International Graduate Story: Kriti

Posted on: 28 March 2023 by Samantha Riella in Graduate stories

Kriti Saha studied an MSc in Economics at the University of Liverpool. She now works as a Data Analyst at Financial Reporting Council. Kriti gets candid about the difficulties that international students can often face in their job search and how she navigated through it by getting support from the Career Studio.

How did you hear about your opportunity?

I found the job through Indeed.

How did you get to where you are now?

I was always in contact with the Careers and Employability Studio, reaching out to them for CV and Cover Letter reviews. I would also book one-to-one sessions with the career coaches who would guide me on how to apply for jobs, where to look for, and give tips on how to ace tests and interviews. During the summer, I did an internship as an economic analyst which was a good learning experience. My internship gave me an idea on what to expect from a graduate job and what kind of work I will have to do in the future. I had to go through a series of tests and interviews for my current role and I think I was able to perform well on my interviews because of my internship experience. The work I had done was quite similar to the work that I would have to do for this role. Being an international student, it’s a lot harder to get a job because employers often expect some sort of experience, be it through internships or volunteering, within the UK. Luckily for me, I was able to showcase that through my internship.

What is your favourite experience as part of your role?

The best part of my role is that I get to explore various tools and automate things that makes life easier for everybody.

What are your top 3 tips for current students and graduates?

1) Make use of the services provided by the Career Studio as much as you can. They are going to give you career guidance as well as help you find and prepare for the right job.
2) Start applying for jobs early on because it’s a long process. I started applying 5 months before the end of my programme but some graduate roles begin recruiting from a year before the start date of the role. You will have ample opportunities to apply for if you start on early.
3) Give yourself a break and try to have a balance between your social life and studies. It is important to go out and have fun.