About

University and Careers advice, overseas students

Welcome

International Student Pathfinder (ISP) is an essential resource for university and careers advice.

The goal of ISP is to help students to make a successful transition from full-time time education into their chosen careers. ISP will equip students with proven strategies and insights to prepare for successful graduate careers.

Hi! My name is Marvin.

I am the guy behind ISP. I am a professional with over ten years’ experience in the UK financial services industry spanning different sectors such as: retail banking, commercial banking, and insurance. My corporate experience includes both in-house advisory roles at leading global organizations such as HSBC and Zurich Insurance; as well as consulting experience at Deloitte.

I understand the aspirations and challenges of students, having been an overseas student at both undergraduate and postgraduate level. I also understand the intricacies of navigating the competitive UK job market and what it takes to be successful.

I graduated from Cardiff University with a law degree and went on to achieve post-graduate degrees from King’ College London and Cranfield School of Management. Although I managed to secure a graduate career, my journey was not without its hurdles.

Thousands of students are sold on the dream of overseas study expecting a rewarding career on completion. I was one of those who took the leap and invested in higher education in the UK, arriving from Uganda to study law at Cardiff University.

At the time, I was under the misguided impression that attaining a degree at a UK university alone was the pre-requisite for a successful graduate career.

It was only after I was already at a university that it became clear how difficult it was to transition into a successful graduate career. It dawned on me that there were many other factors that affected my career prospects that I had not been aware of.

By the time students and graduates realize that they need to take action and work towards enhancing their career prospects, it is too late, and they have lost the advantage. Many graduates find themselves regretting that they could have done things differently or wishing they had started their career planning much earlier.

As I have walked the journey with other overseas students, I have realized that there are many twists and turns in our career paths. It is clear that we all faced similar hurdles – which are still existing challenges for students today!

With hindsight and experience, I have a better understanding of the strategies that students can adopt to increase their chances for success in getting graduate jobs. This is where the idea for ISP emerged…

Why Pathfinder?

A Pathfinder is a torch-bearer, illuminating the path in the unchartered dark, marking unchartered roads for others to walk. A pathfinder is like a lighthouse that is luminous to help mariners navigate their ships at sea. All these ideas of a pathfinder capture the inspiration behind ISP.

ISP was born out of the desire to help students to make successful transitions into their chosen careers.

My passion for helping others to succeed began in the university where I helped my peers from various overseas backgrounds to get into graduate roles at top global companies.

During my career, I have been actively involved with graduate recruitment and delivered careers advice workshops at universities and schools. I have also been involved in providing employability skills sessions for young people with prominent charities such as the Prince’s Trust.

I want to share the techniques that have benefited me and many other graduates with students to help them plan and prepare for rewarding graduate careers.

So whether you are planning to attend university, or already at university – you will find plenty of useful advice and resources to help you to successfully launch your graduate career.

Food For Thought (Adapted from "The West Wing”)

A man is walking down a path as it is gradually getting dark. Soon he loses his way and stumbles, falling into a hole that he can’t get out of.

A doctor passes by and the man shouts up, “Hey you. Can you help me out?” The doctor writes a prescription, throws it down in the hole and moves on.

“Then a priest comes along and the man shouts up, “Father, I’m down in this hole can you help me out?” The priest writes out a prayer, throws it down in the hole and moves on.

Then a friend walks by, “Hey, Joe, it’s me can you help me out?” And the friend jumps in the hole. The man says, “Are you stupid? Now we’re both down here.” The friend says, “Yeah, but I’ve been down here before and I know the way out.”

…the journey from being a student to finding a career is a path full of many twists and turns. It is easier to travel that path with someone who has walked it before, so join me.

ABOUT

Welcome

Why Pathfinder?

Food For Thought (Adapted from "The West Wing”)

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