Get a job or get out: the tough reality for international students

International students account for almost a fifth (18%) of those in higher education, according to the Higher Education Statistics Agency (Hesa). However, unlike their British and EU-national peers, non-EU students have only four months after the end of their course to find a job, or they face deportation.

Most non-EU graduates go home after their studies, but of those who want to work in the UK, many apply for a Tier 2 visa. To be eligible for a Tier 2 visa:

• You must have been offered a job at a particular skills level by an employer with a Tier 2 visa sponsor licence
• Your job must pay a minimum of £20,800 (though this can depend on the job)
• You must have £945 in savings, unless your sponsor is fully approved (A-rated)

In 2014, only 5,639 students were granted leave to stay in the UK under a Tier 2 visa, according to the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA).

It’s difficult enough for students and recent graduates to find employment at the moment, but with a four-month time limit it can seem like an impossible feat.

With this in mind, I asked a range of university careers advisers how international students on the job hunt can boost their chances of finding employment.

Top tips for international students applying for UK jobs:

• Apply for jobs early. Many companies have long recruitment processes, so apply for jobs early on in your final year. Use your careers service to help you with your CV and personalise your application. If you get a job you will also need to apply for your working visa before your student visa expires.

• Use your internationalisation to your advantage. Think about what sets you apart as an international graduate, says Ellen O’Brien, international careers adviser at the University of Birmingham. “You may have language or enhanced numeracy skills that home students don’t have.”
  

• Check if an employer is registered to sponsor students. “If applying for a Tier 2 visa, you can check if an employer is on the Home Office list of registered UK employer sponsors,” says Justin Richardson, careers adviser at the University of Liverpool. “You should also know the salary requirements and conditions of Tier 2, while other visa options such as Tier 5 could be considered. However, always check the latest visa information with your university international support team.”

• Be flexible and resilient when rejected. You may want to consider other career paths. “You might not get the job of your dreams, but if you can get anything it’s a step on the ladder,” says O’Brien.

• Network your way into a job. Use your university careers service, and go to international student-focused careers fairs and introduce yourself. “Use alumni networks to contact past graduates from your country who are now working in the UK,” says David Gee, global employability manager at the University of the West of England.

• Have a backup plan if you can’t stay in the UK. If your struggling to find a job in the UK, it’s good to consider backup options at home. Sites like GradLink UK specialise in linking international students who have studied in the UK with employers in their home country.

I spoke to four recent international graduates who have had varying levels of success when searching for work. How does it feel to have just four months to secure a job?

‘I had to make sure I was the most desirable candidate’

Chloé Redman, 21, graduated from Oxford Brookes last year with a degree in occupational therapy. She is originally from Barbados and now works as an occupational therapist for the NHS in Somerset. She says:

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I probably applied for 15 different jobs in London, Bristol and Somerset. I was definitely anxious. I was told so many horror stories about people who couldn’t get sponsorship. I had to make sure I was the most desirable candidate, so I volunteered in an after-school club and at a mental health hostel to make sure I had more experience than anyone else applying.

My advice to others? Look for something you want to do but keep your options open. Apply for as many jobs and get as much experience as you possibly can. Even in those four months after your course, don’t just sit around – go out there, volunteer and get more work experience.

‘I’m frustrated, but that’s because I’m ambitious’

Karel Kingsley, 23, is a legal practice course student at City University London. She is originally from the USA and is currently looking for a job in the UK. She says:

I’ve been putting a lot of effort into applying for jobs. I’m frustrated, but that’s because I’m ambitious. Getting a job is important for me and I want to get one before the four months come to end in August.

Because of the time limit, I feel I can’t just wait around for the job I desire to arrive. I have to think on my feet and be resourceful because if I don’t get what I want before the deadline, that’s it. I’m not ready to leave the UK yet. I feel privileged that I can go back to the US, but that would mean starting afresh.

‘The effort was not wasted’

Ibukun Shorinwa, 27, graduated from Queen Mary, University of London last year with a degree in aerospace engineering. He is originally from Nigeria and now works as a project engineer for a railway network in London. He says:

I started applying at the start of my final year and applied for more than 10 jobs. The rejections were tough to take, as they came during exam periods. I finally got my current job one month before my student visa expired. I felt like the effort was not wasted. I would not want anyone else to go through it, but it was necessary for me to stay in the UK.

I recommend students use their university careers service. They helped me get my CV ready, looked through my applications, and gave me practice questions.

‘It’s tough for me to compete with home students’

Deeptha Sreedhar, 21, is a broadcast journalism master’s student at the University of Sheffield. She is originally from India and is currently looking for a job in the UK. She says:

I finish my course in September but I’ve started looking for jobs ahead of when it finishes. I’ll have to get a job by January because of the visa restrictions. I’ll probably have to apply for another 20 or 40 jobs before I hear back from an employer or get shortlisted for a few interviews.

It’s tough for me to compete with home students even though I have the qualifications and credentials required. My biggest drawback is that I’m an international student. I could probably find a small journalism job in India, but the pay in my country isn’t very good – I’ll receive a third of what I’ll get in the UK.

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