The SME Advantage: A Quick Guide to Securing Top Talent for Summer Internships and Sandwich Placements
In the race for top-tier graduate talent, Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) often feel they cannot compete with the massive graduate schemes of the Times Top 100 Graduate Employers. However, the reality is that today’s graduates are increasingly seeking impact, variety, and responsibility, all of which are found more readily in an SME environment. At Step,…
How to Write a Graduate CV: 5 Essential Skills to Master for 2026
Standing Out in the UK Graduate Market Are you wondering how to write a graduate CV that actually gets noticed? With the UK graduate market becoming increasingly competitive, simply listing your degree is no longer enough. The World Economic Forum (WEF) recently released its forecast on the future of jobs, identifying the core capabilities that…
Your Dissertation is Your First Project
How to Translate Academic Success into CV Ready Graduate Skills Introduction: The Untapped Goldmine You’ve dedicated months, or even a year, to your dissertation or final major project. You successfully navigated complex research, managed tight deadlines, and delivered a substantial piece of work. Yet, when it comes to your CV, you often summarise this huge effort in a single,…
A Candidate’s Guide to Digital Security and CV Integrity
The job market is increasingly digital, and for students and recent graduates, your digital footprint is as crucial as your degree classification. When you apply for a job, you’re not just sending a document; you’re initiating a relationship built on trust. Here’s a straightforward guide to ensuring your CV remains credible and your data stays…
Why do grad roles expect experience? Here’s how to show employers you’ve got the skills they need
You don’t need a certificate for every skill, some of the most valuable ones are things you’re already doing without even noticing We chat to loads of students and grads at Step who say they “haven’t got enough experience.” But once we dig a bit deeper, it turns out they’ve picked up all sorts of…
The Skills Employers Really Want Now
Stop Listing Your Degree. Start Demonstrating Your Value. In today’s competitive UK graduate market, having a degree is just the starting point. Employers are no longer just looking at your academic credentials; they are searching for transferable skills and demonstrable capabilities. Are you struggling with how to write a graduate CV that stands out? The…
The Skills Reset: Download our latest report
The rules of hiring have changed. Learn how to translate your education into the demonstrable capabilities employers are actually looking for. The World Economic Forum reports that 63% of employers identify skills gaps as their biggest barrier to success, outranking even a lack of investment capital. Employers are not short of applicants with degrees. They are short of people…
5 Simple Career Resolutions for Graduates in 2026
The New Year brings the traditional pressure to make sweeping resolutions. But when it comes to your career, you don’t need a total life overhaul – you need simple, actionable, and sustainable steps. For graduates and students aiming to secure a meaningful role in 2026, the focus should be on practical preparation. Here are five…
Why SMEs shouldn’t miss the graduate talent pool this autumn
As we move into September, many graduates who took a well-earned break over the summer are now getting serious about their job search. After three or four intense years of study, it’s no surprise some needed time to decompress before diving into the next chapter. But now? They’re switched on, refreshed, and ready to start…
Think graduate hiring only happens in autumn? Here’s why that’s not true
Graduate hiring in the UK doesn’t end after autumn or spring. It carries on throughout the year, particularly in SME recruitment. While larger graduate programmes tend to grab the headlines, there are plenty of companies hiring all year round for graduate jobs and early careers roles. Many bring people in mid-year when they expand, or…