Seven Applications, One Dream Job: How a KTU Graduate Built Her Career in Lithuania

Then she spotted a vacancy for an entertainment writer. “For the seventh time, I hit apply, and this time, it worked!” she says.

Of course, clicking the apply button was only the beginning. She still had to complete an initial writing assignment, attend an interview, and pass a final writing test. This time, though, she had something valuable to show: a portfolio built through years of writing and experimenting with different media formats.

Writing for Magazines, Books and Film

For someone who had always been drawn to storytelling, KTU’s New Media Language programme offered plenty of opportunities to explore that interest.

“I will always have a bias for the New Media Language programme at KTU because I genuinely enjoyed my time studying it,” Ifeoluwanimi admits.

Creative Writing, Writing for Media, Elements of Media Culture, and Web Content Creation and Publishing were among the courses that stood out to her. But some of the experiences she remembers most fondly happened when she had the chance to put what she learned into practice.

During her final year, encouragement from her Creative Writing lecturer led her to Flintas Publishing, where she worked part-time as an editor and writer. There, she gained professional writing experience, contributing to magazines and children’s books.

Another opportunity took her to Germany for a ten-day creative trip organised through Labor Europa.

A Career in Lithuania Without Speaking Lithuanian?

Despite her growing portfolio and practical experience, finding a job in Lithuania came with its own challenges, particularly because she did not speak Lithuanian.

“I want to be honest and say that not knowing Lithuanian affected my job search,” Ifeoluwanimi explains.

The difficulty was particularly relevant to her chosen field. Media companies creating content for local audiences often need employees who can write and communicate in Lithuanian, meaning some opportunities were simply out of reach.

After graduation, Ifeoluwanimi wanted to explore her career options in Lithuania before considering opportunities elsewhere. The possibility of staying in the country for a year to look for work gave her time to do just that.

At Bored Panda, she found a position that matched her interests and allowed her to write in English as part of an international team. “I haven’t felt excluded because I’m a foreigner,” she says.

After securing the job, she changed her residence status to continue living and working in Lithuania. Although the process was manageable in her case, she recommends that international students learn about residence permit requirements well before graduation.

She is equally practical about the language question. Not every industry offers the same opportunities to English speakers, and she encourages students to investigate their chosen field rather than assume that finding work without speaking Lithuanian will be easy. Learning the language, she adds, can be useful even when a job does not require it.

When Your Dream Becomes Your Everyday Job

“I love writing, so being able to work in a field that genuinely interests me feels like being paid to breathe,” she says.

She appreciates the international team and the small gestures of recognition that make her feel valued beyond the stories she produces.

Now that she has achieved her goal of working in entertainment media, Ifeoluwanimi is beginning to think about where she wants to take her career next.

For students still figuring out their own paths, she suggests starting with a simple exercise.

“One thing I would encourage students to do is imagine themselves sitting in an interview for their dream job. What would you want to be able to talk about with confidence? What experiences, skills or personal projects would make you stand out as a candidate? Once you have an idea of what those things are, start working towards them while you’re still a student. Create projects you can be proud of, develop your skills, and keep evidence of the work you’ve done,” she says.