Get a job after studies as an international student in the UK

Moyosore Akala
Sep 8, 2018 · 5 min read

If you are here on this page, chances are that you are either considering a taught programme in the UK or currently enrolled in one. It has become the norm for youths, mostly of developing and under-developed countries to seek education outside their home countries. For some, the purpose is to explore a field which lacks expertise in their home countries while for others, it is a means to gain international exposure.

Statistics from the UK International Student Affairs show that:
- 81% of students studying in higher education (BSc, Msc and Phd) in the UK are from the UK.
- 6% are from the rest of the EU
- 13% are from the rest of the world.
- The total number of non-UK students who studied in the UK in 2016–17 is 442,375
- 42% of students studying at postgraduate level in the UK are from outside the EU.

The influx of international students over the years has been met by a stricter immigration policy. Post study visa, allowing UK university graduates to stay back for two years after study, was abolished in 2012; and at the moment the Tier 4 student visa typically expires 4 months after your studies. This means you have to get that job quickly or you get out.

As someone who came to the UK as international student from Africa, I faced the various huddles presented. There are quite a couple of guidelines out there to help you, but like me, I always wanted to hear from those who overcame the situation hence the reason I’m sharing this piece with you.

Shortly before completing my dissertation, I got my first job as a Data Scientist in the fintech industry with my visa duly sponsored. A year later, I moved on to my second job as a Python Developer also in fintech industry and yes, my visa was again sponsored.

So, how did I go about it? Keep reading!

  • Be ready for rejections. Yes, you heard me! Not everyone who tries will eventually get a job. If you are going to be part of that small percentage of success stories, you’ll need to brace yourself for even the worst situations. I literally lost count of the number of rejections I got but I kept telling myself, one of them will accept me.
  • Invest quality time in writing a decent and attractive resume and cover letter. If you can’t do it yourself, use the career hub provided by your University or pay a company to do it (there are quite a few online). Your resume is usually the first point of contact which describes what you are capable of. A poor resume will only leave you frustrated resulting in rejections. Below is a snapshot of my inbox at that time.

Unlike a resume, a cover letter is specific to the role you are applying for. Make sure this is tailored with the job requirements and not overly generic. And check your grammar, spellings and punctuations.

  • Spread your resume across many waters. Don’t stick to just a hand few of companies. Chances are that for every job you are applying for, another 50 candidates like you are doing the same. You want to reach out to a reasonable number to improve your chances.
  • Don’t apply for jobs you don’t qualify for. As a religious person, I sometimes applied for jobs out of my spec hoping a miracle will happen. Well…it never happened. Asides from sapping your energy to fill applications, you’ll also end up with a ton of rejection emails. Trust me, the UK has a good economy and you won’t run out of vacancies to apply for in your field even though some are more competitive than others.
  • Apply to companies that already have a Tier 2 sponsor license. What does this mean? As an international student, you can’t just work for any employer. You’ll need a tier 2 visa to stay and work in the UK after your studies and this can only be for an employer who has an approved license to sponsor you. The total list of license holders across the UK are listed here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/register-of-licensed-sponsors-workers. If the employer in the vacancy you are about to fill out is not listed there, don’t bother applying. It is almost a waste of your time and energy. As a rule of thumb, before filling a vacancy, search for the employers name on the list. Do this every time!
  • Use online job sites to your advantage. Register with the likes of Indeed, Total Job, LinkedIn and co. Subscribe to alerts of the job role you are after. They would help you stay up to date with vacancies.
  • Fill every application like it is the only one. Prepare for every interview like it is the last. Again, you need to understand the market is quite competitive and it is a necessity that your application stands out to get a chance for an interview. Do not rush them with weak responses. If your application scales through to the next round, make sure you adequately prepare for the interview like it is your only chance. The reality is, that might only be the interview you’ll ever get, so take it very seriously. In all my applications during my masters programme, which were well over 70, I only made it to 4 interviews.
  • Be ready to write aptitude tests. Yes! Not all vacancies would go from job application to interviews. For some, you’ll need to write apititude tests and even essays. The big four (Deloitte, KPMG, PWC, Ernst & Young) will certainly test you on this. And please don’t be like me — if I couldn’t get a material on the internet, I didn’t bother. This was the case for some past questions which could have helped me ace the tests. Some sites sold them but I was always looking for free stuff. If you have the cash, buy it and prepare adequately.
  • Lastly, I would say believe in yourself and pray if you are religious. Sometimes, that is the only motivation you need. In other cases, all you need is just favour. I’m saying this because I was initially rejected for the job I would eventually get after my programme. I got an email a week after the rejection email asking me if I was still interested. It could be that the candidate they selected opted out, giving room for me. Do not listen to people telling you how impossible it is to get a job as an international student. In truth, it is difficult but with the right mindset and strategy, it is very achievable.

I wish you the very best in your quest.

Moyosore Akala
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