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Graduate careers in Cardiff

Photograph of Cardiff from www.cardiffandco.com

Cardiff offers all the usual perks of a capital city, while remaining comfortable, intimate and easily accessible. Most of the city's main amenities can be reached on foot, while its three railway stations provide a convenient gateway to the surrounding area.

Cardiff is a young city with a thriving arts and cultural scene making it a popular choice for students and graduates. The city's famous Millennium Stadium hosts sporting and cultural events throughout the year, while concerts are a regular fixture at the equally prominent Cardiff International Arena.

A number of large media organisations are based in Cardiff, including S4C, ITV Wales, and BBC Wales. As such, the city is an ideal location for those looking to pursue a career in the media, although some of these jobs require candidates to be fluent in Welsh. Cardiff lies within commuting distance of both Bristol and Swansea, which also host a wide variety of national and international companies, meaning that graduates are in high demand in the area.

In and around Cardiff | Drink at... | Dance at... | Eat at... | Shop at... | The cost of living in Cardiff | Getting work in the Cardiff area

In and around Cardiff

Cardiff has attractions to suit all tastes, from the modern and cosmopolitan bay to its medieval castle located right in the city centre. During the summer months, a whole host of festivals, races and cultural events take place at the waterfront, creating a fun holiday atmosphere.

The castle provides an attractive focal point for the city and offers guided tours, as well as hosting various events such as an open-air theatre during the summer months, historical open days and interactive workshops. For those who wish to explore further a field, the picturesque beaches of the Gower are only a short drive from Cardiff. If you want to enjoy guiltier pleasures, nearby Barry Island hosts a rickety 'Pleasure Park' complete with vulgar flashing lights, tacky arcades and suspect fairground rides - definitely not for the faint-hearted!

Cardiff has fantastic shopping opportunities with a large selection of individual boutiques and fascinating arcades. The nightlife is superb and there are a wide variety of eateries with cuisines from every corner of the globe. Here are just some of Cardiff's offerings.

Drink at...

  • Buffalo Bar: This trendy bar plays all types of music from 80's pop to hardcore drum 'n' bass with an open mic night every Sunday.
  • The Funky Buddha Lounge: This tiny oriental-themed bar/café is popular with students and a great place to chat over a glass (or three) of wine.
  • A Shot in the Dark:Located in the centre of student-ville, this laid-back and quirky coffee house feels like your very own living room.

Dance at...

  • Bar Cuba: Down some caipirinhas and learn to salsa at this Cuban-themed bar/nightclub. Busy at weekends.
  • Tiger Tiger: One of Cardiff's classier nightclubs with a popular student night every Monday.
  • Clwb Ifor Bach: Also known as the Welsh Club, this grungy establishment plays indie, funk and other alternative genres. Popular with students on a Wednesday so get there early to avoid queues.

Eat at...

  • Hoffi Coffi: Serves delicious homemade soups, cakes and sandwiches at incredibly reasonable prices. Students get a 10% discount.
  • Café Mina: Easily overlooked due to its uninspiring exterior, this tiny Lebanese restaurant boasts a delicious menu and unique ambiance.
  • The Pancake House: Situated in Cardiff's attractive brewery quarter, this tiny café offers just about every imaginable pancake filling.

Shop at...

  • Queen Street: This is where you will find most of the chain stores, as well as the Capitol Centre, which hosts some of the more upmarket shops.
  • Cardiff Market: A good place to find bargains on meat, veg and just about anything else.
  • The Arcades: Cardiff's six Victorian and Edwardian arcades are choc-a-bloc with specialist shops and unusual cafés.

The cost of living in Cardiff

In terms of accommodation and general living, Cardiff is one of the cheapest cities in the UK. A wide variety of letting agents cater specifically for students, meaning that competition is high and rent remains relatively low. Most students and recent graduates choose to live in a shared house to save money on bills, although flats and apartments in the city centre and bay area are also available to rent at reasonable prices.

Here are some pointers for finding affordable accommodation in the Cardiff area:

  • CPS Homes, Pinnacle and Keylet are examples of letting agents that specialise in student accommodation. These are all located in Cathays, the main student area of Cardiff.
  • www.homesforstudents.co.uk is a useful site that allows you to enter the name of your area or chosen university before coming up with a list of available student properties. The site also has a flatmate finder to help you find your perfect roommate.
  • www.letalife.com is another useful website that allows you to search through a range of different types of rental properties in your chosen area.

Getting work in the Cardiff area

A wide variety of jobs are available in the hospitality sector in Cardiff courtesy of the huge range of hotels, bars and restaurants that are based in the area. If you find yourself inspired, you could even set up your own unique bar or café as two fine art graduates recently did when they opened The Milgi Lounge on Cardiff's City Road.

Jobs are also available in a variety of media from the radio station Red Dragon FM, to newspapers such as the Western Mail and a handful of regional TV stations, though these positions are highly competitive. In addition, administration and sales positions are also advertised frequently in the Cardiff area. For graduates, such roles can lead to further training, useful contacts and promotion within the company.

One of the best places to look for work experience or graduate jobs in Cardiff is www.gowales.co.uk. Positions are advertised in a range of different sectors and you can also sign up to their newsletter, which keeps you updated on upcoming opportunities and vacancies. Another source of information is www.localrecruit.co.uk/cardiff, which contains substantial listings of current vacancies in Cardiff.

Below is a list of employers in and around Cardiff that have advertised for graduates in the past. (Note: these companies may not be currently recruiting. Their names have been provided as a guideline to the type of work available and areas to look in.)

  • The Big Issue Cymru: (media, Cardiff)
  • Royal Mint: (marketing, Llantrisant, 20 minute drive)
  • Barnardo's Cymru: (voluntary, Cardiff)
  • Endsleigh: (retail, sales and finance, Cardiff)
  • British Gas: (customer service, Cardiff)
  • CPS South Wales: (legal, finance and HR, Cardiff)
  • ITV Wales: (media, Cardiff)
  • The Welsh Assembly: (media, Cardiff)
  • BBC Wales: (media, Cardiff)

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