Hello,

Just to add to advice others have given. Don't be in a rush to run into BA. It's said that an average person usually have about 5 careers in their lifetime. You are in a very good position to spread your tentacles as you already have a job. Finance is broad so you might just need a bit of time to seek out those areas you are best suited for. Some job titles can make you think its outside your area of specialization. If I were you, I will do a bit of research - LinkedIn is a good place to start. I will set up notification for certain job titles, check out the job description and record recurring ones that fits my skill set. I will tweak it again after two weeks to different set of job titles.

In everything we do, the WHY matters. In my own opinion, Finance domain knowledge + data analytics (analysis or viz) is a better combo.

Knowlegeseeking:
Dear wise ones,


I am looking at switching careers and I need insights from everyone. A little background about me.
I have worked in the big 4 as an auditor and have over 4 years experience. I am partly ACCA qualified. I want to continue my career as a business analyst. I have an M.Sc in International Accounting and Finance here in the UK.
Thank you.

You don't have to. However there is a caveat, if you have a Limited Territorial Validity (LTV) visa, you are only allowed to visit the Schengen countries specified on the visa sticker in your passport. https://www.schengenvisainfo.com/rules-for-entering-schengen-area-first-point-of-entry/.

heroshark:


Do I need to enter the country that issued the visa 1st? My visa was issued by Switzerland 🇨🇭 but I'm traveling to Germany this Sunday and have no plans of going to Switzerland..

SPDAZZY:


Can you do the CV revamp for my spouse? Thanks

I am not a professional resume writer and currently can't take on more. US tech sis and bro have been talking about using ChatGPT for their resume. I tried it last weekend and it looked better than mine e.g, it changed the passive verbs. Ask it to re-write your current cv using keywords from the job role or industry. You can also ask it to rate you current resume by feeding it the job description for the job you are applying. General rules - same fon't, font size(11) (you can make it accessible), keep it tidy with lot of white spaces I.e, the sentences are not too long).

mizGene:

Wish I could give your post a thousand likes... I really get that part where someone close is just blind to their potential and available people/resources to leverage. Very frustrating....

It's frustrating to put it mildly. I am at a point where I don't even talk to him about it. Everybody we be alright!

@Aphrodite007, @Lagosismyhome, @heroshark.

Thank you for bringing up this convo about PSV and everything you said is valid. However, there are many layers to it and I have questions
@aphrodite007 - are these people getting good jobs, but not with sponsorship or they are not getting jobs at all?  I asked because there were so many jobs and not enough people to do it as of January and that dwindled as the fin year ended.  If they had a "good enough" job, and performing why would any sensible HR let them go knowing they would spend more to backfill the role?

As an aside, on the issue of "big boys" in Nigeria - sometimes 'big boy' can make things clumsy. I saw the CV of two of my husband's friends - I wouldn't interview them with that CV tbh. They had loads of experience and had everything on their CVs. I got a headache from reading the 4 pages CV. CV got revamped, one got a job 2 weeks after and the other has been getting calls and now interviewing.'

@heroshark raised some valid points about upskilling, preparedness etc. There are lot of students around me and many of them got sponsorship whilst my brother is in a care job. A lady whom I accommodated interviewed with a lot of big firms but didn't pass their interviews. We all know there is a lot to interviews beyond skills. From day one, she knew what she wanted and went for it - it was a matter of time. She eventually got sponsored by NHS.

Whilst I am helping other people rewrite cvs, prep for interviews, upskill and motivate them, I have never seen my brother's cv or heard him say he has an interview somewhere. Even though he studied a lucrative course - add a bit of Excel proficiency, and SQL for beginners, the guy will be hotcake but I have realised not everyone is driven.

I told a guy to send me his cv and portfolio so I can refer him to recruiters especially the ones interested in black/minorities. The guy hasn't come back till date.

I have met people who got sponsored jobs before they finished uni. I can go on and on.

There is luck/grace and whatnot but there is something the 5% are doing that the 95% are not doing. I have seen it over and over again. It takes dedication and grit and not everyone has it. I may be wrong - happy to learn because the tuition fee my brother paid still dey pepper me.

I think your provisional might be cost-effective if you are hoping to save some money. They'd expect that you would always have an experienced driver with you when driving. My premium with provisional licence was £553 and it increased by £222 when I passed.

Tinyemeka:
Dear ancestors in the house,

Good day.

I want to apply for car insurance and would like to know which is more cost-effective: whether to buy the insurance with my International driving permit or to first apply for a UK provisional license.

Thanks.

Thank you. I must have missed your response. The visa was denied. Apart from making reference to previous EUSS application made, it also addressed her as though she is from Pakistan. Mama has never been to Pakistan!

LagosismyHome:


No vignette usually points to rejection however UKVI quality control these days is just terrible , so many errors up and down. I would say sadly it most likely a rejection and someone forgot to print the letter or email it

However to be hopeful maybe the visa was granted and they just forgot to print the vignette. Best to contact them and in the case I know, when contacted they then sent the rejection letter

That's good! Hopefully, you'd get a positive response.

You still have a leg to stand on because of your course duration. The reason behind resitting modules within 3 months is because the system won't allow a resit of e.g. an autumn module in spring. It just doesn't make sense that you'd have 160/150 credits and be awarded a PgDip! You need to pay your head of department and the Dean a visit.

You owe Lexus an apology. Same Lexus that anybody can chat with privately? That paid for someone to stay in an hotel? @Lexus, abeg no vex.

Form A is the official route to pay for Nigerian students so nothing wrong in using it. The problem is the "Nigerian factor" and a lot UK universities have been quite considerate. However, some students keep quite and don't inform the university on time.

There are a lot of good people in this group supplying valuable information.

Maureen4sure:


Thank you for your suggestions and advice. @Contra5, I have since emailed the vice chancellor regarding my situation.

Before coming to this forum to ask for suggestions and contributions, please don't always think people have not done their best and look for every available option.

My school is Edinburgh Napier University, and yes, students can retake a module twice within a three-month grace period.

Hi Maureen, a lot of things don't add up here. Which university do you attend? Students have rights! It doesn't matter whether you are international or local.

You need to search your uni's policies and regulations regarding resit. You don't start fighting with emotions but written rules. First off, was the finance team informed of your pending form A? Most uni just need to be aware of what's happening - they wouldn't shut your account unnecessarily.

I find it hard to believe that you will asked to submit a dissertation for PgDip! I think you can still change the situation If your visa won't expire until October. Usually Students can resit a module twice depending on the school's policy.

Check the policies, if its different from what this unhepful module leader has said - craft a letter to your VC, head of department quoting the policies and add all comms to the Nigerian bank that delayed your form A, tell them you are more than happy to write the exam within an hour If given the chance and at the end sprinkle all the emotional turmoil it has caused. Let them know, not getting that full degree is a big fail to your kids and family.

Lastly, go on Twitter and copy the school handle with all the proofs if that didn't work out and you know this is truly not your fault (sorry its difficult to see it from your post). All the best.

Maureen4sure:
My dear fellow Nairalander,

Greetings to everyone.

My name is Maureen.

This is my story; please, I need every little advice and

I will. Thank you

LagosismyHome:


No vignette usually points to rejection however UKVI quality control these days is just terrible , so many errors up and down. I would say sadly it most likely a rejection and someone forgot to print the letter or email it

However to be hopeful maybe the visa was granted and they just forgot to print the vignette. Best to contact them and in the case I know, when contacted they then sent the rejection letter

Yes there was an informing her that a decision has been made and another to come collect her passport.

mex551:
did you receive a mail from them ? Check your junk or was a mail attached to it? There must be a letter or mail.

Hello all, please I need your advise. My MIL passport was picked up today and there was neither a rejection letter nor vignette on it. Has anyone experienced this before?

kode12:


In my time, the uni offered me hardship funds, but in the same email or maybe when I queried eligibility as an international student they also told me they'd be informing the Home Office of international students who claimed funds. I don't know what that means.

Which university is this? I heard some universities didn't extend it to International students but some OS still got the financial aids perhaps not directly from that pot. Students from certain country did that during the case of Delta variant outbreak in that country.

canadaishome:
Guys
https://www.rgu.ac.uk/study/finance-funding/funding-and-scholarships/4550-coronavirus-fund

He said he wants to apply and I'm not sure what to tell him especially as international students have claimed that we have funds at the time of visa application.

The person should apply for it. Universities aren't being generous. The UK Government disbursed a huge £££ to all universities in England (I want to believe same for other parts) to cushion the effect of Covid-19 on students as they had written to the universities and parliament to refund their tuition fees and monies paid for accommodation. If a particular university didn't announce it, trust me the money is being disbursed underground. They dip into it whenever any student come forward for such. People had nothing to eat in Nigeria during lock down now. Did it not affect the person emotionally and psychologically? You need the money take care of yourself �

Yes, you can. You may be able to save up the full deposit before completing the whole process.

[quote author=brine post=108594858]

Congratulations ! I'm wondering if it makes sense to start looking for a house few months before you have your full deposit ?

So a lady can only have a feminine name? You got it though! I game a lot as a teenager and Contra was one of my favourites.

deept:


maybe because of the video game we used to go play at roadside game centers. 'Contra' - one of the games on the 1000 games on one console.

You too! It's the last one there. Property - First time Buyers. It's a private group with about 30k members.

JustAPasserBy:


I always (albeit wrongly) thought that Contra5 was Y-chromosome human.

By the way, which of the Facebook groups did you join?
I see. Lot of them…

Haha! Thank you. Yeah, it can only get better.

Congratulations.. Why do I always think you're a guy. Like I always tell new people here, it's very tough at the beginning but gets easier as you push on. [/quote]

Mamatukwas:


Congratulations.

Thank you Mamatukwas! I follow your page on IG and likes your post whenever I go there. I like hardworking women. Well done! If teaching is your forte, I think you should have a masterclass/online course. It will help a lot of migrant wives with kids.

Hello,

I just want to appreciate everyone here. You guys are doing a great job. I have learnt so much here from discussions on building credit score to buying a house. I moved to my own house in October after 10 months of 'crazy'. Buying a house in the UK is not for the faint hearted. We started looking at houses last year and left to pick it up again in January and it was a case of you put in an offer and some else offers 10k above the asking price. It was a sellers market not sure if it has changed now. Someone here mentioned the Facebook group (First time Buyers) - its really good. Thank you.

Please be careful when choosing a mortgage advisor. Some of these white folks can only deal with the straightforward cases - they literally know nothing about BREXIT or immigration rules etc. I recall Fatima had said she was calling banks herself. I wish had done that! It's best doing everything yourself because no one knows you more than yourself. After 3 rejections from 3 banks with a 10% deposit and the reason the advisor gave was because of my nationality. I knew something wasn't right!. I got on the phone. Got mortgage approved with Natwest within 2 weeks.

It was such a stressful experience. The seller put the house back on the market because she thought we'd never get our mortgage application approved. I don't blame her. On the day of exchange, the bank refused to release funds because of the different names on my passport and application form - pulled out records of all comms with the mortgage advisor where he told me its not a problem. They said the guy resigned a month ago so I had to go physically to the bank. It was past 5pm - knocked on the door and told them to open up. Short story - to survive in the UK, you've got to fight for everything. I don't care if they call me fiesty black lady.

I digress, this is an appreciation post. Thank you all.

Hello, I think you can still make a distinction. I will advise you look at your uni's academic regulation guidelines. It says what you need to have a distinction. For some universities, its 4 A's plus A in independent study and you get a distinction. Some its 3 A's plus A in IS. It doesn't matter if you had pass in some as long as you meet the set criteria. There is even borderline marking where your 69.5 can be bumped to 70 so you can make meet certain grade. So, don't be sad. Just understand what each academic wants and give it to them or ask them what they expect. Students have so much power - just know the rules by doing your research and be courteous.

canadaishome:
I feel so sad

Got my first result for one of my modules and it's a C. I was hoping to be on the path to a distinction. The lecturer said not to do too much and to stick to his notes, a course mate that went outside his notes got an A. Was he trying to be funny?
Is it still possible to attain it with this poor start?

Congratulations! I'm glad its all sorted.

iboboyswag:
So, I said I was going to update the group on how it goes irrespective of the outcome.

As advised by a few people here, we wrote to the home office requesting for an exceptional assurance. We followed the approach suggested by tobexin and Contra5 and thank God, we have just received a notification granting our request.

We were given an extra 3 months until February 2022. This should be enough.

I want to say a big thank you to everyone who took out time to respond with a possible

iboboyswag:
Hello everyone.

Please I need your help on an issue here.

Background Story.

BRP expires 11th November, 2021. But due to an extension request for project submission, project....

Hi Op,

I don't consider your case a difficult one unless there is more to it..... You have failed your IS module and given a chance to re-do the project hence the change from full time to part time (called part-time recovery in HE parlance) as you can't stay on full-time mode with less than 80 credits per academic year (University regulations). To UKVI you are still a full-time student repeating a 60 credits module. You need to get on the phone and demand to speak with your uni immigration officer- they will need to advise UKVI of your expected course end date and request for an extension. Don't do emails. Stay on the phone until you speak with the immigration officer.

It's not uncommon for international students to fail as long as they have been giving an opportunity to retake those modules.
**do everything possibly not to fail so things don't get complicated.

Hello house,

I've got some naira that I would like to change to ££. Please let me know if anyone here is interested. Thank you. @omopapa?

[quote author=teeboi77 post=104450108][/quote]
Hi, if I were in your wife's shoe I would defer the admission before the CAS interview and go for the training. An international training will be an added advantage for her when applying for jobs after masters if its in a related field. It's highly possible that OFS (office of students) will stop universities from delivering online lectures come September as per the UK Gov removing all Covid-19 related restrictions.

deept:


It doesn't matter these days o

This one is straight as an arrow!

Poch:
Lol... First of all, I go to Tesco almost every other day... Have one less than a mile from me...and have never noticed any racist behavior from anyone. Even the security have been very friendly and professional.

Secondly, when I talked about taking up the walkway, I am sure you should get the metaphor in that statement. It would be senile for anyone to stretch and cover up the walkway from others to pass...that should even be a criminal offense.
My point was clearly to keep walking normally as supposed...and the racist few that feel too worthy of walking close to a black man on same pavement would step down and take the road...lol
Others pass easily bros... Life no too difficult...lets take it easy.

The book, 7 habits of highly effective people by Steve Covey talks about cycle of influence (things you have control over) and cycle of concern (things you have zero control over).
Getting people to like, respect or see you as equal is totally in your cycle of concern. You can do absolutely nothing about it...even you complain forever...so long they don't verbally or physically abuse you...it remains their problem. How you deal with such situations makes you a happier and better person. Thats all I'm trying to pass across... And I wish Africans can start imbibing such mentality.
Check out the Hispanics/Asians... Dont you just love them? They don't GAF about what anyone thinks of them...their culture, food...accent...stature etc...and they are succeeding massively in the UK! lol... Easy really does it my friend...really

Glad to know you were joking. Sending you socially distance hugs

Aphrodite007:


Heeei God o, oga im a married woman o- you shouldn’t make me blush like this

See you! I'm a woman

Aphrodite007:


Fair point about the walk-way, as I wouldn’t tolerate that but I think the OP was exaggerating (I hope).

However I don’t agree with your opinion that because we live legally and pay taxes that we have the right to force them to like us. Whether they are staring at you with admiration or disdain, you should just ignore. If however they dare to come close to you to say pim.. dial me, I will come fight for you!

I hope so too! Being treated with dignity is not "forcing them to like us". I have no desire to force anyone to like me/us.  I'm good with being civil to one another. Definitely! Especially ones that only a Greek goddess can resolve �.

LagosismyHome:


Sometimes this thing is in ones mind.... using tesco as an example. Yes there profiling sure and some blacks feel more targetted in police stop and search.

But the same tesco security is also following whites and other people in the store......so why are you offended. Isnt that what he paid to do. It is his job...... If he follows you and your hands are clean no problem he follows the next target. In a town where no black then his observation moves to the next person that fits a profile within let say the white community.....
frankly he just doing his job.

I understand what you mean. To be honest, I've never been followed or stopped in any of the Tesco's stores around here. Should it happen tomorrow, I'd definitely have a conversation with the security - to know why am being followed. Imagine being followed everytime you are in a particular store because it's a predominantly white community - you had better be watching me 50m away.

badboitarzy:


Not many black people here like that! When I used to take my kids to the park 90% of the times we the only black family or swimming they just stare. Its just weird. Went to the surgery for flu jab they try and create small chat where you from, isn't it dangerous where you come from will you go back.. May be it's me. Or security following you around in tesco. used to it now. Sha no one has officially been racist to me. Its just the stares.

But when I visit family in London or my paddy in bristol I don't feel uncomfortable.

To say the OP shouldn't consider his experience as racist is gaslighting. That you choose not too see an act of racism for what it is does not change it. I let things go if my peace isn't threatened but does that stop me from noticing change in body language when I enter a room or the sneaky stares.
We live legally in the UK, pay tax and NI - we may not be citizens but we do have rights. Firstly, right to human dignity. Please next time you are at Tesco confront the security guy with your observation and if it persists ask to speak with their Manager. Your mental health is too important for that BS!

It's difficult to even blame these folks because of behaviours exhibited by some of us. Why would anyone take up the "walk way" and say you don't "send" them?? And you ask why they stare at blacks? Being considerate even in little things such opening doors, leaving room for others in the walk way depicts good character. Our children should see us do such.

I use smallworld regularly and it's currently £536 as of few minutes ago. I noticed whenever I stay on the app for a while fiddling with the numbers their fee rates may change but if you log out and log back in it goes back to normal. Possibly same issue in this case. Funds usually get delivered within an hour.

Bourne007:
Really don't know why small world emails me a rate of 527 then I log in the app and it shows 466.

Been using them for years now (though don port to Ace ) but If that's the rate you get which will be odd, it's safe to use