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Why international students should make use their careers service today!

As an international student, increasing your employability is important whether you plan to stay in the UK after your studies, return to your home country or move to a new country. Luckily, help is at hand! The careers service at your university are experts in all things employability and can help with all of the above. For example, moving to the UK to study may mean that there are cultural and business differences that are key to finding a role in this country; conversely, there may be key employers in your home country who are particularly interested in recruiting UK-educated graduate returners.

The careers team have a wealth of knowledge that can be shared with you to help you find the perfect role. They provide 1-2-1 appointments, CV and interview advice, options with your degree, skill development and much more. Their help is included in your course fees but making the most of their services is down to you.

What can your careers team help with?

The careers service is full of opportunities and help for students. Here are some of the ways you can engage with the team;

• Make an appointment to discuss your career options. They will have information relating to your field of study and will be able to advise you on where your degree can take you. There might also be some career paths that you didn’t realise were available to you. They will help you explore your skills and what interests you.
• Get help with creating a CV, interview tips and application forms. It can be difficult to know how to approach an interview or the best way to show your skills in your CV but your careers team are experts and can guide you through the process to give you the best chance of showcasing your talent.
• Help developing your skills. You can find further information on what skills employers are looking for, how to network successfully and how the transferable skills from your course can help you find a job. Don’t forget, the careers team are there for specialist advice and support. They will guide you with their knowledge and will need to take responsibility for finding a role using their advice.

 

With vast careers knowledge, your careers team can help you connect your degree and skills to your future career. If you’ve recently started a course, make an appointment with the team to discuss what your options are. By having a plan in place early, you can make the most of your time at university and gather advice on how to hone your skills. We spoke to the careers team at UWE, Bristol to find out what their top tips for international students were. Their suggestions included;

• Networking is key. Try to take every possible opportunity you are offered to build a network. Whether from the careers team, lecturers or at an event. This is your chance to make a good impression which could lead to hearing about a graduate role. For example, some courses have lectures or events where professionals from your industry will attend. Make the effort to engage with these opportunities, ask questions to gather insight into the industry and if possible introduce yourself where appropriate.
• Develop your CV. There are several ways to do this while studying including undertaking a placement, internship or connecting with volunteering opportunities. What these will do is add skills, experience and the professional edge that employers are looking for when recruiting. If you’re unsure of which opportunities are suitable, speak to your careers team for advice.
• Be proactive. Job hunting can take time, but by engaging with the services available from your university, you’re putting yourself in the best possible position for a graduate role. Meet with your careers team for help, but do your research first using the online tools available to you so that you make the most of the time they have.

 

When looking for careers advice or a graduate role, make the most of the services and contacts available to you including your careers team, lecturers and GradLink. GradLink provides a global jobs page, country-specific careers advice and connections to employers across the world. Register today for free!