I Got Hired: Fundraiser at Asylum Welcome

Posted on: 6 January 2023 by Richard Finch in Graduate stories

Olivia May is a Class of 2021 MA International Relations & Security graduate, now working as a Fundraiser at Asylum Welcome.

HOW DID YOU GET TO WHERE YOU ARE NOW?

After completing my Undergraduate Degree in English Literature and Politics, I decided to pursue my interest in politics and how it is shaping our world even further. In September 2021 I began my Master's degree at the University of Liverpool in International Relations & Security.

Throughout this academic experience I learned one key thing about myself: I love helping people and I am incredibly passionate about making the world a better place in any way I can! While I was studying for my postgraduate qualification I committed myself to volunteering in various roles at a number of charities, and built up experience working within the non-profit sector which really helped when looking for job opportunities.

 

YOUR FAVOURITE EXPERIENCE AS PART OF YOUR ROLE?

Every day I get the incredible opportunity to be a part of something really meaningful, working to make a difference in the lives of Refugees, Asylum Seekers and Vulnerable Migrants across Oxfordshire.

No two days are the same, but I love that I now get to work in the sector I spent so many years studying academically. There isn't one experience I'd be able to pinpoint as my favourite because every day I get to be a part of making sure that Refugees, Asylum Seekers and vulnerable Migrants can lead the lives that they want to live.

 

THE MOST CHALLENGING PART OF YOUR GRADUATE JOURNEY?

When I began searching for a graduate job during my Master's year, it felt like a minefield of endless opportunities, roles, and industries and I didn't know where to begin.

Shortly after finishing my MA Dissertation, which focused on the human security implications of conflict-induced internal displacement in Southeast Asia, I knew that I wanted to pursue working in a field related to immigration and migration. Utilising various platforms such as CharityJob, the University's Career Sentre and Impactpool, I began submitting applications for charities across the country, mainly in the human rights, migration, women and children sectors.

However, I often found myself constrained by my own false preconceptions of what being 'qualified' for these jobs meant. When I realised that confidence is half of the battle, I began applying to the jobs I really wanted rather than just the ones I thought I was qualified for, and soon enough I ended up with multiple offers from several well-regarded organisations.

 

TOP THREE TIPS FOR OTHER STUDENTS?

  1. Don't let your confidence or nervousness hinder what you apply for. You are far more qualified and capable than you realise and you shouldn't let an exciting job opportunity pass you by just in case you're not the right fit. Even if you aren't, the lessons you learn along the way will be invaluable.
  2. Always make decisions from a place of passion. When it comes to deciding what's next, it can often feel daunting and you will question whether or not you have made the right choice. But, if you let your passion and your interest decide for you, you'll always end up exactly where you're meant to be.
  3. Pursue things you'd never before considered. Sometimes the best opportunities are the ones that never crossed your mind before.