Looking for entry-level jobs in the UK can feel overwhelming when every employer lists its roles, hourly pay and benefits in a slightly different way. This guide brings seven of the country’s best-known employers and official job portals together in one place, with a short, factual summary of each and a link to our detailed guide.
Whether you want full-time, part-time or no-experience roles, the aim is to help you compare your options quickly.
How to use this guide
Each section below introduces one employer or portal, gives an approximate idea of pay, and explains who the roles tend to suit. The figures shown are approximate and intended only as a general guide, so always verify the current salary and hourly pay on the official careers site before you apply.
When a particular employer looks like a good fit, use the blue button to open our full guide, where we cover the roles, the benefits and the step-by-step application process in more detail. Reading the company guides alongside this page should make it easier to decide where to focus your applications.
Jobs by company
Tesco
Tesco is the UK’s largest supermarket and one of the country’s biggest private employers, which means it is almost always hiring across stores, distribution centres and online fulfilment.
Many entry-level jobs are customer assistant roles, where you help shoppers, stock shelves and work on tills, and these are well suited to people seeking part-time or no-experience work.
The approximate hourly pay for customer assistant roles was around £12.64 per hour at the national rate in 2025, though pay can vary by location and should be confirmed officially.
Read the Tesco guide →Asda
Asda is one of the UK’s largest supermarket chains and regularly recruits retail colleagues for its stores. These entry-level jobs cover the shop floor, checkouts and online picking, and they often include flexible part-time hours that can fit around studies or family life.
The approximate hourly pay for retail colleague roles was around £13.10 per hour at the national rate, rising to roughly £14.35 per hour inside the M25; please verify the current rate on Asda’s official careers site.
Read the Asda guide →Lidl
Lidl is often ranked among the highest-paying supermarkets in the UK, which makes it a popular choice for people comparing hourly pay between retailers. Store roles can involve a mix of tasks, from operating tills to restocking and keeping the shop floor tidy, and no previous experience is usually required.
The approximate hourly pay starts from around £13.35 per hour at the national rate and can rise to roughly £14.71 per hour in London, so always check the latest figures officially before applying.
Read the Lidl guide →NHS Jobs
NHS Jobs is the official recruitment portal for the National Health Service and lists thousands of vacancies across hospitals, clinics and community services.
Entry-level jobs are often advertised at Band 2, which can include roles such as healthcare support, administration and domestic services, and many are open to applicants with no formal experience.
Band 2 roles have an approximate salary of around £24,465 per year, which works out at roughly £12.51 per hour; confirm the current Agenda for Change pay on the official NHS site.
Read the NHS guide →Civil Service Jobs
Civil Service Jobs is the official government portal where central government departments and agencies advertise their vacancies. A common entry point is the Administrative Officer grade, which covers office-based support work such as processing records, answering queries and assisting teams, and these roles are widely available across the UK.
The approximate salary for Administrative Officer roles is around £23,811 to £26,337 per year depending on department and location, so check the specific listing for confirmed pay.
Read the Civil Service guide →Charity jobs
The charity and non-profit sector offers a wide range of entry-level jobs, and many of these are advertised through dedicated platforms such as CharityJob. Roles can include fundraising support, administration and community work, and they often appeal to people who want their work to have a social impact.
Entry-level salaries in the sector are approximately £18,000 to £26,000 per year, though pay varies considerably between organisations and should always be verified on the official listing.
Read the Charity guide →Royal Mail
Royal Mail is one of the UK’s most recognisable employers and regularly recruits postpersons to sort and deliver mail across the country. These roles often involve early starts and a mix of indoor sorting and outdoor delivery, and they can suit people who prefer active, no-experience work.
The approximate hourly pay for postperson roles is around £12.50 to £15.50 per hour, equivalent to roughly £25,500 per year, with seasonal and part-time options also available; verify the current rate officially.
Read the Royal Mail guide →* You will stay on the same site.
How to choose where to apply
With so many entry-level jobs available, it helps to narrow your search using a few practical factors rather than applying everywhere at once. Hourly pay and salary are an obvious starting point, but they are not the only thing that matters when you compare employers.
- Pay and hours: Decide whether you need full-time income or flexible part-time hours, then compare the approximate hourly pay above. Remember that London and inner-city rates are often higher to reflect the cost of living.
- Location and travel: A slightly lower hourly rate close to home can be better value than a higher rate with a long, expensive commute.
- Type of work: Retail roles at Tesco, Asda and Lidl are customer-facing and fast-paced, NHS and Civil Service roles can be office or care based, and Royal Mail work is active and largely independent.
- Progression: Some employers, particularly the NHS and the Civil Service, have clear pay bands and structured routes to more senior roles, which can matter if you want a long-term career rather than a short-term job.
- Sector values: If purpose is important to you, charity jobs may appeal even where the salary is modest compared with retail.
There is no single best employer for everyone. The right choice depends on your circumstances, your availability and what you want from work, so it is worth shortlisting two or three options before you start applying.
How the UK application process works
While every employer is different, most entry-level jobs in the UK follow a broadly similar application process. Knowing the general steps in advance can make the experience far less stressful and help you prepare strong applications.
- Find the vacancy: Search the employer’s official careers site or the relevant portal, such as NHS Jobs or Civil Service Jobs, and read the role description carefully to check the location, hours and pay.
- Prepare your details: Have an up-to-date CV ready, along with your contact details, work history and the right to work in the UK. Many retail and delivery roles accept applicants with no experience, so focus on transferable skills and availability.
- Complete the online form: Most employers now use online application forms. Take your time, answer any screening questions honestly, and tailor your responses to the specific role.
- Assessment or interview: Depending on the employer, you may be invited to an online assessment, a telephone screening or an in-person interview. Public-sector roles often use structured, competency-based interviews.
- Offer and checks: If you are successful, the employer will usually make a conditional offer and carry out checks, which can include references, right-to-work documents and, for some roles, a background check.
Hiring timelines vary widely. Some retail and seasonal roles move quickly, while public-sector recruitment can take several weeks because of the additional checks involved.
Frequently asked questions
Do entry-level jobs in the UK require experience?
Many do not. Retail roles at supermarkets, Royal Mail delivery work and some NHS and Civil Service support roles are open to applicants with no experience, as employers often provide training. Always read the job description, which will state any essential requirements.
What is the typical hourly pay for entry-level jobs?
Hourly pay varies by employer and location, but many entry-level retail and support roles in this guide pay roughly £12.50 to £15.50 per hour, with higher rates often available in London. Salaried roles such as NHS Band 2 and Civil Service Administrative Officer posts are usually quoted as an annual salary instead.
Can I find part-time entry-level jobs?
Yes. Supermarkets such as Tesco, Asda and Lidl frequently advertise part-time and flexible hours, and Royal Mail offers seasonal and part-time options. Part-time vacancies are usually labelled clearly in the listing, so you can filter for them when searching.
How do I apply through official portals like NHS Jobs?
For NHS Jobs and Civil Service Jobs you create an account on the official portal, search for vacancies, and complete an online application form for each role. These portals are free to use, and you should be cautious of any third-party site that asks for payment to apply.
Editorial note
This is an independent guide published by kasamim.com and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by any of the employers or portals mentioned. All pay figures are approximate, are provided for general guidance only, and may change over time.
Hourly pay and salary can vary by location, role, contract and date, so you should always confirm current details on the official careers site before applying. We aim to keep this information accurate and neutral, but we cannot guarantee employment or specific outcomes.
