Hear about how recent graduate, Jyotsna, made the most of her time here at Newcastle and how she engaged with the Careers Service to secure her first graduate job.

What role(s) have you carried out at the university during your time as a student?

I joined the university for my full-time MSc degree that was a 12 month course. During this time, I carried out two roles that were in line with my subject/course. I worked as a Data Analysis and Visualisation Intern for Draeger Safety that was an opportunity ran by NCL Internships, and I also worked as a Data Scientist Intern for National Innovation Centre for Ageing which was an opportunity ran via the JobsOC team. This role made a real difference because it allowed me to do my Masters thesis with NICA in a real time scenario.

How did you find applying for the role(s)?

Applying for roles was a convenient and easy process. I had registered for the daily vacancies’ mail and updates from the Careers Service. This made sure that I didn’t miss out on any opportunities.

How did you find the process and support of using the Careers Service?

The Careers Service was supportive throughout my student experience and during my job applications and interviews. I got assistance for tailoring my CVs and cover letters for different job applications and they directed me to the specific job portals as well. I also got immense help with my interview and presentation preparation. Not only that, but all the internship opportunities were also provided via the Careers Service.

“I recommend engaging with the Careers Service to all students as they really help you to pinpoint what you want to do in terms of gaining careers experience.”

Do you feel the work experience you gained during your internships on and off campus supported you in gaining employment at Newcastle University? And what skills and knowledge did you learn carrying out the internships?

“Yes absolutely, the work experience gained helped me a lot as I worked on real time industry projects that boosted my confidence and upgraded my skills from academic level to understanding business scenarios.”

During my interview process I was able to explain the challenges that I came across while working in an industry setting and how I tackled them with the help of my colleagues. During my internships I built and improved many skills such as teamwork.

As mentioned earlier, my internship through JobsOC (in NICA) was converted as my final dissertation. This gave me a brilliant opportunity to present my academic thesis on a real industry project.

“Carrying out a one-year degree course can be very intensive and busy, so doing an internship alongside my studies made me better at organising and balancing my studies and workload. It also helped me to manage my time efficiently.”

Due to being a Masters student and not having the time to take part in extra curricula activities, my NCL internship contributed towards my eligibility for the NCL+ awards. It was a great learning experience that taught me a lot of techniques for interviews and for working life after graduation.

Do you feel more confident in yourself and your abilities more generally after completing an internship?

I do feel more confident and comfortable because the experience from the internships were meaningful and insightful and I got a chance to work with various teams throughout my time, ranging from sales and marketing to software departments and design/management levels.

“During my internship with NICA, I got an opportunity to join and attend numerous seminars, workshops and events that had guests from countries all over the world. I learnt from their work, and it encouraged me to apply it in my own work and academia. It was a great way to make new connections.”

How have you found the transition from being a student at Newcastle University to being a full-time employee at the university?

“The transition has been smooth, and it was all made possible by the staff in the Careers Service.”

I am beginning to analyse things from a different perspective. Going from being a Newcastle University student with a student’s perspective to then becoming a Newcastle University employee has been a great learning experience. I have found it very interesting learning new skills and knowledge from becoming an employee and I feel that I now have valuable skills from both a student’s viewpoint and employees’ viewpoint that I can use in my every day life.

“I am excited to now be part of the team that works to improve the students journey here at Newcastle University. I would highly recommend applying to jobs within Careers Service at Newcastle University.”

Do you have any advice for international students considering work experience?

I would definitely recommend to international students to engage with the Careers Service throughout their course and as a part of their student experience. Being an international student and gaining work experience through internships or temp jobs can be very crucial as it will help to gain vital skills and knowledge that will help strength your CV. Having UK based work experience helps you stand out from other international candidates when it comes to getting employment after you graduate.

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