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.
Start early
If you are an international student studying a one-year degree in the UK, finding a job and finishing your degree at the same time can be an extremely demanding task. While the Graduate Route post-study visa allows for a two-year stay in the UK (three years for those who have completed a PhD) to work or look for employment opportunities, many of you may wish to extend your stay in the UK beyond this period, but may not know how to do so.
Do you receive Flying Start newsletters from the Careers Service? Read on to learn more about what Flying Start is and meet the team behind its creation.
Claudia, a second year studying film and television, and one of our Career Ambassadors, reports back on her work talking to students about how to fit career planning into their lives.
It is no small feat to balance student life with the pressure of future planning. For lots of students, preparing for life after graduation can feel daunting, as they are often juggling many other commitments. It’s fair to say that university can be fun and fulfilling, but sometimes it can also be a hectic and overwhelming experience.
The University of Bristol is proud to be a Next Generation Inclusive University in partnership with disability organisation EmployAbility – together we strive to put disability inclusion at the heart of what we do.
EmployAbilitysupports disabled and neurodivergent students looking for employment or internships, both during their studies and after they graduate.
They support them to get reasonable adjustments in place, to enable them to perform at their best at all stages of the recruitment process, and in the workplace.
We’re here to tell you a little bit more about the services EmployAbility offers and how they can support you.
One-to-one appointments to discuss your questions and needs
If you think you could benefit from talking to one of EmployAbility’s expert advisors, you can book a one-to-one session at a time convenient to you. In these fifteen-minute meetings, you can get impartial advice about things like disclosing at different stages, reasonable adjustments and your rights.
Chambers of Commerce are membership organisations which businesses can join to access services to help them grow and play a part in their local business community.
They exist around the world at the local, regional and national level. Bristol Chamber of Commerce is run by Business West.
You can easily find Chambers for your nearest home town or city by searching online.
Members come from a wide range of sectors; financial services, the legal sector, engineering, education, manufacturing, marketing, media, property, and many more.
Whilst Chambers of Commerce exist to help their business members, not students or graduates directly, here’s how you can use them to dramatically increase your job or work experience prospects:
1.Access up-to-date sector information
Chambers typically run committees or forums dedicated to different sectors and regularly publish reports or blog posts. You can find a wealth of detail about sectors you’re interested in, wherever you wish to work in the world. Example reports include Detroit’s automotive industry. Subscribe to Chamber newsletters and social media accounts to keep informed on the latest developments.
2. Develop useful relationships
Chamber networking events present an excellent way to make professional connections. You can attend many of these as a non-member, and they are often free or low cost. Look for events aimed at students or young professionals, or which are more informal rather than those aimed exclusively at business development. If in doubt about whether you would be welcome, contact the Chamber to ask. Although independent of Bristol Chamber, Bristol Young Professionals offer another way to meet people in the city and they are happy for professionally-minded students to attend their events.
3. Find jobs and internships
Many Chambers advertise positions suitable for students and graduates, either within the Chamber itself or with their members. You can also access the “hidden job market” by approaching members speculatively, ideally having first built a relationship with people working for your target employers. See our sample cover letters and advice on making speculative applications.
TOP TIP for international students or anyone wanting to work abroad
Bristol is a great place to be if you want a career in television production. It’s renowned for the wildlife and factual programmes made by the BBC and the many independent companies based here, and with its close-knit professional community it’s an excellent alternative to the sometimes cut-throat London scene.
But if you’ve done your research, you’ll know that it’s not easy to get your foot in the door. Competition is fierce, jobs are rarely advertised and everybody wants someone with tons of experience (which you haven’t got because no one will give you a chance).
As a former TV producer, I get a lot of questions from people wanting to break into the TV industry. So here are my top tips to answer that perennial question: as a recent or soon-to-be Bristol graduate, how can you make yourself stand out from the crowd and get a job?
Have you thought about getting a part-time job? This blog considers the benefits and things to consider.
Why work part-time?
For many students, the opportunity to earn some extra cash is the main draw of part-time work. However, there are several other benefits. You can:
Student Ambassador working at a University of Bristol open day
Develop your skills and confidence
Gain experience for your CV
Meet new people
Practice job searching, writing applications and interviews
Get first-hand experience of a working environment
Potentially get a “foot in the door”, and make connections with people in a sector that you might want to work in longer term
Things to consider
How much time do you have available? Part-time work mustn’t impact your studies. To get the balance right, the University advises working no more than 15 hours per week in term-time for undergraduates, or 20 hours for postgraduate students.
Regular or flexible hours? Some jobs have set hours, whilst some are more changeable. Weigh up the benefit of a regular wage versus flexibility around other commitments.
What roles would suit me? What skills do you have that might be useful in a part-time job? What would I enjoy doing? See exploring career ideas: understanding yourself for support with these questions.
What do I want to gain or develop? From transferable skills and attributes (e.g. communication, problem solving, using initiative, resilience) to more technical skills, consider roles that may help you to develop in different areas. See top skills employers look for when you graduate. Also, see the researching sectors and employers guide for ways to identify skills relevant to any future career interests you have.
In person, remote or hybrid? The nature of the job may impact whether you need to work in person, or whether working at home is an option.
Employed or freelance? Whilst many students work for an employer, some offer their skills on a freelance basis. This could mean more flexibility and choice in your work.
Any visa restrictions? International students should check their visa’s terms before applying for part-time work. You will also need a National Insurance Number to work in the UK. See the guide for international students for further information.
What adjustments might help me? If you’re a disabled or neurodivergent student, consider whether you might need adjustments. This could be when applying for, or when you’re in a job. See advice for disabled and neurodivergent students to consider what you might need and how to ask for it.
What kinds of part-time jobs could I do?
Here are some common areas for part-time work:
Hospitality, retail and other service-based jobs are common. There are many opportunities in Bristol in these sectors.
Admin jobs can also use skills developed whilst studying. Administrative experience in a professional context could also be useful for future applications for office-based roles.
Education and childcare jobs such as babysitting, nursery worker, tutoring and teaching assistant.
Health and social care such as working in a care home or healthcare assistant roles.
Marketing and social media, such as copywriting and social media marketing. These can be a great way to apply social media skills in a professional context.
Jobs on campus are popular and can come up throughout the year. Examples include: Student Ambassador, PASS Leader, working in Sports Exercise and Health, Global Lounge Ambassador, Telephone fundraiser, Careers Ambassador, BILT Student Fellow, Senior Resident and Sustainability Champion. Many (but not all) roles advertise in Spring to start the following academic year.
You could see if there are opportunities related to a graduate career you are exploring. See our work experience and internships guide for help with finding relevant opportunities.
If they don’t have anything advertised, you can also reach out to employers. This could be with a speculative application or by visiting them at their premises.
Finally, recruitment agencies or reaching out to people in your network (if applicable) and asking if they’re aware of any roles you could apply for.
Know your rights
Make sure you know your rights for part-time work, including pay, tax, holidays and contracts and where to ask for help. See this article on your part-time worker employment rights (TargetJobs) for answers to common questions.
Hi, I’m Louise, I graduated from the University of Bristol in 2022 and I now work at Ocado Technology as a Graduate Hardware Engineer.
My university experience
In 2018 I began studying for an integrated master’s degree in Mechanical and Electrical Engineering. The first three years of my degree were transformative in building my confidence and passion for engineering.
One of the best extra-curricular activities I did during my time at university was being a Course Representative as this helped me to get to know both my cohort and my lecturers. During my second year I also completed the Bristol PLUS Award, a programme organised by the Careers Service. The best thing I gained from this programme was learning how to articulate the value I had gained from my extra curricular experiences in my CV and in job interviews.
Hello! My name is Archie and I have been participating in the University’s partnership with the work experience platform Not Impossible.
My experience with Not Impossible started with an email entering my inbox, with the promise of microplacements due to the fact I was from a widening participation background.
Their system creates short-term, 1:1, one-hour to one-day, work placements with Bristol and Bath employees smart-matched to you – within your sector, using an online skills and interests tool and psychometric tests that identify shared motivations, reasoning skills and personalities.
Some people have more experience of professional networking through personal contacts, but where do you start if you don’t have these existing connections?
Carlos is a second year Law student and Co-President of The 93% Club (UoB’s State School Society). In this blog, Carlos shares his experiences and advice for developing professional networks at university as a state school student.
“It wasn’t until my second year at university and my role as co-president of The 93% Club that I truly grasped the importance of networking. For students like me, who don’t have family connections in high places, networking offers a crucial opportunity to connect with employers, learn about companies, and expand future career prospects.
