How Amritya Pradeep Landed a Data Scientist Job Through Smart Networking!

I am Amritya Pradeep , an Operations Insights Analyst at Markerstudy Insurance Services Limited. I completed my MSc in Data Science at the University of Birmingham, UK. I spoke with Leap about my journey for their expert student series—Indians who had studied abroad recently and are still in that country pursuing their dreams—because I want to help others wanting to take the same career jump that I made.

Tell us about your background

I did my bachelor's in India. I studied electronics and communication at Jaypee University of Information Technology. After graduation, I joined Cognizant in Chennai. I worked in Chennai and Pune for one year each. At that point, I felt a bit stuck. While I had received initial training in data analytics, I wasn't seeing much internal growth. Then, the 2020 lockdown happened, which made things even more challenging. So, I quit my job during the lockdown to fully focus on pursuing data science.

I was preparing for CAT as a backup, but I also started considering opportunities abroad. So, I applied to multiple universities in the UK and was accepted into the University of Birmingham, where I pursued a one-year master’s in data science in 2021. After graduating, I received a two-year post-study work (PSW) visa.

After graduation, I received a freelance remote role for a company based in California, but due to time zone differences and logistical challenges, it wasn’t sustainable. I continued interviewing, and in November 2023, I landed the job where I currently work.

Why did you choose the UK?

Initially, I was planning for Canada, but around that time, the UK had recently announced Brexit. I figured that since the UK had just opened up its post-study work opportunities, competition might be lower compared to Canada, where many students were deferring their admissions due to COVID. Additionally, Canadian universities were highly competitive and charged hefty application fees, whereas several UK universities did not.

One other major reason was the work-life balance. I've heard from some family and friends that the work-life balance in the UK was much better than in India. That attracted me.

Another factor was my strengths and interests. My decision to pursue data science and not an MBA wasn’t about passion, it was about what I was naturally good at. I’ve always been comfortable speaking with people, strong in math and analytics, and inclined toward problem-solving. Even when I was studying electronics and communication, I realized I wasn’t great at the electronics part, but I excelled in programming and math.

Q. What was it like to study there?

Learning here is more independent than in India. Professors assign a lot of coursework, and students are expected to research and learn on their own. Another key difference is how doubts are handled. In India, students can usually walk into a professor’s office anytime to ask questions. Here, you typically have to email them, and they will schedule an online meeting, sometimes a dedicated one-hour slot to address your queries.

he workload structure is different. There aren’t as many scheduled classes per week, leaving students with a lot of free time which many use for part-time work.

Coming to social life, it depends on factors such as accommodation choices and networking opportunities. The university organized plenty of events, especially in the first few weeks. There was even a bar on campus that hosted dance events which helped me mingle with students from different backgrounds.

Q. Can you break down your expenses?

My master's tuition was £25,000 (₹26 lakh), but I received a £3,000 (₹3.1 lakh) Commonwealth scholarship, so I ended up paying £22,000 (₹22.9 lakh). I also chose university accommodation, which cost around £8,000 (₹8.3 lakh) for the year. In total, my expenses came to about £30,000 (₹31.2 lakh).

If you cook for yourself, you can manage about £100 (₹10,400) per month. Initially, I was frugal, cooking most of my meals, but once I got my teaching assistant job, I started spending more freely. Buses here charge around £2 (₹210) per journey, so transport costs depend on how often you travel.

Q. What was your job-hunting process like?

For me, 99% of the job search was online. Companies did visit the campus, but mostly to promote themselves rather than to recruit directly. These sessions were useful for asking questions about company culture, values, and what they look for in a candidate, but not for direct hiring.

One of the biggest challenges here is that not all companies sponsor visas, and it’s often unclear which ones do. While some companies will hire you under the two-year Post Study Work (PSW) visa, they may not offer long-term sponsorship, meaning you’ll eventually have to find another employer willing to sponsor you.

To improve my chances, I adopted strategic networking methods. I used LinkedIn extensively, reaching out to professionals, engaging with recruiters, and making connections. This networking approach helped me land both of my post-master’s jobs, as well as my teaching assistant role. In a tough job market, networking was the key factor that set me apart.

Instead of just submitting applications on LinkedIn, I directly messaged recruiters and hiring managers. Sometimes, the team manager posts job openings, and if you reach out to them, it can really speed up the process.

Q. Do you have any tips or strategies for graduates looking for jobs now?

If you're coming to the UK, one of the first things you should know about is the graduate scheme. Graduate schemes open a year in advance. Since master’s programs here are just one year long, you have to start applying as soon as you land. Big companies like Deloitte, EY, and PwC offer these schemes, and they’re great if you don’t have prior experience because they don’t test your technical skills, but your aptitude. Plus, they sponsor your visa for three years.

I also made sure my CV was optimized. My university had a tool that checked if my CV was ATS-friendly (Applicant Tracking System). A CV needs to score 80%+ to ensure it passes the initial screening.

Another trick I used was LinkedIn filters. I searched for entry-level jobs in data analytics and filtered results to show posts from the last 24 hours or a week. That way, I was always applying early, which increased my chances of getting noticed.

Q. Do you want to give any general advice?

Start applying for jobs as soon as you arrive. Network as much as possible, and reach out to recruiters and hiring managers directly. Be prepared for an intense year because master’s programs here move quickly. And finally, understand the visa challenges, and make sure you know which companies offer sponsorship so you can plan accordingly.