Getting a graduate job in health and social care

Discover how you can find a job, the importance of work experience and the skills that employers require

Do I need a related degree?

Many roles such as doctor, nurse, paramedic, psychologist and social worker require a relevant degree.

Other roles may not require a directly relevant degree but will require work experience or diploma in health and social care certificates to gain relevant skills and knowledge.

It is expected that the demand for highly qualified employees will increase over the next ten years with 490,000 more people educated to first degree and above by 2020.

What skills do employers want?

Employers in the health and social care sector require candidates with:

• empathy, and a caring and approachable nature;
• understanding and respect for patient or client confidentiality;
• an ability to stay calm under pressure;
• planning and organisational skills;
• technical skills;
• problem-solving skills;
• good verbal and written communication skills.

Where can I get work experience?

Most undergraduate and postgraduate courses related to health and social care will include placements. This is your chance to gain experience alongside your qualification.

Gaining practical experience is important in this sector and can be achieved by volunteering. You can search for voluntary work in health and social care at Do-it , where you can narrow down your search by postcode and areas of interest.

To find work placements and internships in the health and social care sector, search for work experience.

How do I find a graduate job in the health and social care sector?

Jobs within the NHS are advertised through NHS - Jobs, where you can narrow down your search by employer, salary or job type.

Social care roles are often advertised on borough or city council websites.

Vacancies for smaller organisations can be found by contacting organisations directly with a speculative application or through local press. There are also some specific job search sites, such as Health & Social Care Jobs, that cover roles across the UK.

To find jobs and graduate schemes in the health and social care sector, search graduate jobs in health and social care.