looking for employment

Hello all,

I am trying to get information on how to find work in the UK as an American citizen.

I have a bachelor's degree in Economics and a Global MBA in Strategic Management.

The particular job isn't as important as getting my foot in the door. I would be open to just about anything.

Any advice?

Thanks

Hi ck1290- I'm in the same boat! I am just starting my search. My BA is advertising/PR and my MA is journalism and mass communication with a focus in PR. So I'm looking for marketing work generally, either agency or client-side.

I don't have any advice as I am also looking for it! If I learn anything I'll be sure to share with you. I was thinking about contacting UK recruiters to see if they have advice for where to focus my search efforts - like large companies who may be more likely to be willing to sponsor my visa. Or if there any tips they have. Have you talked to any headhunters/recruiters about how to go about your job search?

Emily

Welcome to the forum!

Unfortunately, getting a work visa for the UK can be difficult. 

In order for the UK employer to sponsor you, they would need to demonstrate that they have advertised the job in the UK and EU and were not able to recruit any suitable candidates (called the resident labor market test).  So in the typical scenario, you can obtain sponsorship if you have very specialized skills that not many people possess, you are an authority in your field with knowledge/experience most people haven't accumulated yet, and so on.  The only time an employer does not need to pass the resident labor market test is if the skill you have is considered in shortage in the UK.  Or, if you work for a company in the US with UK offices, you may look into getting a transfer to the UK office; however, I believe unless the position is senior level, the transfer is not permitted to be permanent and will not lead to eventual UK permanent residence.

It's not impossible to get a work visa; however, be prepared for a potentially long road ahead.  Many recruiters and employers are not particularly keen to shortlist or interview people who need sponsorship unless you have something exceptional to offer. 

Unless your job is on the shortage occupation list it's incredibly difficult to find an employer who will able to sponsor your for a Tier 2 work visa as they must do a resident labour market test.  That means they have to advertise for the job and prove there are no suitable candidates qualified for the job who don't need a visa to work.  That's a pool of about 500 million people which includes the UK, EU and all those in the UK on visas which allow them to work.  

Another option is  getting a job with a company with a global  presence and waiting for opportunities to open up to transfer to the UK branch.  With a Tier 2 Inter-company Transfer you can work in the UK for up to 5 years.

I think getting sponsored would require sharper targeting of the role you could do.  I would definitely suggest going the sponsored transfer route, because it would allow you to get "on the board" with a job and start building a career, and a case, for transferring you to a similar position overseas. 

ONE CAVEAT though - when you interview for a position at a company that has large, multinational presence, make sure you ask a question about global opportunities and how the company enables workers to access those opportunities.  I took a job 4 years ago with a company with a very large presence in the UK, with the intention of learning and then transferring.  From my first day there I indicated my intentions of taking an overseas posting, there was a yearly role dedicated to my department that allowed someone to rotate into the UK for a year, etc.  What wasn't indicated in the interview was that you had to do some heavy politicking and networking to even have a shot at an overseas role, and the rotational role was pulled after a year because of poor company growth.  The business units were so divided and siloed, in addition to a lack of a good international transferal practice, that even applying internally for an overseas role had the same odds as applying externally.  I finally gave up, quit (it was a highly toxic environment anyway), and moved anyway (but I have work rights for the UK).

I would suggest you check out E&Y - they are doing a heavy recruitment drive/expansion at the moment and do have a consulting practice or any number of slots someone with some sort of strategic background could fit into.  I just interviewed with them in the UK and while I had to prove to the recruiter I could work, E&Y honestly weren't bothered and would have sponsored, so long as London was where I really wanted to be.