1. Strategic Job Preparation from the Start
What were some key strategies you used to land a job after university as an international student? What made you stand out?
Job preparation for me goes back to already thinking which job role I wanted while applying for my Masters so that I could choose the uni that offered the modules I needed to develop my skills for the job. I think the key is to apply early and consistently. I started applying as early as my first semester of my masters.
I also used the careers team at my university extensively to understand which companies have hired from my uni, which websites apart from LinkedIn are helpful and that is how I found 'Welcome to the Jungle' previously known as Otta for tech jobs. Also, I had my LinkedIn profile and resume vetted by them and did a lot of mock interviews. Diversifying amongst job portals to apply also helps. I have also been to many networking events and built good connections to get a reference for my jobs as well as helped people get jobs at my organization.
2. Advice to Aspiring International Students
I'd suggest not entirely depending on just the module or coursework in your degree as enough preparation. Practical learning from side projects from portals like kaggle help you build an intuition and curiosity especially for data jobs. In university, I have also received some very good career advice from my professors since I was shifting my career from software engineer to a data scientist and they were my first point of contact into this field. Everyone is willing to help when you are willing to put yourself out there.
3. Overcoming the Biggest Challenge
What was the biggest challenge in your job search as an international studentāand how did you overcome it?
The biggest challenge for me was to go to networking events and making connections. Since I was transitioning to a different field, I didn't feel quite confident in talking to industry experts and I often wouldn't know how to break the ice.
Slowly I did understand that the more events I went to, the more brave I became to speak to new people. I also listened to podcasts and kept up about the news in the industry I wanted to go in that helped me with topics of conversation. Eventually, I did make contacts with some recruiters who also saw beyond my software engineer work experience to offer data scientist roles.
4. Job Hunting Strategies
How did you approach job hunting (e.g., networking, cold outreach, online applications)?
I have mainly depended on online applications through different job portals and then in-person networking events. I still feel intimidated about cold outreach as it lacks personal connection whereas talking face-to-face makes it easier to break ice and build a genuine connection.
5. Navigating Visa-Related Barriers
I have always been worried about my visa status as a student which is why I had started applying to jobs early. I believe in planning in advance, having options, and also being transparent with the recruiters. Having an honest conversation about your visa status saves time for both parties so that if these requirements are not aligned, we can rather invest our time and energy interviewing with another firm that can provide the same. I am very practical in that way.
6. Tools and Platforms That Helped
Which tools, platforms, or services helped you the most in your job search (e.g. LinkedIn, career centers, mentorship)?
I have used my universities job board, LinkedIn, Glassdoor, and Welcome to the Jungle (Otta) to find data science roles. One thing to note is, some data science roles do have different job titles so it is important to try different keywords and go through the job description carefully.
7. Strategic Relationships and Support System
Did you build any strategic relationships (mentors, alumni, peers) that influenced your success?
I did have a good cohort with whom I have had good academic as well as career discussions. I have also received advice from my Masters thesis mentor, and the careers team at my uni. I have also met some wonderful people through networking events such as Data Science Festivals and other tech festivals that I have stayed in touch with.
8. Tailoring Your Personal Brand
Since I was pivoting my career towards data science, I had to cater my resume to attract more data science jobs and not software engineer jobs. My latest skillset was highlighted by the modules in my Masters degree and the academic projects I did so I made sure that they would be visible first. This was followed by my work experience which was closest to the skills that were needed for a data scientist role. I had to also filter out irrelevant work experience to make my resume concise and readable.
9. Landing the Role
I found my current role applying online as one of the many applications I did. I was not specific on the industry and applied to all mid-sized to big organizations. Based on my resume, I received a callback from the HR to discuss the role followed by an email for the first round of interview which was a video interview. After submitting my video recording, I didn't hear back for 2-3 months so I moved on with other applications.
I had cleared and received offers from two other companies when I heard back from my current company which was unexpected. There was a take-home coding round and a follow-up interview which I cleared quickly. I was finally selected and this is how I got this third offer.
The feedback I received was that they liked that I was confident in my answers and that I had well-researched the company before my interviews that impressed them. It also came down to the culture fit that they seem I was good at which I understand now being part of their team. Eventually, I did let go of the other two offers for this one as this matched the kind of exact work I wanted to do and I wanted to be based in London.
10. Interview Process Insights
For data scientist roles, most of my interview processes were similar. First is the resume screening and a coding round like hackerrank to test basic programming and logic skills. Then a call with the HR personnel describing the role and the interview process followed by discussion about the logistics like work hours, location, and in my case, my visa status. After this, there is usually a take home test to build a Machine Learning (ML) model since that is what my job would entail.
And then 1-2 interviews with the senior managers of my prospective team to discuss the solution of the take-home coding test and gauge my data science skills, see a culture fit and have time for me to ask questions about the team too. If everything is good, the last call is to share the job offer followed by negotiations. What stood out to me was the importance placed on soft-skills and culture fit during this process, it shows that your personality is also truly important and not just your technical skills. It can really make or break your chances of being hired. I feel this is a good thing as it becomes easier even for the candidate to integrate well in the new workplace.
11. What Sealed the Deal
My job offer was a complete package with the exact duties I wanted to do as a data scientist building ML models, and focus on learning and development, along with the perks and the compensation - it was a well-rounded package. I had a really good conversation with my interviewers who helped me understand the environment which seemed good for me as a beginner which was much needed during career transition. And finally a focus on work-life balance which is ingrained in the work environment at my company. I happily accepted the offer.
12. Life in the Role
I am happy about the fact that the job turned out to be the way they promised, which has not always been the case for me previously. I have grown in my role thanks to the environment in my company that fosters growth and appreciation for good performance. I have also formed good relations with my colleagues which makes it an even nicer place to work in. I also love our company outings, summer & Christmas parties, and the conference we get to attend throughout the year.
13. Impact of International Experience
What skills from your international experience have made the biggest impact on your performance?
As an immigrant, you are open to taking more risks and trying new things. This has helped me stay open-minded and take on challenges that at first may have made me doubt my abilities but I have eventually succeeded. I appreciate this life experience.
14. Career Growth Mindset
I now have a better understanding of my field & the sector that I work in to be able to plan ahead for my career advancement. I feel more confident in networking as I feel resourceful to have a meaningful conversation in the industry to open up more avenues for myself and for others through mentorship. I am looking for more challenges happily.