Smirutha

I didn’t prioritise job hunting when I should have. But I didn’t stop showing up either. And that made all the difference.

I moved to the UK in September 2023. It sounded like a dream on paper: one-year course, English-speaking country, and they accepted my three-year degree.

I imagined I’d figure it out along the way. But once I landed, my focus shifted. I was searching for accommodation, managing my coursework, and thankfully, I secured a part-time retail job in the first few months.

Job hunting became an on-and-off thing. I didn’t know how to approach it. I didn’t even realise how competitive it really was.

600+ job applications 8 interviews 2 offers 1 final job

My job search wasn’t structured. I applied to whatever looked possible. And most of the time, I got ghosted.

There were “scam” interview calls, too. I once sat through a "first round" that turned out to be a sales pyramid pitch disguised as a webinar.

Well, every rejection stung. But what hit harder was the confusion. I didn’t know what was working and what wasn’t.

Looking back now, I should’ve started earlier. I should’ve asked more questions. I should’ve treated the job hunt like a skill, not a side task.

But eventually, things began to shift.

It started when I met Shaki. He helped me realise that I wasn’t lacking talent. I was just missing structure.

He talked about having a niche, and that thought stayed with me. I began tweaking my CV using Unimad’s resume builder.

Each version taught me something. I kept refining and applying. The LinkedIn optimisation process was a game changer.

I started showing up with more intention, putting out content, and reaching out to recruiters without feeling like I was just shouting into the void.

I didn’t use a Value Proposition Document in the traditional sense, but the mindset of being one step ahead really helped me prepare. It gave me the edge in interviews.

In between all this, I joined Unimad as a content marketer. It wasn’t full-time, but it was the first time I felt like I belonged somewhere. Still, I knew I needed something more stable.

After a lot of thought, I made the tough call to return to India and continue the job search from home.

It wasn’t part of the original plan, but it turned out to be exactly what I needed.

Because soon after, I landed a full-time role.

That journey taught me that it’s not about where you land first. It’s about whether you keep moving forward.

Trust yourself, even when things get hard, because things will fall in place, and it will be worth the wait.