Why did you choose to become an international student in the UK? We know that one of the major reasons that led you to make that decision is your desire to seize the countless opportunities that abound here. After all, getting a graduate job is easy as long as you have a UK degree. That's what all UK universities make you believe.

While it is true that there are more than 29,000 companies that sponsor Tier 2 Visas, only 2% of international students are able to secure a top graduate job and working visa.

This is the reality:

• The average time it takes for 40% of graduates to get a job is 6 months.
• For top sponsoring industries like Professional Services and Investment Banking, the average graduate salary is £29,000. 
  
• The most common employers that hire and sponsor international students include the Big 4 Professional Services Firms, namely PwC, KPMG, EY and Deloitte. For Financial Services, Morgan Stanley and RBS give the most employment opportunities.
• The following are the most common graduate positions that accommodate Non-EU applicants: Auditor, Tax Accountant, Equity Researcher, Risk Analyst and Operations Analyst.

Finding a job in the UK is challenging. Firstly, the harsh immigration climate puts international students at a disadvantage. Secondly, committing job hunting mistakes like applying too late, applying for jobs that don't sponsor and limiting applications to a certain industry heavily reduces chances of employment.

But if you are ambitious, driven and hard-working, investing on a UK degree and spending energy to look for a job in the UK is worth it. The benefits of working in the UK are unprecedented.

These comparative salary tables demonstrate how working in the top UK companies paves the way to a higher standard of living, in contrast to working for the same company in the Asia Pacific region. All data sourced from Glassdoor (www.glassdoor.co.uk)

Salary Comparisons between the UK and chosen APAC Countries

If you want to improve your standard of living through working in the UK, there are 6 steps that you need to take in order to succeed in finding a job:

1. Positioning and Preparation

2. CV, Application Form and Cover Letter Review

3. Online Test

4. First Round Interview

5. Assessment Centre

6. Final/Partner Interview

Most international students apply for jobs on their own, yet find themselves failing in the early stages. Rejected applications and failing online tests are common. As such, only a few progress to the interview level and even fewer at the Assessment Centre level. Why endure the process alone when you can get expert guidance?

Career Interactive is the UK's leading provider of career coaching to International Students in the UK. With over 8 years of experience, we have successfully coached over 1,000 students just like you into Tier 2 graduate jobs at Times Top 100 companies in industries such as Investment Banking, Professional Services, Consulting and Law.

Through our innovative platform, we can help you in every step of the job application process, and offer bespoke programmes to ensure that you succeed in your career goals.

We have now opened a new office in 4 Bloomsbury Square, WC1A 2RP so it would be more convenient for students like you to come and visit us for career advice.

Gear yourself up for the professional world and become part of the 2% that makes it. Take the first step towards success now.