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Global Careers Events - Student Circus, India week

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The University of Leeds has a dedicated department for the launch and progression of the students’ career, called the Careers Centre. The role of the Careers Centre is to help the students prepare for job/internship applications, CV checks, interview preps and the like. In lieu of the same, the centre organises Global Careers Week every year to cater to not just the domestic students but also all the international students that have called the University of Leeds their home.

This year, I happened to participate in the India series of the Global Careers Week in partnership with Student Circus. So before I go on to talk about the contents of the webinar, I think it would be useful to define what “Student Circus” is all about. Simply put, it is a niche job search platform that enables international students to secure deserving jobs in the UK and overseas. You may ask why should I (current and graduate students) sign in to it? – well, I’d say, multiple reasons. One, this platform is free to use for University of Leeds students; second, it features over 20,000+ graduate-level jobs and internships for international students and third, such opportunities span not just in the UK but also in 25+ countries around the world.

Convinced? Or perhaps I should reveal my final card in that case…” Jobs in home countries”. Seeing that it's India week that we’re focussing on, we have to talk about the growing geopolitical and business importance India as a country is gaining rapidly. And a growing number of students are tapping into its potential. It’s also important to note that globally diverse organisations in India have really started to value the global exposure and international network that tail international students educated in foreign universities. And this is where I’d like to emphasise the edge that this creates over domestic Indians applying for the same job. It’s a real catalyst for increasing your chances of landing a job offer!

Let’s get to the nitty-gritty then…” Applications”! Let’s call a spade, a spade – recruitment in India have very little standardisation as every field recruits differently. But here’s where Student Circus becomes the much-needed friend for us. First of all, it harbingers hope in the fact that Student Circus has projected a simplified application process on its website (insert picture after this para). Second of all, it also ensures that the vacancies listed on their websites cater specifically to the international exposure and mind-set that the international students have gained over the period of their university study. Of course, needless to say, that the vacancies listed also promise of the remuneration, perks and benefits that international students deserve.


You may ask again – “what more can I do to set myself apart from the competition?” The webinar was apt with suggestions for this as well. One of the interesting things that were mentioned was a suggestion to keep an online portfolio of one’s work or projects. This, evidently, makes it easier for employers to ascertain one’s value and credibility. On the same note, Student Circus suggested ensuring that our Social Media Handles are well updated and audited. I understand that us students have heard the cry about social media way too much but it still marks its importance! Many students tend to brush aside this aspect and therefore, it inevitably becomes one of the differentiating factors in a tight competition. In a world growing digital by the second, a well-kept online identity is all that does the trick. The lesson being – cash in this difference!

Speaking of further important suggestions, Student Circus wanted international students to uphold a solution-oriented mindset and approach to their speech. In the lucrative age of Start-ups, the employers are interested to know how innovative a candidate can get in their solutions. In light of this, keeping a pitch ready that accentuates your creative outlook and thinking would further help you stand apart.

On a bit more pragmatic line of suggestion, Student Circus opined that it would perhaps be better to go for jobs that don’t showcase many vacancies, unlike campus recruitment (campus recruitment meaning: In India, companies visit University and College campuses to recruit students in bulk), as then one would be better able to sell their skills. And they said…in India, selling one’s skills convincingly is all that’s required to hit the bull’s eye! And if selling it right is all it takes, do not be disheartened if the name of the University doesn’t do the trick, as one can cleverly shift the focus on what wonderful things one did and achieved there!

Well, this marks the end of the webinar and the blog. I really hope that reading this proves useful to you and makes you curious enough to check out the website of Student Circus.