Make the most of your transferable skills

International student Oluwaferanmi shares their perspective on finding work in the UK as a student, exploring the importance of transferable skills, confidence, and learning how to effectively communicate your experience to employers.

Some people will say finding a job in the United Kingdom, especially as a student, is a hassle. International students might even call it war. The hours are restricted, and with employers constantly asking for UK experience, it all just feels like the odds are stacked against you. Despite these challenges, there are still countless opportunities across the country and, every day, there’s someone receiving that all important message “congratulations on your offer.” 

This raises the question: what truly makes a difference? 

It’s easy to assume that experience is everything. And while experience does help, it isn’t always the deciding factor. The real leveler is communication and positioning. 

You’ve probably heard this too many times: modify your CV, take courses, build your portfolio. And yes, all of these things are important. But beyond doing all that, the real difference is in how you position yourself and how well you communicate the skills and experience you already have. 

Here’s a simple scenario: 

A young woman moved from Nigeria to the UK to study a master's degree in digital marketing. Back home, she worked as a marketing associate for about two years, arrived in the UK in September, and by the second week of October, she had secured a part-time role as a food and beverage assistant in a Hilton hotel. 

Now, at first glance, marketing and bar work may seem unrelated. But here’s where positioning comes in. 

Working in marketing means you understand how to sell and upsell a product or service. It means you know how to communicate with people, respond to their questions, and guide their decisions, whether online or in person. These are the same skills required in a customer-facing hospitality role. Effective communication, strong customer service, the ability to recommend products, and even basic numeracy and confidence when handling money. 

So even though the roles look different on the surface, the skills behind them are very similar - and that’s the point. 

Employers are not always searching for identical experience. They are looking for relevant skills. So yes, your CV should be strong and well-structured. But beyond that, take a step back and look at your experiences closely. Consider what you’ve done in class, at previous jobs, through volunteering, or even in everyday responsibilities. 

Ask yourself 'what skills did I actually use here?' and how can those skills apply to the role I want? 

These are called transferable skills. And in many cases, they are what makes the difference.