Getting a good job in the UK is as much about being prepared and knowing the best places to look and the right people to talk to, as having the key skills and qualifications. These top 10 tips will help you to put you in a prime position to find the right employer and impress them once you’ve found them.
1.Be prepared
First of all, you need to create a really good CV. Make it interesting and intriguing to ensure that the prospective employer wants to find out more about you. When you find a job that you are interested in applying for, write a great personal cover letter tailored to that specific job. If you’re lucky enough to be invited for interview, research the company and prepare well. Ensure you have a list of questions to ask that show you have a knowledge of the company.
2.Networking
As the old saying goes “it’s not what you know, it’s who you know”. The important thing here is talking to people. Talk to friends and family about jobs or opportunities that they’ve heard about.Make contact with people you’ve met at careers fairs and use social media to link with people. Often, managers and directors will be sympathetic if you reach out to them as they are likely to have been in your position themselves. Asking for volunteer work and work experience is a good way of getting yourself known.
3. Get them to come to you
By creating a good up-to-date CV and posting it online, you are allowing potential employers to hunt you down and save you the work of chasing them. There are some great websites that enable you to do this. Ensure your online profiles present the right impression to potential employers as they are likely to research you, as you would research them. It is prudent to make sure that social media profiles are either hidden or employer friendly and professional, remove any embarrassing pictures!
4. Choose your employer
Pick out a company that you’d love to work for and target them. Put your efforts into finding a company that fits with your skills and personality. Look at the skills they require and hone your CV to meet their requirements. Learn all about them to enable you to be knowledgeable at interview.
5. Bounce back
There is no denying that job hunting can be tough. Most people receive knock backs and rejections. The important thing is to pick yourself up and keep applying for more jobs, stay motivated and learn from your mistakes. The best thing you can do is to ask for feedback when you get a rejection to enable you to improve on your application or interview next time.
6. Be an early bird
If you’re very smart and keep your ear to the ground you may be able to find out about the perfect job before it has even been advertised. This is a great way to get ahead of the pack.
7. Online openings
There are many websites dedicated to finding people the perfect job. However, these websites can be advertising thousands of new jobs every day. Try using an advanced search facility to narrow down your requirements to avoid trawling through all of the jobs that are not relevant to you. Using Google alerts can save you a lot of time and hassle. This is a free service that matches your criteria to new jobs and allows you to get notifications of jobs as soon as they are posted. You can choose to get immediate alerts or daily roundups.
8. Look Local
Local newspapers are actually a great way to find local jobs, particularly casual or temporary work. Although it may seem old-fashioned it is also worth checking in newsagent’s windows or libraries for adverts that have been placed there. This can be an effective way of offering and finding jobs in your local community.
9. Industry specific jobs
If your skills are specialised and there is a particular industry that you are looking to work in, why not try looking through trade publications. Look for newsletters or trade magazines that have a smaller circulation and jobs tailored more to your skill set. Jobs that are advertised less widely mean that there will be fewer people in competition with you for that job.
10. Social media
Social media is a growing and very effective tool for job hunting. Companies are advertising jobs on Twitter and of course LinkedIn. LinkedIn is a great way to put yourself out there and be found, or to search for a job that fits with your interests. Employers are utilising this service more and more to find the perfect candidate. Join the online community to make yourself as visible as possible.
Using the tips above won’t guarantee you that dream job, but it will put you in the best position to jump on opportunities that not everyone will be aware of, making it more likely for you to succeed.
Your passport / Biometric Residence Permits (BRPs)/ Residents Cards
Your National Insurance card
Your driving license
Proof of your address (eg. electricity bill)
Your UK visa (if appropriate)
P45 (When you start work for the first time, you will not have a form P45, so your employer should ask you to complete a Starter Checklist (this used to be known as form P46).)
Relevant certificates
Diversity in the workplace
The U.K. has a diverse, multicultural workforce. There are legal and structural systems in place to make sure that discrimination can be tackled effectively, and expats shouldn’t expect to find themselves at a disadvantage. If they do experience problems, most businesses will have a dedicated human resources department they can turn to for help.
There are more women in the U.K. workforce than ever before, and female expats should expect to be treated equally at all times. A great deal of progress has been made to tackle inequality and discrimination over the last few decades, but there are still some issues that need addressing. While the employment gap between men and women has shrunk, women are still more likely to be in part-time work and less likely to be promoted to senior positions. Many companies have strategies in place to confront this, and expats who experience problems should be able to seek out help and support.
Workers’ rights and responsibilities
The U.K. has many laws in place to protect workers from discrimination and exploitation — reflecting a broadminded and welcoming workplace culture. Expats should not expect to experience — or tolerate — discrimination based on race, gender, disability, sexual orientation or religion. Nor should they expect to experience sexual harassment.
Understanding British humour
A sense of humour is important to British people. They take great pride in being self-deprecating and able to laugh at themselves. But don’t mistake any jokes made at their own expense for a lack of confidence or ability, or as an indication that their work is not being taken seriously. Brits use humour and understatement to avoid seeming arrogant or rude — which can help to keep communication between colleagues calm, professional and mostly free of conflict.
British reserve
Communicating too directly — or showing a great deal of emotion — is considered inappropriate in many circumstances, particularly when doing business. Politeness and good manners are highly valued. This can mean that some Brits will offer a vague or inconclusive response, rather than criticise or disagree too openly – which could be considered quite rude.
When working with Brits, you’ll need to learn to read between the lines. You’ll hear phrases like: “That’s interesting. We’ll consider it later.” This could mean exactly what it says. Or it could be that the person is trying to reject your idea without causing offence. If in doubt, it’s best to let the point drop. If they don’t return to it later, you can always pick it up with them in private, without causing awkwardness during a meeting.
Don’t be afraid to get help and ask for advice
You will find that most British people are friendly, helpful and open-minded — and they’ll expect the same from you. Don’t be afraid to ask them to explain anything that is confusing. A polite question to a friend or colleague could help you to avoid accidentally being rude to someone else in the future!
Greetings and meetings
When first meeting a Brit, he or she may seem reserved and cold, but that is just an impression. In reality, they are very friendly and helpful to foreigners. A handshake is the common form of greeting, but try to avoid prolonged eye contact, as it may make people feel ill at ease. Use last names and appropriate titles until specifically invited to use first names. It is proper to shake hands with everyone you know, regardless of gender; the appropriate response to an introduction is “pleased to meet you”.
Time and punctuality in British etiquette
British people are very strict when it comes to punctuality. In Britain, people make a great effort to arrive on time, so it is impolite to be late, even by a few minutes. If you are late, be sure to inform the person you are meeting.
The British often use expressions such as “drop in anytime” and “come see me soon”. However, do not take these literally. To be on the safe side, always telephone before visiting someone at home. If you receive a written invitation to an event that says “RSVP”, you should respond to the sender as soon as possible, whether you are going to attend or not.
Body language and dress code
British people are not very keen on displaying affection in public. Hugging, kissing, and touching are usually for family members and very close friends. You should also avoid talking loudly in public or going to extremes with hand gestures during the course of communication. The British like a certain amount of personal space. Do not stand too close to another person or put your arm around someone’s shoulder.
When it comes to clothes, there are no limits and restrictions on how to dress. Just make sure that you respect the general rules when in formal situations. Observation will reveal that people in larger cities dress more formally, especially in London. Men and women wear wools and tweeds for casual occasions. Slacks, sweaters, and jackets are appropriate for men and women. Do not wear a blazer to work — it is country or weekend wear. On formal occasions, always select an outfit that fits the dress code. When attending a holiday dinner or cultural event, such as a concert or theatre performance, it is best to dress formally.
Respect
It is important to respect the British desire for privacy. Don’t ask personal questions about family background and origin, profession, marital status, political preferences, or money issues. It is extremely impolite to violate a queue, so never push ahead in a line. It is also very rude to try to sound British or mimic their accent.