Trapped in retail after graduating university. How do I finally break out?

[u/Sogegreat]

I graduated in IT & Business a couple of years ago (with no experience unfortunately). Since then I’ve been trying to get into data, business analysis, or tech roles in the UK. I even did a data analytics training course, got close with some analyst/BA jobs, but ended up being rejected at the final stages.

It’s now 2025 and I’ve been working in retail for the past year just to get by. At this point I feel like applying for grad roles is a waste of time since I’m a couple years out.

I’m open to other industries too (operations, digital marketing, e-commerce, etc.) — anything that gets me out of retail and onto a career track. I’d even volunteer to get some experience if that helps.

My questions:

1. What’s the fastest realistic way to transition out of retail into a proper career role?

2. Would a Master’s actually help, or is it just a waste of time and money?

3. Is volunteering worth it to build experience? If so, how do I even go about finding opportunities or asking to volunteer? Has anyone actually managed to land a job this way?

I feel stuck in an infinite loop and need some clear direction, any advice would mean a lot.

[u/Odd_Funny_6636]

You’re not alone — tons of grads end up in this exact “retail trap” phase. Fastest way out isn’t another degree, it’s leverage what you already have + package it better. A Master’s won’t magically fix the “no experience” problem, it just delays it (and adds debt).

What works:
Rebrand retail → transferable skills. Don’t just write “served customers.” Frame it as “analyzed sales trends, trained 3 new staff, improved process.” Employers in ops/BA/marketing eat that up.
Projects > courses. That data analytics training? Spin it into a portfolio (dashboards, reports, case studies). A tangible GitHub or portfolio site will beat a certificate every time.
Volunteering works if strategic. Look for nonprofits or small businesses that need help with data tracking, social media, or e-commerce. You’re basically doing “free internships,” which give you real bullets for your CV.
Grad roles aren’t wasted. Plenty accept “recent grads” up to 3 years out — just apply anyway.
Network > cold apps. Message alumni, join local meetups, LinkedIn groups, even hackathons. You need humans to vouch for you, not just ATS filters.

TL;DR: You don’t need a Master’s. You need to turn your retail job + training into a story of transferable skills, build a small portfolio, and start networking into junior BA/data/ops roles. That’s the quickest exit ramp out of retail.