# International students: Your career journey

**Source**: https://www.york.ac.uk/students/work-volunteering-careers/careers-resources/career-journey/international/
**Parent**: https://www.york.ac.uk/students/work-volunteering-careers/careers-resources/career-journey/

Make the most of support and resources available to plan your next steps and make good quality applications.

## How you'll get there

Part-time learners, or those not starting their studies in Semester 1, should still follow the journey but adjust the timings to fit the length of your course.

## Pre arrival

Before you arrive, you should start to explore your options, and generate ideas about your future career. Think about the country, sector, employers and roles you are interested in.

### [Explore our career resources](https://www.york.ac.uk/students/work-volunteering-careers/)

You can find them all on the Careers and Placements web pages.

### [Read our UK job market glossary](https://www.york.ac.uk/students/work-volunteering-careers/careers-resources/international-students/job-market-terminology/)

Find out about some of the vocabulary that may be new to you.

### [Understand your working rights](https://www.york.ac.uk/students/work-volunteering-careers/apply-interview/looking-for-work/employment-rights/)

And requirements including tax and national insurance.

### [Begin your UK CV](https://www.york.ac.uk/students/work-volunteering-careers/apply-interview/cv/)

You can work on it throughout your course as you gain more experience.

### [Understand UK recruitment timelines](https://www.york.ac.uk/students/work-volunteering-careers/apply-interview/looking-for-work/job-toolkit/time-frames/)

Find out when you should be applying for graduate schemes, graduate jobs, placement years and internships.

### [Explore the York Award](https://www.york.ac.uk/students/work-volunteering-careers/skills/development-programmes/york-award/)

Understand what it is and what you'll need to apply at the end of your degree.

### [Complete the Career Ignition Hub](https://www.york.ac.uk/students/work-volunteering-careers/apply-interview/looking-for-work/graduate-jobs/grad-jobs-international/student-circus/)

Hosted by Student Circus, the Hub can help you prepare to navigate the UK job market.

### [Read about the international job market](https://www.york.ac.uk/students/work-volunteering-careers/apply-interview/looking-for-work/international-work/)

Find information resources for different countries.

### [If you plan to volunteer](https://www.york.ac.uk/students/work-volunteering-careers/skills/volunteer/)

Secure a Certificate of Good Conduct.

## During studies

### At the start of your course

By the time you arrive, you will hopefully have a clearer idea of what you want to do post graduation, though you may not yet know how to achieve it.

Take the following steps during the first year of your course, or in Semester 1 of a one-year postgraduate taught course.

### [Activate your Handshake account](https://www.york.ac.uk/students/work-volunteering-careers/about/using-handshake/)

Use the Handshake careers platform to find events, look for jobs and make appointments with the Careers team.

### [Activate your Student Circus account](https://www.york.ac.uk/students/work-volunteering-careers/apply-interview/looking-for-work/graduate-jobs/grad-jobs-international/student-circus/)

Access jobs board, find employers who are keen to recruit international students and graduates, and explore career resources to help you prepare for work in the UK.

### [Join societies and student groups](https://yorksu.org/societies)

They're a great way to make friends, find new interests and develop your skills.

### [Set up your LinkedIn account](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gjRGPyy5V6c)

Our video will talk you through the steps to set up a LinkedIn profile, which is particularly useful if you plan to work in the UK.

### [Complete the York Strengths Professional Skills Discovery online module](https://www.york.ac.uk/students/work-volunteering-careers/skills/employability-skills/)

Explore your personal strengths and consider these in relation to your career plans and applications.

#### Gain experience

Check your visa for how many hours you can work/volunteer while studying.

### [Part-time work](https://www.york.ac.uk/students/work-volunteering-careers/apply-interview/looking-for-work/temporary/)

Earn money, learn new skills and meet new people.

### [York Internships](https://www.york.ac.uk/students/work-volunteering-careers/skills/internship-placement/internship/)

Find paid, project-based internships that are exclusively for York students.

### [Volunteering](https://www.york.ac.uk/students/work-volunteering-careers/skills/volunteer/)

Support a cause you care about, build your skills and discover your new city.

#### Start to explore your options

### [Join careers events and workshops](https://www.york.ac.uk/students/work-volunteering-careers/events/)

Use our events to find out about employers and explore opportunities.

### [Attend a Careers Fair](https://www.york.ac.uk/students/work-volunteering-careers/events/)

These on-campus events give you a chance to talk to employers and find out what they're looking for.

### [Research recruitment processes](https://www.york.ac.uk/students/work-volunteering-careers/apply-interview/)

Understand the assessment methods employers are using and use our resources to practise.

### [Check graduate role requirements](https://www.york.ac.uk/students/work-volunteering-careers/careers-resources/career-journey/postgraduate-taught/)

Students on a one-year course should start preparing to apply for UK graduate recruitment schemes and graduate roles.

### [Stay supported](https://www.york.ac.uk/students/health/)

Make use of the 24/7 Talk Campus app and University wellbeing resources.

### In the second half of your course

As you approach your final year – or your second semester of a postgraduate taught course – you may feel ready to take concrete steps towards your career goal.

If you don’t feel ready yet, don’t worry. Not all career journeys are linear, and you still have some time to re-think and adapt based on what you have learned so far.

As well as UK graduate roles, this is also a good time to think creatively about other options: further study, [returning home](https://cms.york.ac.uk/terminalfour/preview/1/en/291966) or [looking elsewhere](https://cms.york.ac.uk/terminalfour/preview/1/en/295063).

### [Continue to attend events and workshops](https://www.york.ac.uk/students/work-volunteering-careers/events/)

Look out for Careers Fairs, the Asia Career Insights Series and our 'Careers In...' panels.

### [Search for summer work experience](https://www.york.ac.uk/students/work-volunteering-careers/skills/)

Opportunities include York Internships. Check your visa to know how many hours per week you can work.

### [Apply for the York Award](https://www.york.ac.uk/students/work-volunteering-careers/skills/development-programmes/york-award/)

Gain recognition for your personal and professional development beyond your studies.

#### Apply for graduate roles

Apply for direct entry roles, and use your contacts to access the hidden job market. If you haven't already, make sure you're familiar with [graduate recruitment timelines](https://www.york.ac.uk/students/work-volunteering-careers/apply-interview/looking-for-work/job-toolkit/time-frames/).

Most graduates move into graduate entry roles, rather than graduate schemes. International graduates routinely apply for 50+ roles before they are successful, so organisation and persistence are key.

Use our [application tracker](https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Xzo6KbczWG5HjBbV0yh1kE-Ooh4sTfrgp5QNjTw3pcs/copy) to record your applications and progress.

## After your course

Our support doesn't stop when you graduate. Whether you're seeking a new job, exploring self-employment, or looking to progress in your role - we're here to help.

As part of our York for Life platform, you can connect with alumni around the world, reconnect with those you studied with and find opportunities, courses and support just for our alumni.

- [Explore our alumni support](https://www.york.ac.uk/students/work-volunteering-careers/alumni/)