Job perspectives in the UK

Finding opportunities

In recent years, unemployment has risen in the UK and this has meant finding a job there has become more difficult. In particular, the financial sector in London and the South-East has been hard hit. However, there is a flexible labour market and demand for skilled workers in many different areas.

If working in the UK has always been your dream, don't be discouraged the negative outlook and go for it. If you have good qualifications and want to find a job there, it will only be a matter of time until you find an offer. There is a developed market for part-time and temporary work, so there are also good options to earn money while looking for a long-term position.

What do you need to work in the UK?

If you are not a citizen of an EU/EEA country, in order to be able to work in the UK, you will need a work permit and in most cases decent spoken English skills.

What's the best way to look for a job?

You can either take the risk of moving to the UK and try to get a job from there, or you can stay in your home country and send out applications from there. If you apply from England, the chances are higher that you will receive more offers, you will also be able to easily travel to job interviews. On the other hand you are going to have to look for a place to stay, which can be quite expensive, especially in the big cities. Take London , for example, where it is hardly possible for young people to rent their own flat. The capital plays such a big role in international business and attracts so many people from all over the world that the demand for flats and rooms has been going through the roof in the last decade.

How to get prepared?

The following tips will help you prepare for looking for a job:

Make sure you prepare a high-quality CV. In the UK, this typically is a one or two page document. If you are coming from a country which uses longer forms, this might come as a shock so do some research and work on making sure you prepare something which will present you in the best way.
Think about the skills and experience you have and look at the offers available. You need to evaluate the types of positions available and what sort of opportunities are out there.
Consider talking to some recruitment agencies. Look for those who specialise in the types of jobs you are looking for and make some calls. They will know a lot about the market and their level of interest in you can be a useful indicator.