As a student in the UK, it can be difficult to find a job after graduating as there are so many new graduates competing for a limited number of roles. This is especially true for international students, who need to go through a number of additional steps to get a job in the UK. In this blog, we outline the steps you need to take as an international graduate to increase your chances of employment.
Ensure you have the correct documents to prove eligibility to work in the U.K
International students will most likely already have a student visa, which allows them to study in the U.K. To work in the U.K. after graduating as you will have to apply for a graduate visa, which lasts 2 years, after which you will have to apply for a different kind of visa, such as a skilled worker visa.
You may also need a sponsor if you are working with a temporary visa, such as a skilled worker visa. The GOV.UK website has a list of companies that can sponsor you if you decide to apply to work for them.
Update your CV/Cover Letter to appeal to UK employers.
You should always tailor your CV and cover letter to the job you are applying for. For example, if you’re applying for an engineering job, you should emphasise the skills and qualifications that would make you a good candidate for that role, and leave out anything else, even if they are impressive. As an international graduate, you should also make it clear if you speak fluent or near fluent English, as this will set you apart from international graduates who aren’t as fluent.
You should also aim to keep both your CV and cover letter concise. Employers have to go through sometimes hundreds of applications for the same job and don’t have time to read lengthy documents, no matter how much relevant experience they have.
Research companies and job opportunities
Use job search websites such as Indeed, LinkedIn, Glassdoor, or the job search feature on Google to find job opportunities that suit the sector you want to work in and your level of experience. As an international student, it is also important that you check if the company you are applying for can sponsor you.
It is also important to network properly. This means speaking to and keeping in contact with people in the area you want to work in who can alert and recommend you for relevant job opportunities. Companies are more likely to hire someone they already know about than an applicant who is completely unknown.
If you are struggling to get a job you want, you should consider doing a job that you don’t necessarily want to do, such as in a shop or volunteering. This will give you more experience and prove to potential employers that you have already succeeded in a workplace environment.
Seek advice from your university’s careers service
The careers service at your university will be able to advise you on what visa would best suit you, how to write an effective CV/cover letter and help decide what career path you should follow.
Attending career events at university is also a good idea, as it will help you get a better idea of what a specific job requires and will help you build a network of contacts.
Overall, there are a number of steps that international graduates should take to improve their chances of finding employment in the UK. It is especially important that international graduates have the correct visa that allows them to work in the UK before attempting to apply for a full time job.
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