Helping you get to where you want to be when you graduate
While most jobs that you see advertised online are real, fraudsters can make use of online advertisements to trick you into paying for something that doesn’t exist.
Scams come in many different forms, but the people who carry them out are always looking for new ways to make easy money. To detect a scam and avoid being tricked, here are 10 things to look out for:
We were joined by Adil Shaikh from India, a Computer Vision Engineer at DeGould Ltd; Livia Iriawan from Indonesia, an Auditor at KPMG; Linlu Ye from China, the Equality, Liberation and Access Officer at Bristol SU; and Rose Sharon Chin from Malaysia. The event was a full house! If you couldn’t make it, don’t worry, here are the key takeaways that might help you on your own journey:
Every international student has a unique story. Adapting to a new education system, adjusting to cultural differences, and navigating day-to-day life builds far more than academic knowledge. Our alumni reminded us that these experiences develop adaptability, resilience, and problem-solving skills. Additionally, the teamwork and communication skills gained through societies, group projects, and part-time work.
Every speaker emphasised the importance of a well-crafted, tailored CV. Especially from Rose, who has worked in HR, saying that if your CV isn’t tailored to the role, it’s unlikely to get through. Rather than sending out dozens of generic applications, put time into researching the role and company, and show clearly how your experience aligns with what they’re looking for. We also offer detailed CV guidance and 1:1 appointments with our advisors to help you stand out.
Not knowing your exact career path after graduation is completely normal. In fact, most of our alumni felt the same way. Trying out short-term experiences like internships, volunteering, or university programmes, such as City Challenge, Bristol Skills Accelerator, or working towards the PLUS Award, helped them explore options and gain clarity.
Every alum we heard from had their fair share of rejections. The key is to focus on what you can control: improving the quality of your applications, developing your skills, and staying proactive.
And remember, it’s a two-way street. Employers are not just assessing whether you’re right for them; you’re also figuring out if the job and company are right for you. So be humble, stay curious, and don’t let setbacks shake your confidence.
Landing a job isn’t easy, but with the right guidance and advice, the journey can feel a lot more manageable. If you’re interested in hearing more inspiring stories from our international alumni, keep an eye on upcoming events on mycareer. Just filter by ‘International’ under event type to find sessions specifically designed for international students.
Hi, I’m Olivia, and I volunteered with Bristol Women’s Voice on International Women’s Day for their event at City Hall.
This experience allowed me to engage with like-minded women in my local community and contribute to a cause close to my heart; tackling gender-based inequality and violence.
I volunteered with Bristol Women’s Voice because I wanted to do something to celebrate International Women’s Day 2025.
I also wanted to meaningfully contribute to the amazing work that local women are doing to unite women in Bristol by celebrating their achievements and offering support and information for those who need it
Bristol Women’s Voice was set up in 2013 to ‘listen and make heard the views and voices of women from across Bristol’s diverse communities, empowering them to influence decision-makers’.
It was the responsibility of the volunteers to make sure that the event ran smoothly. Upon my arrival at City Hall I became a room steward, helping Bristol girls network set up their first mates event, which is like speed dating but for making new friends!
Next the room was needed for a body confidence dance class and so we had to prepare the room for that. At the same time it was our job to answer questions from members of the public and to make sure that everyone was safe and having a good time.
I also played to my unique strengths and offered to be a media volunteer. For this role I attended one of the panel events being hosted on the day.
I listened to a group of incredible female journalists and creatives, local to the area, talk about the challenges of being a woman in the media industry. They also offered advice for those aspiring to a creative career.
Afterwards, I wrote a blog summarising the panel for the Bristol Women’s Voice webpage.
I signed up to become a volunteer on the SU’s Volunteering Hub which I heard about during Student Volunteering Week. The process was really simple and I only had to attend one online training session before the day. In total, I only had to give up about 7 hours of my time, which was easy to manage alongside my final year studies.
Now that I have volunteered, I feel like I have closer connections with my local community and feel encouraged to volunteer with Bristol Women’s Voice again.
I used MySkills to reflect on the experience and consider how the day might help me with my future career aspirations.
If you are considering signing up for a volunteering role, check out the SU Volunteering Hub for some incredible opportunities.
Another way to give back, that only takes a few hours, is the City Challenge Programme which allows you to support a local charity or social enterprise.
Overall, my experience as a volunteer for Bristol Women’s Voice was an extremely positive one, even though it was only over the course of a day. I hope this encourages you to think about the positive change you can make by giving up even a few hours of your time.
We heard from inspiring individuals on how they are striving to drive change across the life sciences sector – and learnt how to position ourselves in impactful roles in our own future careers.
Missed it? Here’s who attended and their tips for aspiring future change-makers.
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Next Customer Please help law firms to get more qualified leads through search marketing campaigns, including using Search Engine Optimisation (SEO). During my internship, I delved deep into the social media marketing especially for LinkedIn. Over 10 weeks, I had the opportunity to contribute to digital marketing campaigns and develop marketing skills, especially in the legal field.
Imagine this scenario. You see a job advertised for a large company. It is advertised as an entry level job, and you are delighted that you meet all the criteria.
Actually, the more you look at it, the more you realise that you are the perfect candidate, and this is the job for you.
You clear your calendar and designate three whole days to writing the application. Dinner with Gran will have to wait.
You get it done. You get it proofread. You lap up the praise. It is perfect. You send it well in advance of the deadline. And you wait for your invite to interview.
And you wait. And you wait. You refresh your email a million times. You check that your phone is working. You google “How long does it take to be called to an interview?” You ask ChatGPT what it would do.
Not hearing back after submitting a job application is far from a new phenomenon, and many people will have tales similar to this one. However, frequency of occurrence doesn’t stop the pain of a ghosting (as many internet daters can contest to!). And it is not just initial applications – it can happen at every stage of the hiring process.
So, what do you do if you find yourself ghosted? Below are a few suggestions that might just help you out:
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Using My Skills made me realise that the work I’ve done, both for and outside of my studies, has helped me engage with both local communities and the wider world. As I’m aspiring to a career in the NGO/human rights sector, both are attributes that are attractive to potential employers.
You can use My Skills to complete your skills profile and then figure out the skills pathways relevant to you.
I completed the pathways entitled ‘engaging positively with global issues’ and ‘engaging positively with local communities’, here’s what they helped me realise:
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The University of Bristol Business School offers Master’s students the chance
to take part in a 3-week authentic industry project designed to prepare you for the workplace through real business challenges.
The programme is running twice this year with two different groups of students. Our next intake is in June 2025 and you can express your interest here.
(more…)I’m also neurodivergent and, to be honest, the idea of ‘networking’ has always felt a bit confusing to me.
What actually is it? Who is your network? Is it something you do, or something you build? For many of us – especially neurodivergent students and graduates – the word can come with a lot of pressure.
It might bring to mind images of busy careers fairs, fast-paced conversations, or having to ‘perform’ confidence on demand. That version of networking doesn’t suit everyone, and it doesn’t have to.
