role, you are responsible for the day-to-day running of a shop. This includes managing staff and costs. Many large retailers offer ongoing staff training to help you develop and hone your skills.
A trainee retail manager usually earns around £17,000 and £30,000 per year. Salaries tend to be much higher in larger retailers.
Are you looking for graduate careers? Discover the best cities for graduate jobs in the UK.
Find Graduate Careers Near You
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