Congratulations on graduating from Newcastle University! What happens now?

All your hard work at university has paid off, and you’re now the proud owner of a Newcastle University degree – congratulations! To help you transition from student to graduate life, we spoke with Class of 2023 alumna Sara Kozakova to get her top tips.

We know that life after university can be daunting, with so many avenues for you to explore that it’s hard to know where to start. So, what happens now that you’ve graduated? To help you prepare for your next steps, we spoke to Sara, who graduated with an MA in Cross-Cultural Communication and Media Studies in December 2023, to hear her experience of joining the world of work.

Do what you love

The importance of networking

Just before I came to Newcastle, I was appointed as an Ambassador for the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) where I represented the views and needs of international students in the UK at important events with key stakeholders in education.

During my time in this role, I spoke at events and conferences, wrote blogs to support international students and promoted the UK as an attractive study destination for prospective students. It was vital I keep on top of the latest policy influencing life for international students too.

This volunteering position was my first step in developing a passion for the international higher education sector, and I quickly decided that was where I wanted to be after graduation. But how was I supposed to enter the profession when I had no professional experience in the sector? I couldn’t see many entry-level roles when I was searching and just couldn’t see a way in.

Thankfully, that’s where networking and my volunteering position came in. I was invited by UKCISA to represent international students on a panel discussing a recent report on the economic impact of international students in the UK – it was a very formal event with lots of professionals from the sector in the room. After my talk, a managing director of a company that connects international students and UK institutions, came to speak to me about my plans for after graduation and gave me her contact details, encouraging me to stay in touch. Long story short, she’s now my boss!

LinkedIn is your friend

I didn’t think it was that big of a deal to get someone’s LinkedIn details after meeting them at an event, but by connecting with this managing director and following up with our introduction, it has led to me landing my dream job.

Shortly after connecting, I saw a job vacancy at her business, Kaplan International Pathways, being advertised by her colleague on LinkedIn. I read through the advert and thought there were lots of things there that I could do, but worried I didn’t have the experience to apply while I was still at university. I reached out to the colleague that had advertised the position, and it turns out her managing director had already mentioned meeting me and suggested I’d be great for the role! That gave me the confidence boost I needed, and I submitted an application.

The role sounded too good to be true, and if I hadn’t have met the MD at the event, I would have thought it was! But now I’m six months in and loving it.

A day in the life of a Partnerships Coordinator

My first role out of university is as a Partnerships Coordinator at Kaplan International Pathways. Basically, I work with educational institutions to encourage them to welcome international students and support them in supporting these students. This could be organising training sessions, providing reports – anything to nurture our relationship and ensure both the student and the institution is benefitting.

There is no average day – they’re all different! Last month, I organised a social event with one of our partners in York and it was lovely to bring people together over an afternoon tea and a quiz and see that everyone left happy.

As an international graduate myself, it’s so lovely to work for an organisation where international students are at the heart of everything we do. I came to the UK because of how diverse the culture is and to satisfy my intrigue at the unknown – and now I help others do the same!

My favourite thing about my job is the diversity of my responsibilities and getting to meet so many different people. It’s an international business too, so knowing I have colleagues all around the world who I can chat to at literally any time to learn from their experience is really exciting. It feels like I have the whole world on my doorstep now.

How my degree has helped me get where I am

My time studying at Newcastle was the quickest year of my life, but also one of the best! I’m sad to be leaving Newcastle to move to London for work, as I’ve felt so welcome and at home in this city. There’s something about Newcastle that is electrifying. Parts are beautiful, parts are ugly, but everything about it is authentic and that’s what I love most.

Throughout my time at Newcastle University I grew in confidence massively. This was partly thanks to my teachers and partly thanks to the various volunteering roles and internships I accessed through the Careers Service. I realised how much potential I have and how much further I can push myself!

I worked for the Give It A Go programme at the Students’ Union, the SU Marketing team and also had two internships during my MA - one with the Business School and one with Reading Solutions. During my internship, I supported my lecturer in getting a grant from UKCISA to develop a project, and then worked on that project too which was really exciting. Having a sense of purpose to my work was really important and the Careers Service were so helpful in finding opportunities for that.

I'm really interested in other cultures and learning about different perspectives, which is what led me to studying in the UK initially, and the MA course at Newcastle too. I think it's such a nice challenge when you meet someone from a different culture who does everything in a completely different way to you. It makes you realise that your truth isn’t the only truth, and it invites you to challenge your own way of being. This is so important when I’m working.

My top advice for new graduates

Every experience you have will help you in some kind of way. I say yes to most opportunities because you never know where it might lead and who you might meet. There’s always something to gain. Even if what you gain is realising that actually, that didn’t go well and I need to develop in this area or this isn’t the kind of work I want to be doing. The space for reflection is really important in growing your skills and your confidence.

How your university can help you adjust to graduate life

Graduation doesn’t mean the end of your connection with Newcastle University. You are now part of a dynamic network of over 270,000 graduates worldwide who share a common bond - their passion for Newcastle, cherished memories of student life and aspirations as a graduate.

We're here to help you take your next steps, whatever they may be, and keep you connected to the wonderful campus and city you called home. As a Newcastle graduate you can continue to access support, resources and facilities. You can also benefit from professional and personal development opportunities including:

• Careers support: Join MyCareer to view the latest graduate employment opportunities, engage with employers and receive 121 career support.
• Expand your personal and professional network through our alumni events wherever you are in the world.
• Whether you're returning home or staying in Newcastle, stay connected to your university and other graduates through our alumni networks.
• Relevant news and updates from your university and other alumni around the globe.