My Work Experience: Surya

Posted on: 17 November 2023 by Richard Finch in Student experiences

Surya shares his experience of being an international student at the University of Liverpool and working part-time as campus ambassador for Student Circus.

Can you tell us why you chose this course and why you chose to study at the University of Liverpool?

I chose this course as it was the perfect blend of technical & management subjects with focus on essential tools and technologies as well as its business applications.

I chose the University of Liverpool primarily based on the positive feedback shared by the alumni with whom I connected during the application phase. One of the big factors mentioned was the incomparable student life which is a one-time life experience. Other factors included the university being part of the Russell Group, along with several accreditations and being situated in a city.

Can you please describe what you do as part of your Campus Ambassador role at Student Circus?

Student Circus is a job search platform which supports international students find the right type of roles. Students can find jobs, internships & placements in the UK. As a Campus ambassador, I am involved in coordinating career fairs stands and representing the team in seminars hosted by the Careers & Employability Team.

I also actively engage with students and address their queries, directing them to utilize Student Circus resources as the primary point of contact. Additionally, I also promote the Student Circus platform among international students and its various digital services, enabling the students to have the necessary tools & information about the UK job market.


How did you find out about this opportunity?

I found out about Student Circus through Om Karande who was the previous Campus Ambassador at Student Circus from the University of Liverpool. During one of the virtual sessions hosted by the Postgraduate Admissions Team, as part of the live webinars for the September 2023 intake, I had the opportunity to interact with Om and get to know more of his student life. During those conversations I got introduced to Student Circus and a like campus ambassador.


What did the application process involve and how did you prepare for it? 

The Student Circus Team had advertised the application for the Campus Ambassador position in their website. The first stage involved filling out an application form. The questions were around basic details and more related to my reasons for applying for the Campus Ambassador programme.

The second stage involved a video interview with one of the managers to understand more about my background, skills, ideas and motivation for joining the programme. The final stage was to record a video presentation describing Student Circus - a digital walk through to its website for an audience who are not aware of this platform.

Throughout the process there was active communication between me and the Student Circus Team who happily resolved any doubts that I had. In terms of preparation, I focussed on going through the website and speaking to few friends who had already used Student Circus to know their experience of the platform.


From an employability perspective, how has this experience been helpful to you?  

It has been extremely enriching experience as it gives me the opportunity to meet thousands of international students, expands my knowledge about the international student community and helps me build skills such as problem solving, networking & communication skills. Being an ambassador for a leading international students job search platform definitely adds more colour to my profile.


What are some of the top skills you've picked up from this type of work experience opportunity?

The first one is communication skills as I regularly address all types of queries from students from different parts of the world. Another one is time & event management through my participation in careers fairs where I organize the presentation area and coordinate acyivities with members of the careers team. And third one is networking as I ensure that the platform is utilized by all international students by actively communicating within my network physically as well as through social media.


What is your top tip for international students currently looking for work experience opportunities?

I would advise students to start early and manage their time effectively in terms of searching for the right opportunities and applying for them before the deadline. Another on is to utilize the Career Studio resources for polishing your CV, cover letters and interview skills. Thirdly, network as much as possible to know more about the UK culture and try to understand the basics of UK job market & its expectations. And lastly, take full advantage of various sessions organized by the university such as career fairs, workshops, enhancement weeks, etc. You can keep an eye for all these events through the team’s social media pages.

Surya Maheshwar is an international student from India who is currently pursuing a postgraduate degree in Business Analytics and Big Data. Surya describes his experience in Liverpool as a wonderful journey. For him, every day is completely different and learning happens at an exponential rate, not just academics but everything.