Re-entering the job market after a medical gap + graduate job prospects in London

I graduated in 2024 (my diploma states January, although I formally received my final results in April — an administrative detail rather than an academic one). Due to significant health issues shortly after graduating, I was unable to work, which resulted in a career gap. I have since fully recovered and am ready to return to the job market, but re-entering has proven far more challenging than expected.

I would really value input from people who:
• experienced an early-career gap (medical or otherwise) and successfully re-entered the workforce;
• can share practical advice on how to position such a gap in a CV and during interviews without it becoming a disadvantage;
• have concrete insights into what actually works for re-entry (upskilling, temporary contracts, contract roles, networking, etc.).

In parallel, my partner is about to complete an internship and will officially graduate in June this year. We have been looking at graduate roles in London, but opportunities seem extremely limited in his field.

I’m hoping to get clarity on a few points:
• is the London graduate job market genuinely tight right now, or are we approaching it incorrectly?
• does it make more sense to target entry-level roles that are not explicitly labelled “graduate”, off-cycle schemes, or alternative pathways?
• based on current market conditions, what realistic options are available for new graduates now ?

I’m looking for honest, reality-based perspectives rather than generic encouragement.
If you’ve been through something similar or have concrete insights into the current market, I’d really appreciate your input.

Thank you.

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