The UK Job Search
In the UK job search, if you want your job application to be taken seriously you have to consider all national differences. The UK job search requires more than just the UK CV with the UK cover letter writing and translation – it requires careful preparation.
You will be confronted with problems that in all probability did not even cross your mind when you decided to find jobs in the UK. Do not take too lightly the influence of employment in Britain can have on the result of your adventure! For example, you will experience the unfamiliar immigration rules and practices, strange job application procedures, bizarre job selection trends and weird management culture.
Most visits to the UK are trouble-free however, you should be aware of the risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks, which could be against civilian targets, including locations frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers like restaurants, hotels, clubs and shopping areas.
You must exercise a high degree of security awareness due to the security situation and ongoing political tensions.
In recent years, the UK authorities have carried out many operations and arrests as a result of investigations into terrorist networks.
Monitor local security alerts, news broadcasts and consular messages. Ensure that your travel documents and visas are valid and secured in a safe place. Carry a photocopy of your travel documents rather than the originals. Maintain a low profile, vary times and routes of travel and exercise caution while driving. Making local contacts quickly and seeking support from other expatriates will greatly improve your comfort and safety.
Realize the importance of language skills. Many people believe that having studied the English language at school or college means you are able to speak that language – but do not be mistaken. Having to convince your boss or pass an interview in a language that is not your native tongue could prove a lot more difficult than you might expect.
You need to accept that not knowing English will put you at a real disadvantage from the local job seekers. The basic knowledge of English is considered necessary to cope with daily office life and life outside work.
It does not make sense to come to the UK without speaking English because nobody will employ you except within some ethnic communities i.e. Polish, Indian, Pakistani etc. Most employers, who are subject to heavy fines if they hire illegally, will not offer employment in Britain to a foreigner who does not possess a British work permit. In addition, any work “on black” will never qualify you for a work permit. Furthermore, such unofficial employment can quite often lead to exploitative working conditions. If you are caught, you can be hit with hefty fines or even barred from the country.
Online UK job search resources are expanding quickly, thanks to online recruitment databases and opportunities to email job search applications. Practically all British recruiters and employers are present on the Internet.
With the high level of Internet usage in the UK, the Internet is now the best place to access information about work in the UK. However, it is always best to use as many different job search sources as possible to find open positions. This includes national, regional, local, government, college, university and company websites.
In an effective UK job search, you should complement online job search by methods that are more traditional because jobs in the UK are advertised in different ways and some jobs are not advertised in traditional forms at all. More than half of all employment in Britain is not advertised at all and is filled through referrals or networking. We refer to this as the “hidden job market” and it is a very important aspect of the job search process.
In the UK job search, quite often, it is not what you know but whom you know.
A common way to find work is through recommendations of friends, relatives and colleagues.
Working as a “temp” (a temporary employee) can often lead to permanent entry-level work. Temporary staffing firms are present in major cities and are available on the Internet.
In addition, employment agencies and careers advisory services are well established in the UK also.
Speculative applications in the UK are only worth the effort if they are well researched in advance and carefully targeted at relevant job recruiters.
Run the UK job search using the most powerful job-search engine!
To run your UK job search, simply type keywords, job title or company name into the What box describing the kind of job you want and enter a city, region or postcode in the Where box. Then click the Find button or hit the Enter key on your keyboard.
Careerjet runs the UK job search on all of the major job boards, newspaper sites, niche industry sites and corporate job sites. Those include:
monster.co.uk, jobsinpublicsector.co.uk, staffnurse.com, teachers.on.net, eteach.com, nurses.co.uk, fecareers.co.uk, hrgo.co.uk, technology.open.ac.uk, aston.ac.uk, jobsineducation.co.uk, reed.co.uk, uxbridge.ac.uk, jobsearch.co.uk, theladders.co.uk, recruitingpeople.co.uk, workmoose.co.uk, mychesterjobs.co.uk, taxation-jobs.co.uk, mysouthyorkshirejobs.co.uk, environmentjob.co.uk, efinancialcareers.co.uk, cdsr.com, thecareerengineer.com, londoncareers.net , careers.reading.ac.uk, accor.com, driverhire.co.uk, medicalworkers.com, eyears.co.uk and hundreds more.
If you are unhappy with the presented jobs you may use another powerful job search engine covering the different job sources.
Remember that your CV must be targeted, scannable and generate hits. If you have difficulty with your CV writing instead of staring at a blank piece of paper, use CV samples and CV templates.
Most recruiters expect to receive a cover letter together with your CV. So, prepare a cover letter convincing the reader why you are the best candidate for the interview using cover letter writing tips.
In recent years it becomes increasingly popular to join the LinkedIn or Facebook social networking websites for professionals, where you may search for jobs and have your keyword-optimized, rich content profile with a current CV. Hiring managers use them more frequently to consult your profile and supplement or check against the CV you send along. If you do not have an account, create one and include your social media link(s) on your CV.
However, you should manage your online presence. Eliminate any photos and statements that could reflect poorly on you. From an employer’s point of view, someone who emphasizes partying on a social networking site is not focused on jobs and those who post complaints about work or colleagues are less desirable candidates. The online CV should not include sensitive information as it could show a lack of respect for confidentiality and discretion.
The UK Job Search Info
To be successful in your UK job search and get the job you want, you need to prepare the UK cover letter and the UK CV which you must email instantly to the prospective employers selected during a job search in the UK.
When you receive an invitation to the UK job interview, you may apply for a UK visa and a UK work permit. Then prepare yourself for a job interview and take a look at the UK dress code because how you dress is one of the most important attributes in not being hired for available jobs.
Check the job interview dos & don’ts, job interview tips and other job search skills pages.
In addition, on the international info, job search, visa, work permit, cover letter, CV & resume, job interview and dress code pages you will find many useful tips for overseas job seekers.
Good luck with your UK job search!
