When I first came to the UK to study, I wasn’t deeply attached to the idea of staying to work.

My mindset was simple:
focus on studying first, think about work later.

The real pressure started when I saw my classmates preparing for job hunting.

Some were polishing their CVs, some were practicing interviews, some were already attending career fairs.
Suddenly I realized — everyone seemed to be moving forward, and I was standing still.

In that moment, it would be a lie to say I didn’t feel anxious.

My First Career Fair: The Day My Confidence Took a Hit

My first career fair was in November.

I dressed formally, printed a stack of CVs, and even practiced my self-introduction in front of the mirror.
Deep down, I had expectations.
I even imagined I might find an opportunity that day.

Reality quickly sobered me up.

I queued for a long time at a booth.
When it was finally my turn, the recruiter smiled and asked a few questions.
I got so nervous that I spoke too fast and lost my logic.

They politely took my CV and said,
“Apply online as well.”

I knew that was a standard closing line.

When I walked out, the weather was cold.
My mood felt just as cold.

That was the first time I truly realized:
👉 Sending a CV doesn’t mean getting a response.

The Mass-Application Phase: Confidence Slowly Drained

After that, I started applying like crazy.

Every day I searched job sites, edited CVs, wrote cover letters.
I could sit in front of my computer for hours.

At first, every application carried hope.
Later, it became mechanical.

The most common email in my inbox was:

We regret to inform you…

For a while, I was even afraid to check my email.
Opening it often meant seeing another rejection.

I started doubting myself:
Was my major not good enough?
Was I not capable enough?
Was it just too hard as an international student?

Seeing friends back home landing jobs made it worse.
I sometimes wondered:
Should I just go back?

That was the first time I truly wavered.

Emotional Low Point: Effort Without Reward

There was a period when my mental state clearly declined.

Job searching during the day, anxiety and insomnia at night.
I was exhausted but couldn’t stop.

The hardest part was this feeling:
You work so hard, yet see no results.

That sense of helplessness was more draining than being busy.

The Turning Point: Someone Woke Me Up

Eventually, I gathered the courage to visit a career advisor.

She didn’t give motivational talk.
She was very direct:

“Your CV sounds like a student, not a job seeker.”

She helped me revise it, taught me to focus on achievements, and explained what UK employers value.

Then she said something I still remember:

👉 “Stop applying. Start matching.”

That sentence woke me up.

After Changing My Strategy

I slowed down.

No more mass applications.
I carefully read job descriptions and tailored each application.

One application could take over an hour.
But the quality improved.

Then, I received my first interview invitation.

When I saw the email, I stared at the screen for a few seconds.
I wasn’t excited — just relieved.

I wasn’t hopeless after all.

Interviews and Growth

I was still nervous in my first interview,
but much calmer than at the career fair.

I didn’t get the offer,
but for the first time I felt:

👉 I was improving.

Each interview after that felt more natural.

The Day I Got the Offer

I finally received an offer shortly before graduation.

The email title read:
We are pleased to offer you…

I reread it three times to be sure.

There wasn’t wild joy,
just a deep sense of release after long tension.

Like finally being able to breathe again.

Looking Back Now

I wasn’t the most outstanding candidate.
I wasn’t the luckiest either.

But maybe I was the one
who kept going despite many rejections.

What This Journey Taught Me

• Job hunting can hurt your confidence

• Rejection is normal, not failure

• Strategy matters more than quantity

• Emotions fluctuate, but persistence matters

• A stable mindset beats short bursts of effort

If I had to sum it up in one sentence:

👉 Job hunting isn’t about who’s the strongest — it’s about who doesn’t give up