How To Utilise The Careers and Employability Team as an International Student
Posted by
August 7, 2023
Being an international student at this University is about so much more than getting your degree; it’s about being part of a community where you can develop the skills, knowledge and attributes that will benefit you as you progress through your lifelong career journey.
At the University of Chester, our award-winning Careers and Employability team is here to help you take your next steps towards your future goals. Take a look at our new video which gives a short introduction to what we offer all students.
What Resources Are Available?
CareerHub
Our careers platform CareerHub is a great place to start! With a wide range of information and you can also watch our videos and webinars there, find out about part-time jobs, contact us for information or advice, book appointments, register for the Chester Difference Award.
Exploring CareerHub can really help you make the most of your time at university and plan your next steps. There is even a dedicated page for international students.
Student Circus
Student Circus is our dedicated jobs platform for international students. It covers jobs in the UK and 29 countries. It delivers filtered visa job listings, internships, and placement opportunities with employers who hire and value international students. It also has Skilled Worker Visa opportunities for the UK, and for those international students looking to return home, there are vacancies from employers in those countries too!
There is also some useful information about the Graduate Visa for international students on their site. Just go to https://chester.studentcircus.com and sign up by using your university (chester.ac.uk) email ID.
Free Online Learning
Target Jobs offers 3 great online courses for international students to help you get started in your career planning if you are considering staying in the UK after your studies. These courses offer you a great introduction to getting part-time jobs or work experience while a student, understanding the UK job market and the different types of jobs open to you, and also an insight into what employers want.
LinkedIn Learning
The University of Chester offers students unlimited access to an online skills development service with an extensive library of video courses in business, creative and technical skills. Students can have access to 16,000 courses in 7 different languages taught by industry experts.
Practice for Selection Processes
You can practice your video interview skills through Shortlist.Me and aptitude tests through Graduates First. Just sign in with your university (chester.ac.uk) email ID.
Live Careers Sessions
We help you develop the skills and knowledge graduate employers want through our range of practical workshops, Question and Answer panels, and training videos. These include CVs, interviews, assessment centres, developing a career plan, entrepreneurship, and employer insights, among many others.
1 to 1 Careers Advice and Guidance
Our Career Consultants provide expert, impartial and confidential guidance tailored to your individual needs. There are daily appointments available to help you make decisions about your next steps, for feedback on your CV and applications or you can talk to us about an upcoming interview. As well as appointments you can chat to us at our drop-ins which we run regularly across our sites.
What Other Opportunities Are There?
Earn While You Learn
We can help you to find a part-time job that fits around your studies, helping you to gain skills and earn extra money. Our UniJob service enables you to apply for part-time jobs at the university and you can use our Earn While You Learn pages on CareerHub portal to find part-time work in the local area.
Volunteering
Volunteering can be a great way to make friends in a new country, give a sense of belonging and develop new skills that employers will value. Visit our VolunteerHub to access over 100 volunteer opportunities available at the university and within the local community that you to apply for!
Skills Award
The Chester Difference Award (CDA) allows you to showcase your skills and experiences to future employers. The CDA gives you recognition for the skills you have developed from all the employability-enhancing activities you’ve undertaken during your time at university and helps you develop the techniques to articulate your skills and experience.
Enterprise and Entrepreneurship
The Venture Programme helps students and graduates to develop the skills, knowledge, confidence, and connections needed to start up a business, to enter self-employment, or to build a freelance career after graduation.
Hear From Our Students
"I am keen to emphasise the immense value of the Career and Employability services available to us. These services have been nothing short of a lifeline for me, aiding me in navigating the complexities of the UK job market. From refining my CV to developing a compelling cover letter, the dedicated professionals at the Careers and Employability team at Chester have helped ensure that my application truly reflected my capabilities and aspirations.
I received insightful support and advice on interview techniques as well as assessment centre strategies that equipped me with the confidence and skills I needed to shine during industry selection processes. These services are not merely resources; they are a pathway to realising your aspirations" - Olalekan Oyebanj (Nigeria)
"My UniJob roles are benefiting my career plans as they are allowing me to gain experience in my chosen field (Events Management) and to develop the right skills for a future job. Moreover, they are helping me get involved with the community and broaden my horizons by meeting and engaging with several new people.
I would recommend UniJob to other students as it is the best way to earn some money while studying at University. UniJob enables you to work mainly on campus and helps you to grow individually as well as professionally, obtaining skills that employers most likely will look for" - Carlotta Villa (Italy).
Contact The Team
Email: careers@chester.ac.uk
Telephone: 01244 513066
Facebook: @ChesterCareers
Twitter: @ChesterCareers
