Many international students come abroad wondering whether they will find the right jobs to earn extra income alongside developing their skillset for the job market. I have been opportune to work several jobs while studying abroad in the UK, ranging from skills advisor, marketing rep, ambassador to maths tutor, research intern, and associate lecturer. Interestingly, I found most of these job opportunities within the university. Despite the uncertainties around the globe that has left many concerned about the future, there is no better time to be prepared for a career lift. The study period can be leveraged to develop relevant skills for professional life. While the time commitment and remote working options may vary, I advise mostly based on my experiences. I also show you what transferable skills you can pick from these jobs to boost your future employability.
1. Skills Advisor
Also: Study skills mentor, Study mentor, Study advisor.
This job is for students passionate about helping other students excel in their academics leveraging upon their own experiences. They advise students on practical study skills and constructive approaches to academic assignments. They point students in the right direction for the selection and use of support materials and university services that support their learning.
Experience: I have written an elaborate piece on my experience as skills advisor.
Transferable Skills: Mentoring and coaching, consulting, listening and empathy skills, problem-solving.
Commitment: 2-3 hours per week. You might get extra shifts if cover is need for other colleagues.
Remote working: Feasible if there is a way of utilising your skills in an online setting.
2. Demonstrator /Invigilator/Tutor
Demonstrators and tutors oversee and offer assistance to students during tutorials or laboratory sessions. Invigilators support examination provision through timekeeping, dealing with queries during exams, and supporting students according to the guidelines.
My experience: I have worked as a maths tutor at the university for two semesters to date. I support the teaching of Computational Mathematics to undergraduate students. I did an invigilation job only once at a point which was unpaid but led up to the tutor job.
Transferable skills (Invigilators): High degree of personal initiative and responsibility, reliable and dependable, proven ability to follow procedures.
Transferable skills (Demonstrators and Tutors): Team working ability, interpersonal skills, communication skills, motivational.
Commitment: 3-5 hours per week depending on the modules you are supporting
Remote working: With online teaching platforms and tools like Blackboard Collaborate, Microsoft teams and OneNote, this option can thrive.
3. Marketing Rep
Marketing reps create media content such as blogs, vlogs, video, photography, and social media posts. Without any blogging and vlogging experience, you can still quickly jump into this role if you have an interest in sharing your student experience and story with other students. There are usually experienced marketing and media professionals on ground to support in creating content, including providing a full brief around a topic. Typical topics include employability, facilities and campus, finance, accommodation, flexible study, research, study success, and digital skills.
My experience: I registered as a marketing rep in my uni and attended the induction. At a time, I had responded to a marketing brief on city experience, but having received enough blog submissions, I was asked to do a vlog. Outside this role, I have done a few marketing related activities like interview filming for international women’s day and filming to promote a maths resource I designed for secondary schools.
Transferable skills: Creativity, customer service, organisation and planning, time management, sales, motivational, presentation skills, branding.
Commitment: Jobs are flexible, meaning you can work out your own schedule in line with the submission deadline. Jobs are irregular and the working hours depend on the task at hand. For instance, you might be offered 2-3 hours to work on a blog or vlog with a specific brief. Acceptance of brief should be sent in time to avoid missing the opportunity.
Remote working: This surely can be done online since most of the contents are developed for social media. However, aspects like filming and photography are mostly done onsite.
4. Internship
There are lots of internship opportunities which you can undertake while studying to gain industry experience. This is very beneficial as you can work on real problems that will complement your classroom knowledge. It allows you to expand your network and become mentored by experts while giving you the opportunity to push the limits of your skillset within the safety net of an internship.
My experience: During my Masters, I did a research internship at my university, Coventry University, during the summer. The job was advertised for summer and made open for students to apply, get interviewed and work with a principal investigator. I have had an interesting journey with industry internships. I have attended interviews with Google and Amazon, which I didn’t get but which taught me a lot about the computer science field and how tech giants conduct interviews. I learnt better how to talk through problems and figure out the steps to solving them before jumping into coding.
Transferable skills: Team-working, and others depending on the technical and soft skills you pick up while on the job.
Commitment: Most of the internships come as short-term temporary roles which can last from 8 weeks to 24 weeks. Average time of around 12 weeks will be ideal if you are in full-time study/research and not taking a summer break during your internship.
5. Student Ambassador
Also: Welcome team assistants
Student ambassadors represent the university and support outreach activities and events like Open Days and Applicant Days. They meet, greet, and hand out promotional materials to prospective students and visitors on outreach events. They take prospective students on guided tours around the university sites while sharing their positive experience and life in university. This role includes welcome team assistants for facilities like library who provide valuable customer service and welcoming experience to users and visitors of the facility.
Experience: I have been working as a postgraduate (PGR) ambassador in my uni for the past one year. I mostly work during the undergraduate and postgraduate open days where I oversee the research stand. I answer research-related questions about funding, applying for PhD, finding a supervisor, writing research proposals, doing research in the uni, and also direct visitors to the right persons for department-specific enquiries. Part of my work as an ambassador has been to conduct a tour of the university for new PGR students during their orientation. I have also been invited to speak to new PhD students about my doctoral journey during their induction event.
Transferable skills: Interpersonal skills, Verbal communication, Versatile team worker, Motivational/inspirational, time management, networking, public speaking, sales.
Commitment: In some universities in the UK, Open Day events could take place about 4-6 times in a semester. Enrolment may take place once in a semester or a few more times for PhD students.
Remote working: Due to most activities being on-site like meeting visitors and conducting tours, remote working may be limited. Many universities have implemented virtual open days and it may be possible in the future to assist students virtually.
6. Research Assistant
Oftentimes, internal departments look for a Research Assistant(RA) to support with data collection, screening, and analysis for a study. Some prerequisite technical skills may be required like understanding of experimental research design and experience of statistics. The research tasks in a human sciences department may include such tasks as launching surveys and questionnaires, preparing analysis, interpreting data, and proposing solutions.
My experience: I am a Graduate Research Assistant at my university by my studentship contract, which means I don’t get extra pay for additional research activities I engage in under the approval of my supervisor. Nevertheless, I have seen departments advertise for RA to support a particular study.
Transferable skills: Working independently, experimental research design and specific technical skills of the research project
Commitment: As the research internships, the contract is usually short-term ranging from 1 month to 6 months.
Remote working: This will depend on the company’s remote working policy and the nature of the job. It is mostly possible to work remotely if no lab work is involved. With the global pandemic, most companies will relax their remote working policies.
7. Associate Lecturer
Also: College teacher, Visiting lecturer
I kept the juiciest one for the last. An Associate Lecturer provides support on a specified module(s), including the preparation and scheduled delivery of lectures, workshops, tutorials and lab sessions. They contribute to designing assessment, marking and assessing the students work. Often people ask: “Is it possible for a PhD student to be an associate lecturer?”. I wondered about this too, and I realised after reading this post, and from my experience, that opportunities like this usually come on short notice to fill a gap in teaching within the institution. Thus, you must be proactive in finding them by reaching out to the institution, contacts and decision-makers like the programme leader and department head. You may also find teaching opportunities in colleges and secondary education institutions.
My experience: I started my job as an AL in March 2020. I teach the Mobile and Wireless Networking module to Masters students studying Advanced Computer Networks. This is among the prestigious roles for which a PhD student can be employed in the university, as you get paid at the level of a Grade 6 staff. It also builds your portfolio for future roles in the academia or in the industry where training, mentoring and leadership experience is an essential skill.
Transferable skills: Teaching in Higher Education, training and mentoring, leadership and coordination, presentation skills, research.
Commitment: Assoc. lecturing can operate on a flexible and part-time basis. Your teaching activities will revolve around the courses you are assigned for the semester. Time is allotted for preparing for the courses, teaching and marking. The role is usually a part-time, fixed-term contract for which working hours is agreed ahead with the faculty.
Remote working: Most universities in developed countries have implemented systems, policies and technologies for distance and online education, hence, are able to move to remote teaching when the need arises.
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This is quite inspiring and well detailed.
Some had the opportunity to be visible in almost all sectors yet struggle with the skill to communicate it appropriately like you have done.
I certainly know, the more we do, the better we become.
Well said Paul. Truly it is in taking consistent actions that we learn and get better at our craft.
Very inspiring and insightful. Am so glad you utilized every opportunity that came your way. Its really not easy attaining such height.
You’re actually a lit lamp in the society helping the youths get onto the next level without room for short cuts .
I am challenged by this post to become a better human and I look forward to adding an international perspective to my career .
Keep keeping up Scholar.
Thank you Chijioke. Your comment really lit me up. I’m very encouraged and inspired by your nice words.
Thanks for sharing, really blessed and inspired reading through. Challenged to brace up on my international career journey.
Thanks so much for sharing.
It is a nice piece and insightful.
Thanks so much for the insightful and inspirational piece of words.
Hi Abolaji. I’m glad you found it insightful and inspiring.
Thank you Opeyemi. Nice to hear that it was worth the read.
Thanks Blessing. I’m very pleased to hear that the post has spurred you on. I wish you the best in your career pursuit.
This is beautiful
Well done, kudos, more victories
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