Helping you get to where you want to be when you graduate
Bristol alumni, Sarah M. Natumanya, tells us about her global experience working for a German consulting group, the UN in Switzerland and as a consultant in Uganda.
This is your chance to get involved with a week of events and workshops, specifically designed to support you in developing global skills and experiences to boost your employability!
Here are three reasons why you should make the most out of Global Careers Week:
(more…)This is the first in a series of posts sharing the experiences and advice of Bristol alumni who have secured jobs using the Graduate visa. Hear from Ning, Fei Fei and Emelyn – two of whom work at the Careers Service!
Ning Tay, Malaysia – Honours Law LLB
Careers Support Officer (International) at the University of Bristol
My initial plans of heading to bar school changed significantly due to COVID. As such, I applied for the Graduate visa and got an internship with the University’s Student Inclusion Peer Support Team, whilst figuring out my career path. Due to the flexibility of the visa, I was able to transition to a fixed-term position in the Careers Service after 6 months of my internship, now supporting the employability of our international students, with a focus on those returning to China.
Hi, my name is Yanan. It was my great honour to undertake a two-month internship at Bristol Braille Technology (BBT) under the SME Internship Scheme. My position at BBT was Braille and Employment Researcher Intern. My main duty was to conduct research on how braille promotes employment and improves the lives of the visually impaired. My work was mostly done remotely.
Working for BBT, I learned workplace etiquette and gained lots of new skills, including working to a high standard. As a non-native English speaker, my English has improved tremendously during this internship. My colleagues and supervisors are all native English speakers, and, frankly, it was a little difficult for me to keep up with them when I first started my internship. I quickly got over this problem with a lot of English practice.
At the same time, the research skills I learned at university came in handy and my time management skills have also been enhanced. This valuable experience has laid a solid foundation for my future career.
All in all, as a visually impaired person, I have benefited a lot from this internship, it really boosts my CV and I have become more confident. At work, I didn’t feel any discrimination and I wasn’t treated differently from anyone else. I sincerely hope that more of my peers will benefit from this scheme in the future. (more…)
Here are five top tips from University of Bristol international alumni who attended our International Alumni Panel Event in November:
Mei Bai — BSc Psychology
Data Analyst at the NHS
Mei Bai graduated with a BSc in Psychology, before completing an MSc conversion course in Computer Science. She then secured a job with the NHS. She started her academic journey wanting to become a clinical psychologist but ended up developing a strong interest in data analytics while doing her undergraduate dissertation.
Mei decided that doing a computer science degree would help to develop her skills and make her a stronger candidate for the roles she wanted to pursue. Her advice is to think carefully about exactly what you want to do next, make a decision, and then act purposefully.
Justin Kwik — LLB Law
Trainee Solicitor at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP
Justin Kwik studied for an LLB and graduated in 2019. He now works at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP.
With the last recruitment season for training contracts attracting thousands of applicants for fewer than a hundred advertised places, Justin’s advice to applicants is to apply early. Not all job markets will be this competitive, but applying early means that you won’t miss out if the employer decides to close an application round before the advertised deadline.
Check Student Circus for jobs that sponsor the Skilled Worker visa.
Rizwan Ur Rehman — MSc Robotics
Robotics Engineer at Dyson
Rizwan Ur Rehman graduated with an MSc in Robotics in 2018, and had already secured a graduate job at Dyson before graduation. He believes that job applications get better the more you submit, so don’t be put off by rejections.
Instead, see them as “feedback” to improve your job applications.
Rizwan began by applying for jobs that were a little bit different from his ‘dream’ robotics job, so that he could get some practice. Applications can be a lot of work, but going through the process multiple times can really help you identify the strengths and weaknesses of your current approach.
Getting invited to the interview stage means that your written application is strong, and gives you the opportunity to ask more questions about the role, as well as receive feedback on what you could do better. This will also help make you feel more comfortable in future interviews.
Qianyun Lu — MEng Civil Engineering
Geotechnical Engineer at Arup
Qianyun Lu did an MEng in Civil Engineering from 2010-2014, and is now a Geotechnical Engineer at Arup.
Qianyun was very focused on her studies while at university. While it paid off, if she could do one thing differently during her time at university, she would live a little! Qianyun’s advice is that students should take advantage of the opportunities the University provides to network, join societies, and attend events, both careers-related and otherwise. While all this is good for your CV, it will also leave you with some fantastic memories.
Jingyi Tong — MSc Economics and Finance
Marketing Finance Assistant at British American Tobacco
Jingyi Tong graduated in 2020 with an MSc in Economics and Finance. She now works at British American Tobacco.
Jingyi was also aware of the importance of planning ahead and started job hunting in the first month of starting her Master’s. By the end of the academic year, she had landed herself 3 job offers. Her number one piece of advice to anyone looking to apply is to be resourceful: make use of the resources at your disposal, including the CV360 online CV checker, practice tests, and mock video interviews on Interview360.
Want to form your own strategy in finding jobs in the UK?
As an international student in the UK, the Graduate visa can be a valuable opportunity to gain work experience and build your career. While securing sponsorship for a Skilled Worker visa can be competitive, the Graduate visa allows you to live and work in the UK without needing sponsorship.
The Graduate visa opens the door for international students to also consider less competitive opportunities, such as jobs in smaller organisations (called SMEs – small and medium-sized enterprises), which in the UK account for over 99% of all businesses. Therefore, targeting SMEs to look for a job seems like a wise move. Read our blog on why you should work for an SME.
Once you have narrowed down your search and feel you have some understanding of the market, focus on writing quality applications for a few of your preferred employers.
Stand in the hiring manager’s shoes and consider what will convince them to hire you.
If you study a relevant degree, then you should be equipped with the right knowledge; you can include your relevant modules and university projects in your CV to demonstrate this. If you have worked in a paid or unpaid role similar to the one you are applying for, detailing this experience is key so that the employer can benchmark your abilities in the workplace. While in some countries employers focus primarily on academic results, UK employers are often more practically-minded and tend to favour experience in the workplace. We cannot stress enough how important it is to try to get as much practical experience so you can to provide evidence that you are a trusted professional.
Read through the listed skill requirements (which are usually clearly stated in the job description’s ‘person specification‘ section) and make sure you can provide varied and relevant examples of these skills. Remember, when preparing these examples, follow the STAR structure.
Preparing examples in advance to demonstrate that you have commonly required skills and using a spreadsheet to record your stories can be a helpful way to organise your job search, and resources like Prospects’ job profiles can list some of the typical skills employers are looking for.
Compared with home students, you might have less UK experience and connections. To counteract this, consider your experience from your home country and do not forget your USPs (unique selling points) such as foreign language skills. If the organisation you are applying for runs projects in your home country or is preparing to expand to your home country, then you need to prepare yourself and confidently present your understanding of your home country market.
Employers often prioritise finding candidates who will fit in with their team and company culture, which is why communication and team working skills are commonly listed as job requirements. If English is not your first language, it’s important to not only improve your written English skills for academic purposes but also familiarise yourself with the language professionals use and how they present themselves.
Your personality and values also matter. Connect with employees on LinkedIn and ask them about the work culture to assess whether the employer will be a good fit for you.
SMEs may not be familiar with the recent immigration changes, or may be concerned that the Graduate visa only allows them to hire you for a limited period. However, there is no guarantee that any recent graduate would stay longer term. Confidently present the value you can bring during the Graduate visa period and make sure you know how to explain longer-term options like the Skilled Worker visa: Watch our Intro: Get a graduate job in the UK – your visa options.
Find out more:
Are you an overseas student, looking for work in the UK, but short on time?
We know there are lots of competing demands on international students’ time. Often juggling both independent and group assignments, and this year, adjusting to doing this remotely online. In normal circumstances adapting to a new culture, city, and education system presents enough to be getting on with. On top of all this, is the task of finding graduate work. This can be time consuming as an international student. From getting to know the UK jobs market to understanding the graduate visas available. Not to mention choosing roles you have an interest in and feel you could contribute to.
International student job portal, Student Circus, advertises internships, placements and graduate jobs across a range of sectors and company sizes, from start-ups to large multinationals.
It is an exciting time for international students! If you are graduating from this summer, you will be able to apply for the new Graduate visa, to stay in the UK and work or look for work for two years, or three years if you have a PhD.
The main benefit of this route over the Skilled Worker visa is that you do not need an employer to sponsor you. Here are 3 steps you can take now to make the most of this opportunity.
Do you want to work in the UK for the longer term, say 5 years, perhaps more? Or do you prefer to get some shorter-term experience here, before returning to your home country, or working elsewhere in the world?
Staying short-term
If you only want to work in the UK for a couple of years, you don’t need to worry about sponsorship anymore – you can simply apply for the Graduate visa!
Visit the Student Visas page to access information on the Graduate visa application process.
Staying long-term
If you want to stay in the UK long-term, look for a sponsored job through the skilled worker visa. Register for Student Circus – the UK graduate schemes and jobs on this website are all ones that employers have confirmed they will sponsor.
The Graduate visa gives you more time
Remember, some employers may not be fully familiar with the Graduate visa, or the Skilled Worker visa. For the Skilled Worker visa, employers need a licence to sponsor, and the job you are applying to needs to fulfil certain criteria to be one they are able to sponsor. It’s important to educate yourself so that you can explain these rules to employers if necessary.
💡Access more information by taking a look at AGCAS – Working in the UK FAQ.
As an international student you have a lot to offer UK employers. You have gained subject-specialist knowledge from your degree(s), and important skills from work experience (including volunteering) in your home country, and hopefully the UK. If you haven’t got UK work experience yet, it’s helpful if you can gain some. View our Intro: Finding work experience and internships in the UK and find out about our SME internship scheme.
Most importantly, you will have a global mindset, cultural knowledge and often language skills such as Mandarin or Arabic, that are in high demand. This can help you stand out. Watch our Intro: Communicating your value to Home and UK employers and reflect on the skills, knowledge and experience you have as an international student who has studied in the UK.
Research employers who will value what you have to offer
Consider this story for example: an Indian student taking an MEng in Aerospace Engineering focuses on contacting aerospace employers who see India as an important strategic partner. She discovers that the UK India Business Council has published Advocating Business Success in 2020, which highlights the founding members of a new Aerospace and Defence Industry Group, launched to “support and build on the huge opportunities for collaboration that exist between the defence industries of the UK and India”. This gives her a target list of employers as well as important commercial context she can reference, to stand out in her applications and at interview.
To find UK employers who are likely to value your home country knowledge, start with finding the membership organisations relevant to you. Search the name of your home country, or wider region, and add “UK” and “business membership” or “Chamber of Commerce” to find their website(s). Then, familiarise yourself with their membership lists and sector reports.
Don’t just limit yourself to well-known, larger employers – in the UK, over 99% of employers are SMEs (small or medium sized enterprises employing fewer than 250 people). SMEs are often able to recruit more flexibly and may give you a greater range of experience and responsibility than a larger employer.
Find advertised jobs – or access the hidden job market
You may find your target employers are advertising roles through Student Circus or on their websites. If they aren’t, consider approaching them speculatively: this can lead to employers hiring you in what is known as “the hidden job market”. Send a cover letter and tailored CV demonstrating the value you believe you can bring, and follow up with a phone call to see if you can arrange an exploratory meeting.
💡Find out more in our speculative applications guide.
If you follow these 3 steps, you will greatly increase your chances of securing high skilled work in the UK, in the career direction you are most inspired to pursue.
Further information and support
Getting to know a new labour market and how to navigate it can be difficult! That’s why we’ve put together this handy timeline for international students looking to find a job in the UK.