Case studies: International programme officer: Roshni Jewbali

Roshni's networking skills paid off when she landed a job at VU University in Amsterdam...

After graduating with a BA in Cultural and Social Work and a Masters in Anthropology, I managed to secure a job at a bank through a friend who was already working there. They needed someone to work on a project and this gave me the perfect opportunity to gain some experience and network with different clients.

As a result of networking, I was then able to get a job with a recruitment agency working on projects linked to the university at which I had studied. Working in a consultant capacity meant I could also build up vital contacts within the university, which led to my successful appointment as the international programme officer. Networking has undoubtedly been one of the most important aspects of my career succession.

I also feel strongly that I could not have got my job without a postgraduate degree and that having a degree in anthropology definitely helped me find relevant employment. Being able to identify with people from various backgrounds, ethnicities and cultures is very important in my current work and my degree equipped me well with these skills. This is particularly useful when helping students with personal problems, which is a regular part of the job.

A typical day as international programme officer usually involves handling a variety of correspondence including answering emails from international students interested in studying at the university's faculties of earth and life sciences, and psychology and education. I send offer letters and response letters to prospective students and arrange housing and visas. As well as helping students with problems, I also arrange events such as induction weeks and ongoing meetings with faculty members.

My degree has given me insight into a wide range of countries and cultural backgrounds and I utilise this on a daily basis. Studying anthropology has enabled me to communicate more effectively with the students and I enjoy working with students from different countries and within the dynamic environment at the university.

Understanding the students and creating meaningful relationships with them is the part of the job I find most challenging. It can sometimes be difficult to build a relationship because not all students are open to communication or they might not want to talk about their situations.

For this career, it is important to like the university environment and to want to work with students and carry out a lot of networking. It is a good idea to start by working as an intern or as a volunteer. People will respect you for it and this will give you a chance to network, meet people and hopefully find a job you enjoy.

AGCAS

Sourced by AGCAS editors

Date: 

June 2010

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