Studying abroad brings new opportunities, including starting work in your desired career. Perhaps you have chosen your degree or subject specifically for the professional outcomes, or you're still exploring your options. Whatever the case, one thing is certain. You will need to secure a job. We’re here to help with some guidance, insights and tips on how to find a job as an international student and graduate.
Prepare your CV
This may seem simple and obvious. But having an accurate, up-to-date and well-presented CV is very important when approaching potential recruiters and employers. Research what CV formats, templates, and information are used in the industry you’re interested in. For example, there will be a difference between applying for a creative industry job or an engineering position.
Understand what the requirements of the types of jobs you want are. That way, you can tailor your CV to highlight your skills, experience and abilities to match the job specification. Some of the best tips for creating a good CV are:
- Include a small summary of your profile that underlines your skills and achievements.
- Try and demonstrate your successes and results rather than responsibilities or tasks.
- Highlight your personal development, growth and accomplishments.
- Show how you're involved in projects and initiatives, from internships to volunteering.
- Demonstrate that you understand the industry in which you want to work. This can be listing tools or approaches that you are familiar with.
- Make sure you select positive and strong words to emphasize your profile.
If you're unsure whether your CV stands out or is well-structured, don’t be afraid to ask for help. You can approach your university careers office, speak to a recruiter, or chat with successful alumni or peers for advice.
Attend career fairs
One of the best ways to understand your options and get the information you need is to attend career fairs. They are great places to network and meet prospective employers. In some cases, you may be able to leave your CV with recruiters and companies for consideration. Most importantly, you get to ask questions of organisations and current employees, which tells you about an industry and company culture.
Career fairs may be organised by your university or held off-campus by recruitment or marketing companies. Sign up for notifications and newsletters and check relevant websites for information on upcoming events. It’s worth attending both virtually and in person if possible. Some of the main benefits of going to a career fair include:
- Understanding the practical steps you need to take to start and progress your career.
- Speaking to fellow students and alumni about their experiences.
- Learning about professional practice, conduct and how to transition from student life to industry.
- Discovering opportunities and options that you may not be aware of.
- Building a network of contacts.
Don’t forget to prepare before you go to a career fair. Research companies you’re interested in and understand the types of roles you're interested in. Arrive with a set of goals and questions to get the most out of the day.
Learn how to match your study and career path.
Speak to your careers office and a counsellor
The value of speaking to your university’s careers or employability office cannot be underestimated. You can meet and speak with trained staff and professionals who aim to help you find career direction and job opportunities. This can include internships and work placements.
It’s useful to check what services are offered and understand the processes and policies. Offerings may differ between universities, but usually, employability and careers services cover:
- Personal career counselling
- Career planning
- Career testing
- Degree and qualification evaluation
- CV writing and evaluation
- Job application assistance and advice
- Creating and designing a graduate portfolio
- Career mentoring
- Careers fairs and events
- Connection to industry, recruiters, and employers
- Student enterprise and innovation
- Academic and study advice
- Help with graduate schemes
- Job boards and portals
As you can see, universities offer several options and routes to help you on your career path. It’s a great way to start outlining your priorities, goals, and objectives. It can also lead to connections with companies and employers where you can gain experience or find work.
Sign up with a recruitment agency
A further step that you can take is to register with a recruitment agency. This is free, and recruiters are trained to assist students and graduates find work. Remember that some recruitment agencies focus on specific industries, so be sure to check. You might need to attend an interview with a recruiter where you discuss your CV, applications, and career goals so that you can be best matched with possible employers.
A further plus point of working with a recruiter is finding out about companies and organisations you want to work for. You can discover what the company culture is like, what positions they have, and importantly what they pay. Recruiters can also be very helpful in preparing you for interviews, especially when they know an industry or employer well. Some of the other benefits of joining a recruitment agency are:
- Personalised assistance with CV and profile evaluation.
- Intensive interview preparation.
- Access and connections to professional associations
- Access to job boards and listings
- Matching you with appropriate companies and roles.
- Recruiters liaise with businesses on your behalf, helping to sell your skills and abilities
- Fast-tracking of job applications and hiring.
Recruiters are trained professionals with insight and information on what is needed to secure your desired job. They often have partnerships and relationships with employers, who trust them and their advice. Therefore, being recommended for a role by a recruiter is always good.
Preparing for your career, researching jobs and making applications will take time. You want to ensure you’re dedicating enough energy to this, and so creating a schedule and routine can be helpful. That way you can develop a timeline, prioritise, and set goals. Being proactive by meeting with your careers service, a recruiter or attending career fairs is important. Spend enough time designing your CV, writing application cover letters, and preparing for interviews. This can make all the difference in securing a job or not.
Hopefully, you now understand what it takes to land your dream job. We’ve also got some additional advice that might help. Read our guide to the in-demand skills for this year, the post-study landscape for international students, and the career benefits of studying abroad.
Chat with Couru
