My Job Search Experience in the UK

I started my job search about three months before graduating from my master’s degree. At that time, I mainly applied for jobs through Indeed, LinkedIn, and my university’s career service.

At first, I submitted around 30–40 applications and received almost no responses. Later, I attended a CV workshop at my university, where a tutor helped me revise my CV from a “Chinese-style” format to one preferred in the UK — focusing more on skills and achievements rather than just listing responsibilities.

Stage 1: Mass Applications and Setbacks

• I barely received any interview invitations in the first two weeks

• I was rejected several times due to visa concerns

• I realised I needed to use more localised and natural expressions in my applications

Stage 2: Strategy Adjustment

I began to:

• Write customised cover letters for each position

• Proactively reach out to hiring managers on LinkedIn

• Attend local job fairs and networking events

The results improved noticeably, and I started to receive interview invitations.

A Typical Interview Experience

I interviewed for a Customer Assistant role at a retail company.

• First round: Phone interview with situational questions (e.g., how to handle complaints)

• Second round: In-person interview plus a simple scenario-based test

• They placed strong emphasis on communication skills and teamwork examples

I used the STAR method to answer questions and shared an example of resolving conflicts in a group project at university.

Results and Takeaways

In the end, I received a part-time offer. Although it wasn’t my ideal job, it helped me:

• Become familiar with UK workplace culture

• Improve my English communication skills

• Gain local work experience