How I landed my first sponsored role

At university, I hadn't landed internships at big banks like many of my peers. With 6 months left until graduation and no graduate scheme secured, I was running out of time. Not just to find any job, but one that could sponsor my visa.

Out of urgency and panic, I applied to a project executive assistant role, completely unrelated to my background in economics. To my surprise, I got invited to an interview. The main task? An Excel test. Luckily, that was one thing I was decent at. I nailed the test.

But then came an unexpected rejection: "You're too overqualified for this role."

Fortunately, the story didn't end there. The hiring manager saw my potential and referred me to a sister company that had a more analytical opening much closer to what I was looking for. That company, although relatively small, had a visa sponsorship license. Something I would've never known without a direct referral.

Fast forward: I joined them part-time, proved my value, and eventually secured a full-time role on a Skilled Worker visa.

My key learnings:

• Don't limit yourself only to roles that look perfect
• Apply broadly even roles outside your exact field
• Show your strengths whenever you can, they never go unnoticed
• A rejection can sometimes lead to an unexpected referral