Finally got a pretty satisfying job offer!

Author: Xiaohongshu blogger Xiao_yuan

Sharing some thoughts from my recent job search in the UK:

🧐 Timeline

Aug–Oct: Applied for graduate roles, had 3 interviews and failed all
Nov–Dec: Took a break and didn’t apply to any jobs
January: Started applying for internships/part-time roles; after revising my CV, my interview rate improved a lot
Jan 6: Applied
Jan 13: First-round HR interview
Jan 29: Assessment day
Feb 3: Offer call

🫶 Mindset shift
Both my bachelor’s and master’s degrees are not from very competitive majors, so I mainly applied for business, commercial, digital media, and marketing roles. In reality, there are very few graduate opportunities in these areas, and even after doing lots of online assessments, the chance of getting interviews is still low.

So it’s worth checking LinkedIn and Indeed for junior-level and internship roles. Since January, I’ve applied to 100+ companies, got 6 interviews, and so far only this one offer. The role is Commercial and Business Intern, starting in April, working 3 days a week.

If you focus only on jobs that sponsor visas, you may narrow your options too much. It’s better to accumulate experience step by step. If the first job isn’t ideal, move to the second. You can use your 2-year PSW plus the extra months when you don’t have classes to gain experience. So take it slow.

🙌 Small advice

For marketing, digital marketing, and commercial roles, don’t put all your energy into graduate schemes — experienced hire roles may offer more opportunities.
Tailor your CV!!! Different roles have different focuses. Adjust your CV based on the JD — add what they ask for.
Prepare for interviews comprehensively — not just behavioral questions; business logic and thinking matter a lot.
Find a focus. For example, digital marketing has many branches — being able to talk deeply about one area is very helpful.

㊗️ Hope all of our job-hunting journeys go more smoothly!