Not confident with your language skills?

Language can be a great barrier. It can make you feel much less confident, make employers think you incapable of doing the job and can make socialising awkward. Your time at Royal Holloway should allow you to improve your language skills. There are easy things you can do to help yourself so that when you graduate you have the confidence that, even though English isn’t your first language, you can communicate effectively.

Royal Holloway International run in-sessional courses for students with concerns about their language skills. These can help with academic work but also college life and career opportunities. For details of the courses click here.

The careers service is also running a short session on November 13 “Improving your English to get that job” which will cover some basic language skills to CV writing and application forms. You must book your attendence in advance by emailing here.

If you want further help with conversational language skills, why not post an advert on the college intranet looking for a native English speaking buddy? You can teach them the basics of your language for the benefit of their conversational English!

Calling all budding journalists

News Associates is a training company for those seeking careers in journalism. They are organising introductory workshops about careers in journalism in London on Friday October 10th, November 14th, and December 12th – 10.30am-1.30pm.  This practical three-hour seminar is designed for those considering a career in journalism or NCTJ training. There will be a chance to meet tutors, reporters and editors and time will also be set aside for career advice.

There are many different routes into journalism including accredited Masters courses.  Students at Royal Holloway can also attend Careers in the Media, a one day event looking at careers in print and broadcast media. The website for the next Careers in the Media is not online yet but you might find details of last years event useful.

Careers in journalism are challenging especially if English isn’t your first language. However there are many organisations globally who recruit journalists who have trained in the UK first.

Welcome to all new students!

 

RHUL

WELCOME!

If you are a fresher and looking at this blog in your first week perhaps you haven’t yet been distracted by all the other things you are meant to be doing! Or maybe you have attended the International Student induction and have been keen to check out all the support services available to you.

We hope you settle in and enjoy your time at Royal Holloway. There is a jam-packed programme of careers events already organised – from volunteering to teaching, management consultancy to IT.  You will get a copy of the full programme in your pigeon holes in your departments or at www.rhul.ac.uk/careers

 

Coming up:

1 October:              Part-time Job Fair,     Students Union. 

 Remember, most international students are allowed to work up to 20hrs per week on their student visa.  Just turn up between 12noon and 2.30pm.

7 October:                   Introduction to Graduate Recruitment

This is aimed primarily at 2nd and 3rd years but anybody can attend. The session covers the typical application process for graduate jobs internationally.  You must book to attend this event.

Texaco “online staff recruitment” say NO!

An international student was recently contacted by email from Texaco “online staff recruitment” to say they have been offered a job and will receive a work permit shortly to take up the position within Texaco Oil Group. Texaco Oil Group have confirmed this is a scam. It has been reported to the authorities but the scammers will eventually ask international students for their bank details to “process payments”.

Scams using recruitment offers exist. International students are often easy targets because they may be unfamiliar with recruitment processes. The college has new anti-spam software but external email accounts may not have the same. A certain amount of spam is unavoidable but remember – it is unlikely you will be contacted about a job you haven’t applied for!

Careers in Finance?

Graduate Select is one of the events provided by The Careers Group in central London. All current students at Royal Holloway and GradClub members can apply to attend.  Graduate Select is an important event for employers because it is only for students who can demonstrate a real drive to work in the financial or IT sectors. Not everyone who applies can attend so if you are wanting to attend why not drop into the careers service to get some help with your application?  There is a limit to the number of places for international students so make sure you get your application in early.

Finishing your Masters?

Unlike many other colleges, graduates at Royal Holloway still have the option of using the careers service to get help and advice on job applications, practice interviews and other services. To access these you must join GradClub first. Gradclub is like an extension of the careers service but is valid for two years and includes facilities in central London too. This is ideal if you are undertaking post-study work in the UK and then want further advice before heading back home.  A sound investment!

News: Foreign worker limits introduced

The BBC have reported on proposed changes to the immigration system to restrict the number of non-EU workers in the UK.  In reality this is not new and shouldn’t have significant effects on graduates. News stories like this are fairly regular and students who are worried should speak with the Student Advisory team in Founders West to discuss immigration matters.  Under the current immigration scheme, graduates can apply for Post-Study Work permits which allow for work in the UK for up to two years after graduation. There is no suggestion that this will change.

On Monday 20 October (5pm, location to be confirmed), there will be a talk by a leading immigration solicitor who will cover all the different immigration options for international students.  Details will be available in the Autumn careers programme.

Back from the summer…

Zara recruits in China

The careers service’s Autumn programme is about to be launched. This year the International Student Programme has been incorporated into it – watch out for international student specific events and keep up to date with this blog! The programme is more extensive than in previous years with even more employers visiting the campus and providing skills sessions.  In the international student programme, Chinese students should watch out for presentations from PWC and Zara China. Other employers attending include Credit Suisse and Proctor & Gamble both of whom have an excellent record of recruiting international students.

Further information about the Autumn careers programme will be available here. This blog will keep you up to date as the programme progresses. Please remember that you may need to book to attend some events.