Thinking of Studying in the UK/Abroad? Try These Post-Graduation Practical Tips First!
When I decided to move from Canada to the UK to study international law in London, I knew that I would be incurring a large financial burden to make this incredible experience happen. This decision can come with a lot of anxiety and uncertainty. Will I get a good job afterwards? Will I be able to pay back my debt? And above all else: Will it be worth it?
In my case, my program is one-year long and (sadly) nearly over as I write this. This has easily been the best year of my life, but it has also easily been the most expensive year of my life. Now that my studies are coming to an end, I am thankfully already seeing the professional and financial pay-off of my decision. Try the following below tips to make your decision more confidently and with a clearer sense of what studying abroad can do for you and your career.
Tip 1 – Compare Job Postings Between your Home Country and your Study Country
As a licensed lawyer in Canada, I have been lucky to work incredible jobs back home with a focus on domestic, Canadian common law. However, even major cities such as Toronto simply do not offer many opportunities to work in international law.
In contrast, London is home to countless professional opportunities to work in international law firms, NGOs, and other international legal bodies. A quick search on ‘UN Jobs’ in Toronto and in London will quickly demonstrate how living and studying in the UK offers bountiful career opportunities after graduation.
Whether you are interested in international law or not, take a look at the job postings in your field of interest in your home country and compare those with the job postings in the country you are thinking of studying abroad in. This will help give you a clear picture of what jobs will be available to you after your studies – and whether it is worth your while to study abroad.
Tip 2 – Compare Salaries Between your Home Country and your Study Country
Once you have had a look at the job postings in your home country and in the country that you hope to study abroad in, compare the salaries and other benefits in each location. You may find, for example, that the salaries in the country you hope to study abroad in are significantly higher than those offered for similar jobs in your home country.
In my case, most jobs in the UK (and Europe generally) offer benefits that are significantly better than those offered for similar jobs in Canada, such as greater paid vacation time. I would also recommend comparing the benefits offered for healthcare, dental care, and mental health and wellness supports.
Tip 3 – Pay Attention to Expected Qualifications for the Jobs you Want
Lastly, take a look at the necessary (or preferred) skills and qualifications listed under the job postings that you would be interested in pursuing after graduation. For example, do those jobs require or expect a candidate who has experience working across multiple geographic contexts? Do those jobs ask candidates to have international experience, such as working with diverse communities and cultures? Then consider whether you would have/acquire these experiences without studying abroad.
Studying abroad is not only something fun – it is also a skills-building experience! In your time studying abroad, you will gain important and valuable skills, such as international networking, learning to compare various political, geographic, economic, and social contexts, facing your fears, and possibly even learning a new language. All of these skills are highly valuable to employers who are seeking job candidates with open-minded, expansive worldviews and life experience.
- Jeremy
