Gaining acceptance into the UK after graduation can be a formidable obstacle. It’s not only about navigating visas and graduate recruitment processes – it also requires you to decide on your career path and build connections.
Although employers typically do most of the legwork, you still need to contribute. Research the job market, customize your search, network and build connections, prepare for interviews – and do it all correctly!
1. Research the Job Market
For success in the UK job market, you need to do your due diligence. Check labor market information both nationally and within your desired industry for guidance.
You have several websites available to search the employment and job market data. These include the Government’s job website, Find a Job and Agency Central (for recruitment agencies).
These sites provide insight into the current UK job market, its projected future developments and how competitive your chosen career may be. Furthermore, you’ll learn what skills employers require now and which qualifications may become necessary in the near future.
You can check the UK economy’s average weekly earnings to get an idea of how much workers in Great Britain make before taxes and other deductions are deducted from their pay. This information is useful when choosing a career, since it gives an indication of potential salary increases over time.
2. Tailor Your Job Search
Finding employment in the UK can seem like a daunting prospect, but don’t despair – there are plenty of job openings out there! All that’s necessary for success is tailoring your search and being prepared.
Start by scanning some of the top job-search portals such as Indeed, Monster or Jobsite to determine what positions are available near you. This is an effective way to get an estimate of job openings in your industry and the salaries that might be offered.
Second, set up daily alerts to make sure you don’t miss any new job postings. Doing this will keep you abreast of the newest roles in your industry and prevent seeing outdated posts that have been active for months.
Once you’ve identified several roles you are interested in, create an updated CV to showcase your relevant skills and experiences. Don’t forget to include any additional training or certifications you have earned; this will make you stand out from the competition.
3. Network and Build Connections
The UK job market is highly competitive, so it’s essential to network and form connections in order to succeed with your search. Furthermore, knowing the key skills and qualifications that are in demand across various sectors will give you an edge during interviews.
Networking is best accomplished online through communities like LinkedIn. Additionally, you may locate networking events for your desired industry.
Another way to network is through face-to-face meetings and interviews. By doing so, you can learn about the employer’s culture and expectations from them.
Furthermore, you can build a good relationship with your interviewer and request a reference from them. Doing this may enable you to secure employment in the UK as well as obtain visa sponsorship.
You can search the government’s Tier 2 sponsor list to identify companies offering sponsorship. However, this is a daunting task as the list is over 2,450 pages long.
4. Prepare for Interviews
Interviews are a key tool employers in the UK use to evaluate potential employees. They assess your skills, personality and career development; and can take many forms – such as panel interviews with multiple interviewers or group interviews.
When applying for a job in the UK, it’s essential to prepare thoroughly. Doing so will enable you to understand the company better, tailor your responses, and overcome anxiety so that you can impress the employer and secure the role desired.
Start by reading through the job specification and understanding what skills and achievements they require in an applicant. Compare these to your own experiences and come up with strong ‘answers’ that prove you possess all of these attributes.
You may also be asked questions about your values and whether you fit into the organisation’s culture. To research these matters further, find out what other people have said about their experiences working at or similar jobs at the company.
