[Tyler Durden.]

I have not started looking for jobs in the UK since I graduated (this year) as I had been intent on moving to China to work.

However, that plan looks at though it could fall through, so therefore I'd like and appreciate the opinions and views of people who have been looking and applying in the UK.

- I am a fresh graduate with a high First class degree in International Business and Trade with a minor in Mandarin Chinese. Was also course rep and appointed mentor for Chinese students for my course and was involved in other university activities.

- Have a level 2 qualification in the official Chinese language qualification/examination (HSK) - my Chinese is quite good.

- 6 months legitimate work experience at a big ad'/marketing agency in China working with big, luxury sector clients, followed by a few months experience in sales and account management, also in China. Also have bar tending experience but that's less relevant.

I'm quite a confident yet unassuming, personable chap.

I guess I'm just after other's opinions as to what I should do and how well I'd fair in todays UK graduate / employment market. I can't imagine anything more tedious than relentlessly applying only to get rejections.

Thanks!

[finance1973]

(Original post by Tyler Durden.)

I guess I'm just after other's opinions as to what I should do and how well I'd fair in todays UK graduate / employment market.

Thanks!

It depends, is this degree from a good university? Your academics seem fine. Work experience is always good, seems like you have a broad range. I'd say you have a good chance of getting interviews for some graduate schemes (although you didn't mention what you wanted to apply for)

Remember though that thousands of other graduates also have these credentials, you're still going to need to stand out at interview or assessment centre to get the job!

(Original post by Tyler Durden.)

I can't imagine anything more tedious than relentlessly applying only to get rejections.

Unfortunately this is what is involved in getting a graduate job. You need to be persistent!

[Tyler Durden.]

(Original post by finance1973)
It depends, is this degree from a good university? Your academics seem fine. Work experience is always good, seems like you have a broad range. I'd say you have a good chance of getting interviews for some graduate schemes (although you didn't mention what you wanted to apply for)

Remember though that thousands of other graduates also have these credentials, you're still going to need to stand out at interview or assessment centre to get the job!



Unfortunately this is what is involved in getting a graduate job. You need to be persistent!

Thanks.

It was from a mid range university. Sadly, I only recently realised the value of getting int a 'top uni' and had thus just drifted along in education.

To be frank, I'm not sure exactly what I want to apply for - I did like the whole advertising and marketing thing and account management seems good. Other interest areas are international trade, investment management and I like working with big prestigious clients.

[M1011]

(Original post by Tyler Durden.)
Thanks.

It was from a mid range university. Sadly, I only recently realised the value of getting int a 'top uni' and had thus just drifted along in education.

To be frank, I'm not sure exactly what I want to apply for - I did like the whole advertising and marketing thing and account management seems good. Other interest areas are international trade, investment management and I like working with big prestigious clients.

My uni tends to rank in the low 20s to high 30s, so I guess similar to yours. Not had a single application rejected at the paper stage, so evidently the top uni status is overplayed on here. Don't think you should feel held back by a 1st

The language is a nice selling point. Bloomberg always seem to be spamming my inbox looking for people who speak foreign languages, might be worth a look.

[threeportdrift]

(Original post by Tyler Durden.)
I have not started looking for jobs in the UK since I graduated (this year) as I had been intent on moving to China to work.

However, that plan looks at though it could fall through, so therefore I'd like and appreciate the opinions and views of people who have been looking and applying in the UK.

- I am a fresh graduate with a high First class degree in International Business and Trade with a minor in Mandarin Chinese. Was also course rep and appointed mentor for Chinese students for my course and was involved in other university activities.

- Have a level 2 qualification in the official Chinese language qualification/examination (HSK) - my Chinese is quite good.

- 6 months legitimate work experience at a big ad'/marketing agency in China working with big, luxury sector clients, followed by a few months experience in sales and account management, also in China. Also have bar tending experience but that's less relevant.

I'm quite a confident yet unassuming, personable chap.

I guess I'm just after other's opinions as to what I should do and how well I'd fair in todays UK graduate / employment market. I can't imagine anything more tedious than relentlessly applying only to get rejections.

Thanks!

Think out of the box and look for opportunities that combine your language skills with your business/marketing experience. In other words, which UK businesses are growing in China - the wine industry is for certain. So look at company websites and write speculative applications for small businesses that might be wanting to expand/explore the market. Even getting a market research job with a China focus would get you inside knowledge of that combination and relevant experience.