Saudi Arabia | Sana Aman

Meet Sana

Arriving in Australia from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in 2015, Sana was drawn to UTS for its world-renown reputation in technology, practical approach to preparing students for their careers, and the variety of subjects and electives that shape well-rounded graduates. She was excited to learn many IT subjects including programming, networking, business, management, and User Experience/User Interface (UX/UI) design.

“I feel every subject at UTS is designed in a way that not only helps you build your foundation but also helps you experience what a career in that field would be like which really helps to make better career decisions in the future.”

Having family in Sydney helped with her move away from home although the transition was not without its challenges.

“Being a hijabi who was raised in Saudi and had never been to Australia, there were countless struggles. I had never studied computer science or any tech related subjects during high school. So, I had this constant stress that I won't be able to do my degree or get a good corporate job.”

Sana found comfort in student societies and volunteering helped her find a community in a new country.

“I became a part of the Muslim society which helped me make close friends. UTS has its own multicultural space and those events gave me joy to meet so many like myself with similar background and struggles. It gave me a sense of belonging. I still volunteer with UTS--I meet women freshman and new graduates and encourage them to pursue a career in tech.”

She relied on UTS Careers and tutors to build confidence in her studies and prepare for the job search. Through UTS career fairs, Sana learned what recruiters were looking for in the current job market and allowed her to network with recruiters even before graduating.  Sana gained the confidence and soft skills she needed to start her career.

I was lucky enough to secure my first job immediately after graduating, all thanks to the UTS Careers and the support of my tutor. I was constantly looking for jobs and reached out to my tutors for help. One day I searched the UTS career portal and found a job which matched my skillset. Coincidentally, my tutor also found the same job for me. The UTS brand added so much value to my resume as well. Recruiters considered that anyone graduating from UTS would be skilled enough to work for their firm.

Just four years later, Sana is working as a senior IT risk consultant in Sydney for one of the leading accounting firms in the world, PwC Australia. She even made the dean’s list—something else she never imagined she’d achieve.

In offering advice to current students, Sana says, “You can go anywhere you want to as long as you work towards it. Get yourself out of your comfort zone, socialise and network, keep looking for opportunities, never hesitate to start with the small jobs, absorb all the information and knowledge around you and learn from your experiences.”