Graduate careers: six ways to get a job after university

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3. Doing a master's won't make you more or less employable

Unless your master's degree is vocational, having that qualification on your CV won't make you more attractive to employers, says Charlie Ball, head of higher education intelligence at Prospects. "Master's are unlikely to open many doors that are closed to you unless you're thinking of going into academia."

The only time a master's will make you more employable is if it improves your skills and work experience more than a year spent doing something else would, adds Ball. "You might gain that during study – for example a history master's may include a strong data-handling component which is useful for work. Or you might use that extra year of study to polish your presentation or communication skills. You'll have to work hard to make a master's improve your employability – but it can be done."

"It might be worth thinking about how you can gain transferable skills through volunteering or work experience before you spend money on a master's," adds Suzanne Romano, senior graduate recruitment officer at Teach First.

4. Harness the power of social media

Social platforms such as Linkedin and Twitter can be used to find jobs, says Bradford. "For example, show your interests in a career path by joining in discussion on Twitter. This will make employers familiar with your name."

Paul Young, company director of Grad-Careers Ltd, thinks LinkedIn is the most valuable social tool. "If you want to be sought out by headhunters, the most likely site to be found on is LinkedIn. Social networks are good for networking but they come with a risk of what you put on them and whether employers will see them."

Research suggests 40% of employers use social media to screen candidates, so it's important to keep your online profile clean. "Social media can be [either] a friend or foe," adds Annie Peate, who works in CIPD's campaigns team, specialising in youth employment. "Personal brand is important, but professional brand is even more so. Employers have been known to check up on a candidate before inviting them for interview, so it's important to ensure you keep all publicly accessible information employer-friendly."

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