This blog is written for international students studying at Royal Holloway, University of London. The blog is written by Andrew Falconer, International Student Careers Adviser with contributions from other careers professionals.
Speculative articles for publication are welcome.
The Independent newspaper recently produced a fascinating article about opportunities for UK and international graduates in China. There are many opportunities from the short term “teaching English as a foreign language” to graduate level positions in global companies. There are many schools in London and the south-east of England (including Strodes College Egham) that teach Mandarin, a vital language for those working in China. For those who want to practice their Mandarin skills, why not place an advert on the RHUL intranet - and you can make new friends too! The Careers Service runs workshops about getting jobs in China and the International Student Careers Adviser is available for one-to-one consultations throughout the year.
Did you know that you don’t need a degree in Accounting & Finance to become an accountant? Many employers recruit accross all disciplines. The ACCA is one qualification route and is recognised internationally. They have over 296,000 students registered across 170 countries. With offices and centres in nearly 80 countries and global partnerships, wherever you go ACCA is there to support your career.
The ACCA website has now got a section specifically for international students. This includes case studies of international students studying for the ACCA and information about employers in the UK. Well worth a visit!
The reason why Royal Holloway’s jobs website doesn’t include unpaid internships and voluntary work is because it is unclear legally if an organisation is allowed not to pay somebody for work. However we do advertise overseas voluntary positions and internships on our international jobs website. This is because the law in other countries is different. Students looking for work experience can search the site for a range of specialist and general voluntary or internships opportunities overseas.
The Careers Service has updated its database of employers based in the UK who are interested in international students. This newer version is more user friendly than before. Students can search the database for internships, work experience or graduate jobs. The list has been updated to include banking, IT, finance, accountancy, media, PR, advertising and other opportunities. It is a great place to start when looking for potential employers.
The City Course is a five-day non-residential course guaranteed to give you an insider’s perspective on a career in the City. For an entire week, top financial firms will open their doors to you. Through a series of in-house workshops, case studies, presentations and discussions, you’ll get an up-close-and-personal insight on working life in London’s financial centre. You’ll start early, work hard, and come away with a detailed understanding of how the City works. The programme covers investment banking, management consultancy, accountancy, commercial law, risk management, and more.
The City Course is exclusive to students attending colleges in The Careers Group consortium – RHUL students can apply now! The closing date is 12 June and there are very limited places. Click here to download an application form or here to find out more about the course.
Students from India and China are set to benefit from increased access to scholarship funds in the UK. However, the Times Higher Education supplement has noted that students from Canada, Bahamas, Brunei, Cyprus, Malta, New Zealand and Singapore could lose out with the withdrawal of the Commonwealth Scholarships. This should not affect existing students receiving such funds but could change the options for potential Commonwealth students attending in the UK.
London Universities are the most popular for international students. The Times Higher Education (TES) supplement has said that 23% of the total student population in the London area is international. This is higher than New York or Sydney.
The Careers Service summer programme is now available online. The post-exams programme includes workshops on CVs and application forms as well as help choosing a career path. This summer term both Ernst & Young and JP Morgan will be onsite to help students understand more about the application process and the work they do. Additional workshops include “Recession Proofing your Career” and “Second Class Degree: First Class Career” – for those whose grades were not as hoped for. Details of how to sign up for events are in the careers service.
RHUL International Student Careers Adviser, Andrew Falconer, was recently interviewed for BBC World Service (China) radio. The programme was featuring the opportunities for Chinese students studying in the UK and the jobs market when they returned home. Andrew spoke about the need for students to address the issue of skills development and to use their time in UK universities to make themselves more employable.
Chinese nationals who have studied in the UK are eligible to join the British Council China alumni. This vibrant organisation can help with all sorts of networking opportunities and graduate job prospects. They even have dating events! Jobs are advertised on the alumni website and existing alumni are keen to help new members progress their careers. Membership of British Council China alumni is free of charge and can be done as soon as you graduate.
