Typical graduate starting salaries in Manchester range from around £23,000–£30,000 depending on sector and role, with Engineering, Technology and Consulting often at the higher end. London can pay more, but Manchester’s lower living costs can balance overall value. Expect standard full-time hours (35–40 per week); education, healthcare and construction roles may involve shifts, placements or site travel. Clear progression routes include moving from assistant or analyst roles into specialist, senior or team-lead positions within 2–4 years. Jobwise aggregates market data so you can spot higher-paying employers, roles with training budgets, and teams with strong promotion records.

• Technical skills: strong Excel/Google Sheets; data analysis (SQL/Python basics) for analytics roles; CAD/AutoCAD for engineering; CRM tools for sales; ATS/HRIS familiarity for HR; basic classroom support or safeguarding awareness for education support.
• Soft skills: communication, problem-solving, teamwork, time management, resilience and a willingness to learn.
• Qualifications and checks: a relevant degree (or equivalent experience), right to work in the UK; DBS check for education and some public-sector roles; CSCS card for construction sites; driving licence where roles require travel.
• Transferable strengths: leadership from societies or sports, customer service, project coordination, internship experience—jobwise’s AI surfaces these from your CV to match roles you might otherwise miss.

Upload your CV and jobwise will parse it instantly, highlighting your skills, achievements and interests to match you with relevant Manchester vacancies. Use filters for contract type, salary, location and industry, save searches, and turn on job alerts so new Permanent Graduate roles land in your inbox. Shortlist roles, track applications and get tailored recommendations as you refine your profile.

• Vibrant city economy with opportunities across tech, finance, the public sector, education and construction—plus lower living costs than London.
• Strong local demand driven by enterprise zones, major infrastructure projects and a dense network of SMEs and scale-ups.
• jobwise’s AI matching ensures fewer missed opportunities by aligning your CV to roles beyond simple keyword searches.