Finding a job in the UK is not as difficult as the average person imagines climbing up to heaven; the key is being mindful. Firstly, you should have a good idea of what kind of staff British companies want to employ. Secondly, to be really appreciated by employers, especially some big enterprises, you should fully demonstrate your high quality: perfect English expression ability, strong professional knowledge background, good at co-operation and communication with others.
In addition, relevant work experience, although optional, is significant. If a company hires someone to work in the Chinese market, show that you are familiar with the Chinese business environment or have a wide range of contacts. Secondly, ability is more important than education. Western companies are very rational and flexible when hiring employees. Here are eight ways to find work and employment opportunities in the UK.
Ways to Find Job
1. Higher Education Career Centre
Almost all institutions in the UK have a careers advice centre with staff to guide students in choosing their ideal job. There is also a wealth of employer profiles and up-to-date employment information for students. Recently, Times Higher Education (THE) ranked the best universities for employers by combining data from various sectors, including business, IT and engineering infrastructure. The rankings show that UK companies prefer universities with which they have established links – in other words, they are more likely to use the university’s career centre to find out what students are up to.
Alongside the growing role of university career centres in corporate recruitment, the reality is that many students are discouraged from seeking advice from Career Service professionals. With official figures showing that up to 30% of UK students have never used their university’s Career Service, we would advise students to use their university’s Career Service more often – a good job comes from a lot of hard work, and asking for help from a professional will help you to find it with less effort.
2. Recruitment Meeting
The university organises job fairs yearly to allow employers to meet students directly. Participating in such events will enable you to meet employers face-to-face to find out more or to sell yourself. If some companies take a liking to you, they will ask for your CV, take down your contact details, and contact you on their own initiative. Even if there is no suitable position available at short notice, this opportunity to meet employers face-to-face is invaluable and must be noticed. It can help you understand industry trends, vacancies, recruitment requirements, employer preferences and other “hidden” helpful information not explicitly stated in the job description. This information will help you better your job search in the future.
3. Newspapers
UK newspapers and magazines publish many job advertisements every day, with the specialised press being highly targeted and the generalist press being broader in scope. In addition, there are often hidden secrets in business news. For example, a company has got a new project. A company is expanding, or even some internal personnel promotion and transfer, all revealing that the company may hire new people.
4. library
Both university libraries and community libraries in the UK will have a large number of books on job searching and employment for reference, such as those that teach you how to design a CV, how to build up a network of contacts, interviewing skills, a who’s who of famous people, or detailed descriptions of companies. Reading more professional books can help you have a better career plan and a clearer understanding of the application process.
5. Online Job Search
The role of the Internet as a new medium for job search in the 21st century is becoming increasingly prominent. By entering keywords such as job and career, many related websites can be searched on the Internet. In addition to using search engines, students can pay attention to professional job search websites. Some of the more mainstream websites in the UK are:
- InterGreat.com: Internships with famous UK companies. This programme is for international students to get internships and jobs in the UK. All the companies are famous local companies.
- Totaljobs.com: The UK’s largest job site, with thousands of vacancies posted every day, you’re sure to find something.
- Jobsite UK: Award-winning UK job board featuring jobs by email, sending your CV to top companies and recruitment agencies. Fresh career information covering 35 UK industries.
- Reed.co.uk: The UK’s premier job site; whether you’re looking for a job, recruiting, or preparing for an interview, this is the place to start.
6. Network
It is essential to make friends of all kinds, and the wider one’s network, the more employment information one gets and the more opportunities one has. During the interviews, it was found that the Chinese had the highest proportion of successful employment through this route. But this is by no means exclusive to the Chinese. The London Business School, one of the world’s top 10 business schools, always holds regular alum meetings to allow current students to build relationships with already well-known alums.
7. Jobcentreplus
There are job centres in every district in the UK, and it is easy for international students to register by filling in a form, writing down their address and bank account number, and leaving a contact telephone number. Enterprises that agree with the employment agency will inform the centre of their recent staffing needs, and the centre will then contact registered job seekers according to this database. However, most jobs offered by the job centres are for operators on factory assembly lines.
8. Social Media
Social media has recently emerged as a way to find a job. A good LinkedIn Profile has become a standard for job seekers. Social media can create an identity and allow users to demonstrate specific expertise. For example, using a particular hashtag or being a recognised expert in a Klout, Quora or LinkedIn group can increase a job seeker’s appeal. Most employers search for candidates online before offering or scheduling an interview. Suppose the results show that they have in-depth knowledge or interest in the areas covered by the company. In that case, they are more likely to receive an interview call.
FAQ
Can a foreigner get a job in UK?
Yes, foreigners can get a job in the UK, but there are certain requirements and procedures that need to be followed. Here are some key points to consider:
- Work Visa
- Job Offer
- Skills and Qualifications
- English Language ProficiencyImmigration Rules
Is it easy to apply for a UK work visa?
It is not difficult to apply for a UK work visa. To start off, there are different types of work visas available depending on your occupation and the length of your stay in the UK. The most common ones are the Tier 2 (General) Visa and the Tier 5 (Youth Mobility Scheme) Visa. The former is for skilled workers with a job offer from a UK employer, while the latter is for young people aged 18-30 from specific countries who want to work and travel in the UK for up to two years.
Can you get a job in the UK without a visa?
If you want to work in the UK legally, you would generally need to apply for the appropriate work visa. However, there are some exceptions and specific situations where you might be able to work on a visitor visa, but these are usually limited and come with strict conditions.
