During your time at the University of Southampton you will need to start preparing to enter the world of work, whether that means returning to your home country, travelling further or staying in the UK. The information below will point you to support regarding visas, selling the skills you have developed at university and creating job applications that will highlight your skills to an employer wherever they are in the world.
The skills you have developed as an international student, including any languages you have enhanced, will be attractive to many employers. However you need to make sure you are fully aware of any restrictions on your right to work.
You will need a National Insurance number as it is linked to the tax system and can apply if you can prove you have the right to work in the UK and are either working or seeking work. You can apply through the UK Government website.
You will need to make sure you have the correct visa for work within the UK. Please check the UK government website, access advice from the University of Southampton visa site or visit their Drop-in Service for further information.
For further information regarding visas see the UKCISA website
Use the resources on our UoS Career Hub to help with applying for a job within the UK. You can also use the eCareersGrad video-based course ‘International Students: Target the Right UK Employer’ (accessible through MyCareer) which includes information about the top 150 sponsoring companies in the UK.
If you are unsure whether your qualifications from outside the UK will meet the requirements of the job you are applying for, then UK ENIC is a chargeable service that can translate your qualifications for the UK job market.
By studying in the UK you have developed many benefits that will set you apart in the job market in your home country such as: an understanding of British culture; improved English language skills; independence and resilience from living away from home; as well as problem solving and analytical skills from studying for your degree.
There are a range of sites you can use to find international opportunities including: GoinGlobal which can be accessed through MyCareer, Grad link, and international graduate opportunities on TARGETjobs.
For students looking for roles in China you can find opportunities using the Lockin China Portal.
You may also find our Work Experience tile on the UoS Career Hub useful. It includes information on summer jobs, internships and graduate jobs as well as links to country specific information.
In addition to this the UKCISA website also contains advice about Reverse Cultural Shock and how to avoid the pitfalls.
Prepare for the UK job market by taking the Study UK: Preparing for Work online course which takes you through identifying your skills, networking, writing CVs and more.
For any application the key is to research the company and the role so that the application you make is as specific as possible. Both Prospects and TARGETjobs are helpful websites for conducting such research. Our workshops on tailoring your CVs and covering letters will help you to put the research you have conducted into practice.
Our Design Your Future workshops may be useful in assisting you with your CVs, applications and interviews for the UK job market.
Book on to a workshop
We recommend you check the conventions of the particular country you are applying to through GoinGlobal, which can be accessed through our MyCareer pages. This site has country-specific advice including job markets, CVs and interviews for a wide range of nations. This advice comes from local employment experts and we would strongly recommend accessing their service if you are applying internationally as requirements vary from country to country.
Below are two examples of countries where CV conventions are different from that of the UK:
You can find additional information on international opportunities on Gaining Overseas Experience Page on the Career Hub.