Top 5 Careers Anyone With a Degree Can Consider
Some graduates believe that the career path they choose must align with what they study at school, which may be common thinking in many countries. However, this thinking is now outdated, at least in the UK. With an emphasis on workplace diversity and increasing digitalisation, more and more UK companies are hiring students and graduates from diverse academic backgrounds to benefit from the unique skills, perspectives, and experiences each individual brings to the table. This helps to create a more flexible, innovative and inclusive workplace, leading to improved performance and a stronger competitive advantage in the market. As such, more employers are now focusing on attracting a diverse talent pool and providing required training once the graduates and interns join the firm.
As the number of employees hiring from a wide range of backgrounds increases, many careers do not require a specific degree and welcome applicants from any academic background. This is the same for international students in the UK and applicants based in other countries who wish to consider a career in the UK. Whether you studied history or marketing at university, you can still consider becoming an accountant or a banker. This is particularly helpful for you if you need visa sponsorship to work in the UK, but there are not many opportunities in the area that is relevant to your degree. You can explore other career options that you are also interested in to increase your chance of securing a job offer.
In this article, we explore the top 5 career paths that international students in the UK or graduates from other countries from any degree background can consider:
1. Audit/Assurance
Auditing, also known as Assurance, is a critical function in the UK. It helps organisations ensure that their financial statements are accurate, transparent, and in compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
Audit is a very versatile career, and auditing skills can be learned easily by anyone. In the UK, employment in audit is available across a wide range of industries. Some of the largest audit firms in the UK include Deloitte, PwC, KPMG, and EY, but there are also many smaller firms and in-house audit departments that offer employment opportunities. The audit industry is also one of the industries that hire the largest number of foreign nationals.
If you look at the job description of graduate audit/assurance jobs or internships, you will notice that most employers will say, “we accept applicants from any degree discipline/subject”. When you see such terms, if you think you can be a good auditor, do not hesitate to click apply. Most of those employers will provide all the essential training to help you succussed in your career.
Apply for visa-sponsored audit/assurance internships or graduate roles by typing “audit” or “assurance” in the search box.
2. Consulting & Advisory:
Consultants help organisations improve their performance and efficiency by providing expert advice and support. This may involve conducting research, analysing data, and developing strategies for improvement in areas such as finance, risk management, operations and human resources. Some companies also run advisory graduate programmes, which are similar to consulting graduate programmes.
Consulting is also a popular destination for many foreign nationals. Companies like Accenture, Deloitte and PwC also hire a decent number of graduates. Jobs in consulting can be very competitive as some consulting companies only hire from top universities. However, it should not deter you from considering consulting as a career if you are interested in it, as it is another sector that hires graduates from any degree discipline.
Apply for visa-sponsored consulting internships or graduate roles by typing “consulting”, “analyst”, or “advisory” in the search box or by filtering jobs in the consulting industry.
3. Banking
Yes, you heard it right! Banking! Did you believe banking is for those who studied finance or banking? You are wrong.
Banking is a broad term. Bankers help companies raise capital by issuing and selling securities or providing loans. They also advise clients on mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance, and risk management. Investment banking, commercial banking, private banking and personal banking all can be categorised under banking.
Image: Barclays Retail Banking Graduate Programme Requirements
The UK is the financial hub of the world, and all of the world’s largest banks have headquarters in the UK. That’s why there are many graduate programmes in the financial services sector, and it is one of the largest when it comes to hiring graduates and interns. If you are an international student and want to land a career in banking, give it a try even if you did not study banking or finance-related subjects, as most employers accept applicants from any degree background.
Apply for visa-sponsored banking internships or graduate roles by typing “bank” in the search box or by simply filtering jobs in the financial services industry.
4. Tax
Tax sounds like a very technical discipline. Although it can be technical, a tax graduate programme or internship in the UK provides students and graduates with a comprehensive introduction to the field of Tax and prepares them for successful careers as tax professionals. Whether you are just starting your career or looking to make a change, a tax graduate program can be a valuable investment, helping you build your knowledge, develop your skills, and make meaningful connections in the tax industry.
Tax is another area where many international students work. Given its emphasis on training, anyone with a degree can consider internships and graduate programmes in Tax. However, it is important to do research before applying to ensure that you really understand what you will be doing once you start your career as a tax professional.
Apply for visa-sponsored tax internships or graduate roles by typing “Tax” in the search box.
5. Technology Consulting/Support
Technology/IT consulting graduate programmes and internships provide students or graduates with a comprehensive introduction to IT consulting. The curriculum of an IT consulting graduate programme will typically cover a range of topics, including information technology, project management, business analysis, and communication. Graduates will learn how to assess clients’ IT needs, design and implement IT solutions, and manage projects from start to finish. They will also develop their problem-solving and critical thinking skills and ability to communicate complex technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders.
Image: KPMG Technology Consulting Graduate Programme Requirements
IT consulting is another popular career destination for foreign graduates and students. With many big employers hiring in technology consulting, you should consider it as an option if you have an interest in technology and want to develop yourself in this area in the future. It is important to bear in mind that, though a degree in technology is not required, some companies may want you to demonstrate your interest in technology by learning anything tech or data related, such as VBA, SQL or Python, by yourself.
Apply for visa-sponsored technology consulting internships or graduate roles by typing “Technology” or “IT” in the search box.
