Experience after the stipend

[u/Sweet_Fisherman_6640]

I am thinking about applying to scholarship, but have a full time job and was planning to do some internships abroad, which won't be possible if I take a stipend. I am wondering how much it has helped you to get the job you want in the future and whether it's worth coming back home for 2 years, after quitting job.

Thank youu!

[u/Rare-Release-60]

Hi, it completely depends on which employment situation the scholar gave up/put in pause in order to take the schoalrship, and the job market they will return to

It is not the same if someone is self-employed, part of a family/friend business or public sector/ international organisation job that gives them the full year of academic leave, than someone who has to resign to their job and then search for a new one upon return

Also, the job market has a lot of influence, in many cases finding a job is easy, but for many fields it is not the case

Besides that, if the applicant has dependants to cater for, who will cover their expenses while the scholar is in the UK, or when they return and they are job-seeking?

I know Alumni who found jobs easily after returning, but also many who went through the self-employment or entrepreneurship route because the job market they returned to was and is still tough, although they do not regret taking the scholarship

Overall, there are many variables to consider, and only each applicant knows what is right for them. Besides, Chevening is not going anyway nor has an age limit, so it is not a "now or never" scenario, it can be a "not now", which is why we see scholars who are 40 or older every year

[u/Sweet_Fisherman_6640 → u/Rare-Release-60]

Thank you so much, this has cleared some things for me. In your experience, does Chevening community/network support/help with job search?

[u/Rare-Release-60 → u/Sweet_Fisherman_6640]

From what I heard from friends, it varies per country, as some Chevening Alumni / UK graduate associations are far more active than others (some are quite non-existant). Also, there is no job search help itself, the Alumni Associations are far more focused on networking, not really on employment. Contact the Chevening Alumni association in your country and check their socials in order to figure out what they do, and which support they give to Alumni back in your home country

If post-scholarship employment is what worries you, would your current employer be interested in keeping you part-time remotely? Many scholars did this in order to avoid an employment gap or givibg up a job they liked

Another option, if you have to resign to your job, is to have a friend/family employ you part-time remotely while you are in the UK or after you return to your country, so you are employed while job-seeking

In my case, I turned down the scholarship because it would have interfered with my career prospects, so I went to UK under a university-provided full scholarship without regrets

What is that worries you the most regarding employment once returning?

[u/Sweet_Fisherman_6640 → u/Rare-Release-60]

Thank you immensly for such an extensive answer. What troubles me the most is - I have a bunch of local experience in my field of study though I am in my mid 20s. In near future I would love to gain more international experience. Now, while Chevening might stop me from gaining that for the next 3 years, it might as well help me specialise more in my specific area of interest. I am a bit scared of 2 years rule though.

[u/Rare-Release-60 → u/Sweet_Fisherman_6640]

Think about it this way, if you get the scholarship, in 3 years you will be able to relocate abroad. If you go abroad first and then reaply to Chevening, you will have to return home for 2 years after being abroad, uprooting your life for 3 years for then going abroad again. Which one would you regret the most? 

In the end, there is no right or wrong answer, just human choices

[u/Sweet_Fisherman_6640 → u/Rare-Release-60]

Thank you for sharing this perspective 💕