Everything you do for others around is an opportunity to better yourself and further your outreach of future possibilities.

What did you study at Aston University?
MSc Investment Analysis

What year did you graduate? 
2015

If you think Yanting can help you get the information or advice, you need to improve your career chances you can contact her by completing the contact form. NB: Don’t ask alumni for a job – they can provide information and advice only.

My career journey so far

June 2015

First attempt at getting a taste of the job market, by attending the London Graduate Recruitment Fair organized by Target Jobs

Received all the support and help I needed for applying for a job from Aston Career Centre

July 2015

Got inspired by the graduate job-hunting season and the first time came up with my current business idea of Talent Trending which provides the solution of helping students and graduates finding the answers for career and gain real-world work experience and industry exposure: 

Seeing most of my peers actively searching for jobs in the financial industry; 

Hearing people talking about “Fake it before you make it.” for a job application;

Finally, asking myself what do I really want for my career life and I hardly could determine the answer at that point. So, I started looking for possible answers to it. Tried to talk to recruiters looking for a financial candidate within the industry, tried to make myself become interested in it, and I just couldn’t fake my passion. So, I keep discovering questions for myself: what if my passion doesn’t lie with my profession? What am I going to do about it? Stick with it or make a change? What are the risks? What are the costs? Do I just throw away what I acquired from the course? For this one I know definitely not because once I get the skill, it will be stored in my ‘tool box’, it just means that I can keep getting new stuff and along the way of learning and discovering, I believe I will find the answers for the questions above and learn from different people. Instead of sticking with what I hold, I made a choice to go on an adventure of pursuing wherever my heart takes me, and I feel lucky to encounter this important life decision now rather than later.

September 2015

Became a Postgraduate Mentor. Enjoyed the volunteering experience of having the great opportunity to share values and help others. Did everything I can to support and help my mentees gain the most out of their university life and till today, my mentees and I are still in touch and help each other out when needed. 

November 2015

Went job hunting in National Graduate Recruitment Fair in London and Birmingham; Handed out 3 CVs at the event, got 2 interview offers following the event. And 1 job offer.

December 2015 - February 2016

Getting to know the IT industry, going to networking and business events while I am still in the UK. 

Started building my first tech project, a networking app called Unomi;  

Successfully passed my job interview of a 2-year trainee program of Cargill in the UK;

Went back to China.

March 2016

Got a job offer from Cargill in Shanghai; 

Made a choice of fully commit to work on business instead of getting the job

April 2016

Got a new business partner in the app project, CEO of a development company called Zivato; 

First beta testing version of app ready; 

May 2016

Business Planning for Talent Trending; 

BSEEN Application (Life changer) 

June 2016

Joined BSEEN office, offering me the best time ever I have experienced in doing business. Every day in the office is networking, learning, sharing and team working and more;

Met my business mentor, and completed the Phase 1 Plan for website development

Received intensive entrepreneurship training and registered Talent Trending Limited during the 5-day BSEEN Boot camp.

How I secured my current job

Since I first got my business idea of making a website helping student and graduates to maximize their opportunity in the highly competitive job market. I started seeking advice from people around me, students from different cultures, alumni, and most importantly my career mentor Mr Griffiths in the Aston Career Centre. I Joined the Aston PIPE Club, to meet like-minded people and learn to become an entrepreneur. I built my first Business Canvas for Talent Trending there and started my first Technology Project there, which opens the door in the information technology industry for me. With this opportunity and guidance from my Aston career mentor, it enabled be to form a plan and network resource for Talent Trending and also solidified my determination and belief in the business idea and myself, and this is how I get to the point of securing a place in the BSEEN program. 

My biggest achievement to date

Being nominated, and later shortlisted, as a finalist by Unity Trust for their Young Leader of the Year (19-35) award in 2011. Even though I did not win it, I was overjoyed to have made it to the top 3 for a national level award. Visit the website to find out more.

My advice to MSc students
  • Do a daily brain exercise, constantly looking for questions that link your present/upcoming decisions-to-make to your future, do some research, making projections that utilize the power of your network to get a clearer picture of the impact of each option you have in your decision making. This will help you achieve long-term benefits. It is always better to look for questions before questions find you.
  • In Aston, one of the best things is here we have a great cultural mix. Don’t differentiate yourself from other people with different culture background. The difference gives access to all kinds of new resource, so step closer and blend in, you will be surprised!
  • Being a university student, especially in a university like Aston, you get access to all kinds of resources other than the courses that you paid for. You can easily multiply the value of your investment here if you explore the opportunities around you, and people here are always willing to support and help each other, being a part of the Aston family is one of the best things that is happening in your life. So, why not get the most out of it while you can? 
  • Provide. Ask yourself what you can do for people, and who can you help now or potentially in the future. Everything you do for others around is an opportunity to better yourself and further your outreach of future possibilities.