By Adela Lasku
Stepping into adulthood and taking over new responsibilities can be scary and doing so in a whole new country by yourself can be terrifying. However, with the right help and planning, it can go back to just being scary. All jokes aside, feeling a little scared and lost is part of the journey and it shouldn’t stop you from trying new things.
When I stepped foot in London, I had no work experience, no CV, no LinkedIn account and no idea what taxes were (I’m still a little bit lost here, to be honest). To date, I have worked part-time for two years at a kitchen showroom, while studying full-time for a BSc in Economics - a degree that allowed me to complete a year long, full-time placement in one of the largest banking institutions in the United States. Not bad for someone who didn’t know what a cover letter was three years ago.
Work-Study Balance
Attending a university in Albania is a full-time job: you have classes 5 days a week and around 5-6 hours of lessons a day. In UK universities, depending on your degree, you are required to attend classes 3-4 days a week and can have 2-6 hours of lessons a day. This gives you plenty of time to partake in other activities, such as volunteering or working part (Note: Keep in mind that students on a Visa are allowed 20 hours of work a week during term time, and full time work outside of term time). Knowing how important work experience is for future employers and having zero experience myself, I immediately started looking for a job, which is not a very enjoyable experience.
First things first
You need to apply for a National Insurance number. Make sure this is one of the first things you do, as well as opening a student bank account, as this may take some time to be processed.
Then, start promoting yourself to the job market. You need a good CV (one that does not include a passport picture of yourself), a LinkedIn account and a clear idea of what a Cover Letter should look like. Your university should be able to help you with these, however there are other resources online, as well as ALSA to guide you through the process.
Rejection and Success
Rejection is a big part of the journey and you should embrace it. I can not tell you how many times I got rejected for part time jobs when I applied on Reed, Indeed, LinkedIn and any other websites I could get my hands on. It felt even worse when I didn’t hear back on applications that I had put a lot of effort in. However, 50+ rejection emails and 5 different CV formats later, I got a job at a Kitchen Showroom (Woohoo!).
Starting a new job
Prepare yourself to be completely lost when you start a new job. Even the simplest task like writing up an email can differ immensely from company to company. When I first started working as a Showroom Coordinator and PA for a kitchen company, I found out I knew nothing about kitchens even though I’d had one my whole life (who knew sinks had different names?!). After a year and a half in this position, I found myself criticising the sink-hob-fridge placement in other people’s kitchens. Selling German kitchens does not seem like the best scenario for an Economics student, but believe me, it taught me a lot. It was due to the experience I gained in this position that I was able to develop my CV and have a lot to say during my job interview for a placement position.
Work Placement – Stepping into the industry
If your degree allows it, get a work placement! A work placement is when you take a year off your studies to work full time in the industry. This experience will allow you to understand what working in your field of study is like and learn more about the industry. It also gives you a step ahead when applying for graduate jobs and helps you financially.
When I found out about work placements, I had to change my study program to a four-year program. This allowed me to work with Northern Trust in their Business Management department for a year and, although I didn’t get the chance to step foot in the office due to COVID, I enjoyed every moment of it. Besides it being a great learning experience, it was also an opportunity to expand my network and be mentored by professionals. I have now finished my placement program and feel very confident to start my last year of university, as well as work part time with the Business School of Employability Office as an Employability Champion on campus.
A few last words
Having work experience is as important, if not more, as getting a first or a second on your university degree.
Do not undermine different job positions, such as working in customer service. These experiences will enable you to develop a lot of skills and give you a lot to talk about in interviews when you apply for other positions in the future.
Get involved in different societies at university and try volunteering. This will enable you to create a good network and develop skills that you can mention in your CV.
“The closest I ever got to the office"
Lastly, moving to the UK for your studies can be challenging in many ways. However, the UK offers many opportunities to gain new experiences and develop professionally. Take things one step at a time and focus on your goal. Feel free to email me on: adelalasku@gmail.com for any guidance on applying for part time jobs and/or internships. Happy to help!
“Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go.” – T.S. Eliot.
Useful Resources for job searching and career advice:
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