Chaitra Pillai

When I landed in Aberdeen in May 2021, I had no idea what I was walking into.

I came here like most international students, with a loan on my head, hope in my heart, and the belief that a one-year master’s in the UK would set me up for a better future.

But life had other plans.

Shortly after I arrived, I lost my brother. The grief pulled me into depression, and it took me months to even feel like myself again.

For the next three years, I kept pushing physically, mentally, and emotionally. Every day was a battle between recovery and responsibility. I wasn’t just juggling a degree, part-time work, and a job search. I was carrying personal loss, visa pressure, and the unspoken fear that I was running out of time.

In May 2024, I decided to go all in on the job hunt. Reduced my part-time hours. Focused entirely on applications.

I applied to over 500 jobs. Got five interviews. One offer.

But those numbers don’t show the emotional toll. The deafening silence after hitting ‘submit,’ the days you wake up questioning your decision to move abroad, the nights you scroll through job boards with a lump in your throat.

Ironically, the best leads came during the times I wasn’t actively job hunting. And when I needed it most? It was complete silence.

What helped me was Unibot. The clarity and confidence I got from using Unibot’s drafts and strategies gave me direction when everything felt messy.

The real game-changer though was networking. It sounds cliché, but talking to people, reaching out, building connections made all the difference.

If you’re in this journey, don’t wait till the last minute.

Start early. Do your research. Find your people. And once you figure things out, give back.

I’ve made it a point to help anyone who reaches out, be it a referral, CV feedback, or just a conversation.