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Sarita

Sarita

Start early. Start early. START EARLY.

If I could go back and shake myself to belief to do something when I landed in the UK would be those two words.

I chose the UK for my masters for practical reasons. It was cheaper than the US and just a one-year course. Seemed efficient.

Six months into my MSc journey, I finally began my job search. That's when reality hit.

800 job applications. 792 rejections. 8 interviews. 5 final rounds. 2 offers. 9 months of my life.

The numbers tell a story of perseverance, but they don't show how difficult it really was. Working part-time, with all the coursework, and the relentless job hunt pushed me to my limits daily.

I hadn't expected it to be this tough. Nobody tells you that landing a job as an international student feels impossible.

My turning point?

Finding the right tools and approach.

I discovered Unimad's cover letter builder halfway through my job hunt, and it transformed how I presented myself to employers. Before this, my applications were generic and forgettable. With Unimad, each application became more targeted, more compelling, more authentically me. I started receiving responses where before there was silence.

March 2023 to December 2023. Nine months of constant effort, rejection, and learning.

What I wish I'd known from day one:

  1. Start during your first week of classes - Don't wait until coursework slows down; it never will. Set aside dedicated time from the beginning.
  2. Build your UK-specific CV immediately - British employers look for different things than those in your home country. Learn the differences early.
  3. Network before you need it - Attend career fairs and industry events in your first term, not just when you're desperate for a job.
  4. Customise every single application - Generic applications get generic rejections. Use tools like Unimad to customize each one for the specific role.
  5. Develop resilience rituals - Create a system to process rejections and keep moving forward.

The day I received my first offer, I almost couldn't believe it. After months of rejection, the validation was overwhelming. When the second offer came, giving me something I hadn't had in months: a choice.

The journey is difficult. But with the right approach, tools, and mindset, it's not impossible.

Start early—from your very first week. Stay focused—even when rejection feels endless. Succeed—because with enough persistence and strategy, you will.