Reynalda Fildzah Dessyrianti - Graduate Case Study

Reynalda Fildzah Dessyrianti, who is from Indonesia, studied MSc Positive Psychology and Wellbeing at LJMU and graduated in 2023. She now works remotely for an Australian-based company in an outreach and operations role, and also as a freelance virtual assistant.

Can you describe what a typical day in your role looks like?

My current role is actually quite similar to my previous outreach role at LJMU, just without the event coordination and in-person outreach. I recruit people, communicate with clients, negotiate, coordinate schedules, and handle a lot of admin tasks.

My day is usually a mix of replying to enquiries, coordinating with team members, updating spreadsheets and tracking systems, and following up on ongoing tasks. Since the company is based in Australia, I spend a lot of time communicating across time zones through email, chat, and occasional video calls. I work from 5.30am to 2pm, which is honestly perfect for me because I'm a morning person. After that, I usually continue with my freelance virtual assistant work… so yes, I basically work nonstop!

Did you apply for graduate roles in the UK?

I actually worked for the Student Recruitment team at LJMU before returning to Indonesia. I wasn't planning to stay in the UK long term or pursue a Skilled Worker visa because I've always enjoyed exploring different roles and industries. I'm probably a very typical Gen Z person, I can't imagine staying in one job forever! As soon as I returned to Indonesia in August 2025, I started taking on freelance VA clients, and by the end of the year I received an offer for a full-time remote role. The transition itself wasn't too difficult, but remote work can feel quite lonely and isolating at times, especially after experiencing campus life and working closely with a team in person.

How did you find your two current roles?

Mainly through LinkedIn, networking, and Upwork. Most of my current clients actually came through referrals from previous clients, which I'm incredibly grateful for. I've been very lucky to work with lovely people who keep recommending me to others. That experience taught me that doing good work and building genuine relationships is often more powerful than constantly sending cold applications.

What made you decide to leave the UK after completing your MSc?

The biggest reason was wanting to be closer to my family, a very typical Asian daughter answer haha! I also felt that securing a role that would sponsor a Skilled Worker visa was extremely competitive, and after seeing how challenging the process was, I decided not to focus all my energy on that path. Remote work gave me a way to keep gaining international experience while being at home with my family.

Did your UK degree benefit you when applying for roles outside the UK, and if so, how?

Yes, but I'd say my psychology background has been the biggest advantage. I often present it as a strength because it helps me understand people, communicate effectively, and work with individuals from very different backgrounds. That has been especially valuable in remote work, where clear communication and empathy are so important when you're collaborating with people across countries and cultures.

What was the biggest challenge you faced as an international student during your job search, and how did you get around it?

The biggest challenge was definitely the visa situation. I applied for 1,000+ jobs over about a year and attended 77+ interviews before I stopped counting. I was applying for at least 10 proper jobs a day from the moment I arrived in the UK in September 2022. A lot of the rejections happened after interviews because employers preferred candidates who were already settled in the UK and didn't require sponsorship. It was frustrating, but it also made me much better at interviews. Eventually I got to the point where I could almost predict the questions before they were asked! Ironically, when I was offered the role at LJMU, I was genuinely shocked because by then I had become so used to rejection!

Did you use any Student Futures services at LJMU and if so how helpful were they?

Yes, I did, and I found them really useful. They helped with CV feedback, applications, and interview preparation, and it was reassuring to have support during such a stressful process.

What is the one thing you wish you had known before you started your job search?

Honestly? I wish I had known that interviews can actually be fun! After doing so many of them, I became much more confident and started treating them as a learning experience rather than a test. Every interview helped me improve my communication skills and understand employers a little better.

Any tips you would pass on to current international students thinking about working outside their home country after graduating?

Just do it. If you have the opportunity to explore the world and try different career paths, take it. You'll probably surprise yourself with how adaptable you are! There are thousands of jobs out there, and sometimes the right opportunity is one you haven't discovered yet. The most important thing is to meet people, build genuine connections, and stay curious. Networking doesn't mean collecting contacts on LinkedIn, it means building real relationships with people, supporting each other, and staying in touch. Most of the opportunities I've received came from relationships I built naturally, not from formal job applications. And last but not least, please don't panic if your career path looks different from other people's. Mine has been a mix of psychology, outreach, admin, operations, and freelancing  and somehow all of those experiences ended up connecting together in a way I never expected!  

Support from the Student Futures team 

If you want to talk about potential careers options with your degree, need help finding opportunities or want support with your CV, application forms or preparing for an interview, you can get advice and guidance by booking a 30-minute 1-2-1 careers meeting with a Careers and Employability Adviser from the LJMU Student Futures Team.  You can also come along to a Careers drop-in which take place weekly at the Careers Zones for quick careers queries.

If you are thinking about starting a business, freelancing, pursuing a side-hustle or have an idea that you want to explore further, email the Start-up Hub and a member of the team will be back in touch, or visit the Start-up Hub website.

For help finding part-time, temporary or casual you can fit around your studies, email the Unitemps team or visit their website.