The week of 10^th March was our third international student employability week (ISEW) and included the following awesome events:

• ACIS Asia Series – exploring opportunities in China, Southeast Asia; and Hong Kong,  
• What you need to know about work visas webinar,
• Crack the UK Job Market and find sponsorship workshop,
• International alumni Q&A and networking evening,
• LinkedIn webinar,
• Intercultural communication in the workplace workshop,
• and a PGR exploring the UK labour market session!

Thank you to our brilliant speakers who contributed to the week: Phil Duncalfe (Friends International), JMW Law Firm; and Sofia Wang (Employer Engagement Officer).

Advice from our International alumni panel

Here’s some top takeaways from our brilliant panel of international alumni who’ve secured roles in the UK: Harsh Sodhani, Muhammad Ali, Harshdeep Singh, Louai Sadraoui, Moyo Kara, Nick Delimpaltadak, Marios Marneros; and Lily Yankova:

1. Tailor your applications – ‘Make sure your CV is tailored according to the job description and company values. Write a detailed cover letter stating your suitability for the role and how you fulfil their criteria. Always apply via the company website.’
   
   
2. Highlight what you can offer as an international student – ‘Being an international student, you already have a plethora of skills. Some of them include adaptability, resilience and problem solving. Moving to a new country requires resilience, independence, and the ability to handle change’.
   
   
3. Be patient and resilient – ‘Job searching is time consuming, try not to take rejection personally, make sure you have a plan B’. ‘Don’t take rejections personally and continue to analyse your skills, knowledge and experience taking practical steps to enhance these. This will result in less wasted time and a more favourable outcome.’
   
   
4. Networking – ‘Approach alumni on LinkedIn. Previous alumni have been in your shoes trying to secure a job and have successfully come out of it. Any advice they can pass on is a rewarding experience!’ and ‘Reach out to people on LinkedIn, knowing someone in the business adds validation to your application.’
   
   
5. What we wish we’d known before job searching – ‘I wish I’d used LinkedIn more as it’s a great way to grow your network’, ‘Avoid quick applications via Indeed and LinkedIn’, ‘Use the Employability and Career resources such as the information leaflets and booking an appointment’, ‘Be prepared to take a risk or at least ensure your decision is an informed one if you chose to play it safe’, ‘Consider moving to a different city as there may be more opportunities elsewhere’.

International Alumni Advice Videos

You can also watch the videos of our alumni panel members here.

International Student Careers Hub

And finally, don’t forget to take a look at our International student employability resources which are designed to empower you to navigate the labour market effectively!