Guides to graduate recruitment on Deeplink Coaching

How to become a graduate data analyst in the UK

Sat, 26 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0100

Most graduate data analysts in the UK start on a graduate scheme or in a junior analyst role, and some train through a data analyst apprenticeship. Employers look for SQL, strong Excel, a visualisation tool such as Power BI or Tableau, some Python or R, and the ability to explain findings clearly. Many employers prefer a numerate degree, but what matters most is evidence that you can use the tools, which is why a small portfolio of projects helps.

Data analyst interviews and technical tests: what to expect

Sat, 26 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0100

Most graduate data analyst applications follow the usual graduate process of an online application, online tests, an interview and a final assessment, with a technical element added. That might be a coding or SQL test, a technical exercise with a data set, or a short presentation of your findings. Prepare by practising SQL and spreadsheet tasks under time pressure, and by being able to explain one or two of your own projects from the question to the recommendation.

What happens at a graduate assessment centre?

Fri, 25 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0100

An assessment centre is usually the final stage of a graduate application. It is a set of exercises lasting from a few hours to two days, often including a group task, a case study or written exercise, a presentation and an interview. Assessors score you against the skills or strengths the employer is looking for, across all the exercises, so steady performance in every task matters more than one perfect moment.

The UK graduate job market in 2026: a guide for parents

Sat, 26 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0100

The UK graduate job market is more competitive than when most parents graduated. Employers received an average of 140 applications for every graduate vacancy in 2025, level with 2024 and the highest the Institute of Student Employers has recorded, and graduate hiring fell by 8%. Most graduates still do well, with 87% working or studying 15 months after graduating, but the ones who do best start early, apply carefully rather than widely, and build clear evidence of their skills.

Graduate jobs in the UK for international students: visas and timing

Sat, 26 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0100

Most international graduates start work in the UK on the Graduate visa, which lets you work for any employer without sponsorship, then switch to a Skilled Worker visa sponsored by an employer. The Graduate visa lasts 2 years if you apply on or before 31 December 2026, but only 18 months if you apply on or after 1 January 2027. To stay long term you will usually need a job with a licensed sponsor that pays enough to meet the salary rules, so target sponsors early, ideally from the autumn of your final year.

UK graduate jobs: a guide for international parents

Sat, 26 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0100

If your son or daughter is studying in the UK and hopes to work here afterwards, three things matter most. They need to apply early, because large graduate schemes recruit a year ahead. They need to understand the visa timeline, because the Graduate visa falls from 2 years to 18 months for applications made from 1 January 2027. And they should target employers that are licensed to sponsor visas. You can help most by planning for the months between graduation and a first salary, and by helping them avoid paid “guaranteed job” offers and visa scams.