5. Take charge of your job search

It's important to see your graduate job hunt as a continuous process. "Start thinking about how to take control of your career development on an ongoing basis – by knowing your skills, values and interests – as this will be helpful for you throughout your working life," says Brammar.

In order to feel in control of your job search, you need to follow three steps, says Gregory. "First, follow industries or fields of work that interest you. Second, proactively search out employers, don't wait for adverts, or rest on the use of recruitment companies. And third, make contact with people who already do the roles you want. Ask them how they got there, what the job is really like and whether there are any opportunities coming up. Most people will be happy to help you if you approach the right way. After time, you'll possess a fantastic network of useful contacts for the next stage of your career."

6. Don't give up on your dream job

With high competition for graduate jobs in the UK, it's easy to feel disheartened when looking for a job. "You don't have to give up on your dream job once you're clear what that is," says Janet Davies, editor of mygraduatecareer.com. "But it is worth thinking about what skills and experience you need for that job. Do you need to retrain? Or bolt on some extra skills in digital media, for example, where there is currently a skills shortage." You may also have to move. "Where you live can have a bearing on the opportunities available to you, for example, living in London versus a regional market town."

Romano adds: "It's OK to not know what you want to do when you grow up – most people don't. It's also alright to take risks and learn from these experiences. If you can, try and get into something that you enjoy and that really enhances your skills so you are able to determine what you like, what you don't and what's important for you."

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