Abdulrahman Ibrahim

What was the most impactful aspect of the WWC programme for you personally?

The biggest impact I had from the WWC programme was learning how to say yes to opportunities. Prior to the programme, I was not comfortable going out and doing whatever I wanted to do. However, by going onto the programme, I was out of my comfort zone, as I was with 12 other students that I'd never met before and in a country I'd never visited. With that being said, I had the best time ever and made great friends on the way.  When I returned from the programme, I vouched to myself to take on anything that came my way. This led to me creating my own Travel Society, working within the University with jobs including a student caller and working for the UWSU.

Was it beneficial for giving you an insight into your chosen job market and opportunities following graduation?

The programme was very beneficial when it came to giving me insight into the working environment, as I had the opportunity to network with alumni and gain valuable knowledge that I used to help me secure a graduate job.

What were your expectations before the programme and did they change afterwards? Were they met?

I wouldn't say that I had any big expectations before the programme, I was just super excited to have been selected and going to America. Within the first three months after I came back from the programme, I wouldn't say that I fully understood how big the impact was, it was only after a while did I realise. Before the programme, I just wanted to ensure that I had fun and met some good people, I would definitely say that the programme exceeded that and was definitely not what I was expecting. 

How did the programme support your professional and personal development as a student (what skills did you develop during your programme that have helped you in your current role)?

The biggest skill that I learnt on the programme was networking. Prior to the programme, I did not even have a LinkedIn profile and really did not like speaking to new people. During the programme, I created my LinkedIn profile and used it to connect and network with people I met whilst on the programme. I was able to get in contact with someone that I met on the programme and I asked them if there were any opportunities to become a summer intern at their company; they helped me by connecting me with the Director of Talent. That is when I realised how powerful networking is and the importance of knowing people that can support me personally and professionally.

Did you include your experience on your CV or discuss it during your job interview?

I would say that the programme was the foundation of the house I built whilst at university. If I did not take part in WWC, I don't think I would have a house. So it was definitely something that I discussed during job interviews. I think by taking part in this experience was definitely something that made me stand out from other candidates as it showed I can go out of my comfort zone to get something done.

Do you have any tips for students participating in future WWC programmes?

Have fun and put 100% into everything that is planned for you. There are not many opportunities where you get to travel and not have to plan your days. So I would definitely say not to stress about the schedule or any admin things.

Be curious and ask questions, you have the opportunity to meet some really fascinating people, learn their story and ask questions!

During your free time, I would definitely recommend being a tourist and exploring the city.

Do you have any advice for graduating students first starting out with their job search?

My biggest advice would be learning how to tell employers the impact that the programme had on you and that can help you in the job you're applying for. This advice can be used for anything you do, it's not about what experiences you've taken part in, it's how those experiences have built you as a person and what skills you've taken from it.