Finding a Job in London- Tips for Expats *

London is inarguably one of the greatest cities in the world. With bustling streets and packed full of fascinating history, it is hard not to want to become closely acquainted with England’s capital city. London attracts not only job seekers from within the UK, but also abroad- it is in the top ten international cities in the world! However, moving to a new country, particularly a large city like London can sometimes be a little difficult to navigate, as the competition for employment is high, and there are sometimes specific skills and visa requirements to abide by. However, the good usually outweighs the challenges of getting a job in this city, and it is definitely a realistic goal. For those of you still in the planning stages of moving to and finding a job in London, here are some tips that should help you on your bright new journey!

Update Your CV

The first thing that you should do is make sure that your CV is up to date and that it reflects you in the best possible way. Make sure there is no useless and uninteresting information. Get to the point and make sure there are no grammar and spelling mistakes- if English isn’t your first language see if a friend will take a moment to proofread before you start sending it out. Don’t forget an interesting cover letter that truly reflects your personality in a clear and snappy way. Remember, this is the first thing that potential employers see.

Look Online

Of course, this is what you would do in any place in the world. Go online and manually search for a job. This is definitely the first place you should go to begin your job search. It is important to do this in order to get a feel for the job market, to see what’s out there and the average salary offered for the position you’re looking for. I recommend using a trusted job site like Jobrapido.co.uk in order to find a coherent list of available jobs in London all in one place. Don’t forget to be clear on how far you are willing or able to travel, where you plan on living and working are two vital decisions to make- London transport is relatively good, but you don’t want to spend hours changing buses and tubes to get to work every day.

Gather Relevant Visa Information

If you are planning on living and working in London you must make sure that you figure out what visa you need. For people in the EU, work visas are not necessary (for now! Let’s see what happens after Brexit). However, from anywhere else, a work visa is required. There is a point-based system for eligibility, based on skills and need. It is more likely that you get a visa if you can prove that your skills are in high demand and that there are not enough people in the UK to fulfil that demand. I’d suggest using the Gov.uk site to check exactly what you require.

Network

Networking is the way of the future. It is almost impossible nowadays to get or to be successful in a job when you do not have the connections and you do not employ methods of fostering them. The highest paying jobs in London are usually ones that you have to know people to get. Whether this is through family connections or Twitter, you must put yourself in positions to Network. Attend networking events and be sure to follow the relevant people on social media. Remember that potential employers can now get to know you a little better (perhaps too well) via social media platforms, to pay attention to what you are posting, and who you are following on Facebook or Twitter.

Living in London

Once you land your dream job you need to make sure that you are prepared for the change you are making. You should research where you want to live in the city well, and most importantly, research how far your work is from your house. This can greatly affect your experience you in a city so big. If you’re a little worried about feeling lonely while you find your feet in the big smoke- try and find a local expat group and attend some meet-ups with likeminded people.

It might seem like a lot, but it will all be worth it. London is a very International place where people from all walks of life have found a home for themselves- good luck and prepare for adventure!