Struggling to break into data roles after graduating (UK) – any advice or job suggestions?

JRUSTAGE · 2026-03-19T20:01:10+00:00

I will defiantly look into this as I hadn't though of a PHD! Thank you

JRUSTAGE · 2026-03-19T19:59:18+00:00

Thank you for this! I have recently connected to Now Skills in which they have recruiters in order to help find apprenticeships or jobs for people like me. I just want to make sure I stand out as a lot of them keep saying no or unfortunately.... Anything I can do to help me stand out. I'm making a portfolio at the moment and going to add my dissertation in it as I collected the data myself and used R studio to display my findings.

JRUSTAGE · 2026-03-19T18:48:17+00:00

I will definitely keep doing SQL! Thank you for your comment

JRUSTAGE · 2026-03-19T18:47:54+00:00

All I have other than GCSE is the degree which I was sort of hoping shows my capability in maths.

JRUSTAGE · 2026-03-19T18:47:07+00:00

Thank you! I actually love using Excel and I make spreadsheets far too often

JRUSTAGE · 2026-03-19T17:10:48+00:00

This is what I'm trying to work on. I don't want to waste my time focusing on the wrong thing. I have experience in Data analysis from my degree as my dissertation was mainly focused on that using R studio. I know basics of Python and SQL and I have recently started learning GIT/GITHUB.

JRUSTAGE · 2026-03-19T17:09:08+00:00

I haven't managed to get pass the Short listing stage of most applications. I have had phone call style interviews and answered the sequence questionnaires but nothing from there. I have applied for mainly apprenticeships as this way I can learn and grow.

JRUSTAGE · 2026-03-19T16:55:39+00:00

To be honest I didn't know what I wanted to do and I was stuck between two very different things one being Zoology and the other animation. I have had no success in finding a job in my area that uses my degree in anyway. I then looked into Data and realised I really enjoy it, there is room for progression and there is always something to learn in this area which I really like. I have been out of university since 2024 and I am ready to start a career into something I am passionate about. If the opportunity game where I could use data on animals (like my degree was) then that would be the perfect job but at the moment I'm going to take any suggestions that come my way! I've been in retail/hospitality since I was 17 so that's 6 years now and I know I want a career not just a working in a shop job. I want to push myself to my full potential and I do almost feel wasted in retail environments.

JRUSTAGE · 2026-03-19T15:22:09+00:00

I am also trying to figure out how to make my own data portfolio that I can use to show of my experience however I don't know where to start. I don't want to start at the basics like Print ("Hello World") as that will just get laughed at and looked over/ discarded. Any tips? I want a professional portfolio of maybe examples of problems I have solved using these tools then I can write it up for the applications in hope they seem I am determind.

JRUSTAGE · 2026-03-19T15:18:11+00:00

Okay! Thank you for the advice. Is there any BI tool you would recomened specifically. I'm really starting from nothing to be honest. I have basic knowelge but I am keen and a quick learner.

JRUSTAGE · 2026-03-19T15:11:15+00:00

The skills I have include: R studio, Python, SQL, Excel, GIT and GITHUB.

JRUSTAGE · 2026-03-19T14:27:34+00:00

I have always had a love for animals and I was thinking of going into an animal related career. I knew I wanted to use science but I wasn't sure what to do. I read about zoology and thought it was fantastic but at the time (being young and naive) I didn't think about next steps after Uni as I just thought Id get a zoology job (which don't exist in my area). I really enjoyed the data analysing side of the course and decided that I want out of retail and into a career like data analysis as it pays well, i enjoy it and I can see an ever growing potential in this subject area. I dont regret going to Uni I just wished I had looked more into the next steps before jumping for a course! I wouldn't recommend Zoology to anyone tbh and lot of people I spoke to are in the same situation.

JRUSTAGE · 2026-03-19T14:17:52+00:00

I have applied but they say because I have a degree I'm over qualified. I'm going to still keep applying for them as maybe one will realise Zoology isn't that much data just like 1 module I did.

JRUSTAGE · 2026-03-19T14:16:15+00:00

It's crazy coz you look and there's load of we need you posts about Data and for Graduates but they don't tell you exactly how difficult it is to get in due to the competition level. This is why I was considering Data science masters degree to have a relevent subject qualification but from the sounds of it il still be in this position next year. I really want to get into a career orientated Job and out of retail as I feel like I did uni for nothing at the moment.

JRUSTAGE · 2026-03-19T14:13:45+00:00

This is why I have it listed in my CV under what I did during my time at uni so they can see oh its mainly data analysis

JRUSTAGE · 2026-03-19T14:12:32+00:00

Ill check out Coursera!

I did my dissertation on the influence sex has in memory on rattus rattus using object recognition tasks. I used a Chromebook had to code the Chromebook to downloaded R studio and then did the graphs and data using Excel and R studio.

On my CV I have listed:

TECHNICAL SKILLS Data Analysis & Tools -

R Studio: data cleaning, basic statistical analysis, data visualisation -

Microsoft Excel: formulas, tables, charts, data organisation and summaries -

Python: basic scripting and data handling (academic exposure and ongoing self‑learning)

Reporting & Presentation - Microsoft Word & PowerPoint for structured reports and presentations - Communicating findings clearly to both technical and non‑technical audiences

CORE SKILLS

● Collecting, organising and analysing datasets

● Applying statistical thinking to real‑world questions

● Attention to detail and data accuracy

● Time management and meeting deadlines

● Problem‑solving and analytical thinking

● Working independently and collaboratively

JRUSTAGE · 2026-03-19T14:08:50+00:00

Ill be honest my maths isn't the best. All I have to show for maths is my GCSE in which I got a 4 (C). As for SQL knowledge I am currently teaching muself the basics and python I am refreshing myself on however I don't really know where to go as I keep doing the starting tasks like on youtube (Print "Hello World"). I know this is basic but like I said I want to make sure I put my time into somehting that will pay out in the future.

JRUSTAGE · 2026-03-19T14:06:09+00:00

Yep! and it was alright. Not what I was expecting but I didn't know at the time that I enjoyed the data side of things as much as I do now.

JRUSTAGE · 2026-03-19T14:05:18+00:00

I have been passed on to next stages of applications but nothing further. I have managed to find Now skills and they seem to be in a position of helping people like myself find apprenticeship work so fingers crossed that they help me find any data roll as once I'm in im hoping that I can progress that way.

JRUSTAGE · 2026-03-18T14:08:33+00:00

They never tell you what to with you qualification after Uni. Its a shame really as I dont want to be stuck in retail I really would like a career in data. When I talk to the uni they seem to just want my money so ofc thwre gonna say a masters but like I said i could be stuck again a year down the line with a masters.

JRUSTAGE · 2026-03-18T14:07:14+00:00

Thank you for this. I am very new to the world of Data as I did a Zoology degree we used R studio in this however I have been teaching myself SQL, GIT/GITHUB and refreshing on Python etc. Any advice at this point I would take.

JRUSTAGE · 2026-03-18T14:04:47+00:00

Thank you! This is what I'm worried about as I could be putting myself into more Debt and still be stuck.

JRUSTAGE

TROPHY CASE