Question about recruiters

This is probably going to sound really stupid....

How exactly does one utilize recruiters? When I first moved here, I was still working for my US employer. When that finished, I was (and still am) volunteering for a large charity and I love it. But now I’d like to be paid (although I want to carry on with my volunteer work too because it is important to me). I had a stressful job in the USA as a lawyer and senior manager but I am not planning on taking the solicitor’s exam and I don’t need to be at that level in my career now. Trouble is, when one looks at my CV, I am simultaneously both over and under qualified for most jobs.

I don’t even know what to look for. So I wondered if getting recruiters involved could help. I’ve never used recruiters before. Could someone tell me how the process works? Do you just send them your CV? (My CV was professionally overhauled to the UK style).

One last dumb question—is the fact that my visa is due to expire in August going to be a problem? I’ll be applying for FLR (m) this summer.  But I’ve heard that employers worry anyway when your spouse visa is on short time.

Any insights on how recruiters work is appreciated.

What industry are you in? The important thing to remember with recruiters is they don't always care how good the fit with the company will be so they will send you everything, they get paid if they get someone hired. Usually if you see a job posting by a recruiter you just apply through them, and they add you to their database for future postings. But it does vary by industry a bit!

The visa issue shouldn't be a problem because you plan to renew it. If it comes up just explain you still meet the requirements and will renew on time.

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I use recruiters a lot, and talk to 3 or 4 per day because I am an IT contractor.   That said, I am not exactly sure how it would work for you because I've only done that. 

I would imagine that your first step would be to register on one or more jobsites. 
https://www.hays.co.uk/


https://www.monster.co.uk/account/homepage/



There could be more sites I don't know about since I use specialist tech ones.   You can upload your CV and create a profile, maybe set up some alerts for jobs that fit your criteria to receive by email.  After that, you can browse or search for jobs that you want.  When you find one, your info will likely be sent to a recruiter who will call you and set up an interview. 

Sometimes, recruitment agents look through the uploaded CVs and contact you about jobs that may not be listed.

You should not ever have to pay an agent for anything.  Don't send any copies of documents or passport until you've actually talked with a potential  employer  and it seems legit.  Don't give out your references until an offer has been made. 

Feel free to ask more specific questions if you've got them.  I could talk about this all day.....

My son had good success with the following website.

https://www.indeed.co.uk/

Thanks you guys!

Jimbocz, being in IT, I bet you get incessant recruiter calls!

I guess my biggest issue is sorting what I’d like to do, since I am not able to work as a lawyer over here (and I don’t love it so much that I want to sit for the solicitor’s exam, which would allow me to practice over here).

One last question—do you think it will look bad that I haven’t been working since the end of 2018? (I was initially working for my US employer from over here but ultimately, they needed someone physically in the office). Then I wanted to take some time off as I had made an international move and wanted to explore and figure stuff out.

However, I have spent the time since my job ended volunteering for a UK national charity, which I love. So it’s not like I’ve been sitting around. But it’s been about a year and a half since I was actually employed.

Thanks again. I sometimes can’t believe I chucked my job and life and moved over here. Thank goodness I love my husband and real ales!

Thanks you guys!

Jimbocz, being in IT, I bet you get incessant recruiter calls!

I guess my biggest issue is sorting what I’d like to do, since I am not able to work as a lawyer over here (and I don’t love it so much that I want to sit for the solicitor’s exam, which would allow me to practice over here).

One last question—do you think it will look bad that I haven’t been working since the end of 2018? (I was initially working for my US employer from over here but ultimately, they needed someone physically in the office). Then I wanted to take some time off as I had made an international move and wanted to explore and figure stuff out.

However, I have spent the time since my job ended volunteering for a UK national charity, which I love. So it’s not like I’ve been sitting around. But it’s been about a year and a half since I was actually employed.

Thanks again. I sometimes can’t believe I chucked my job and life and moved over here. Thank goodness I love my husband and real ales!

In the reverse situation, working for charities was a big help for my wife in the USA when we moved over and she spent the first few years as a SAHM.

I'm with Durhamlad, working with a charity is pretty much the same as working anywhere.  That will go a long way to making up for any gaps.  Plus, you've got the "moving from America" excuse which will interest most people.  Solicitors are fairly respected here so I would be surprised if you had a lot of trouble finding something.   

Just remember that it can take an astoundingly long time for companies to organise the hiring process.  Sometimes you won't hear anything for weeks, then they will call you out of the blue.

Also be aware that there is a shameful habit here of not telling you the result after you interview if you are not successful.  I guess telling a relative stranger that they have failed over the phone is just too much for most English people, so they just ghost you.  Combined with the glacially slow progress, it can be frustrating.  You don't even know if you've been properly snubbed for months.

 I'm going through a process now to work for a consultancy and the on-boarding process is nuts.  Credit check, criminal records, addresses and employment for the last 5 years, weeks of investigation.

How about recruiters for the physical sciences?

Are they more difficult? I don't see that many out there, especially in the South Region of England.

Thanks jimbocz and Durhamlad. I feel in many ways that my volunteer work is a job but minus the pay. Good to know it’s respected over here.

Thanks jimbocz and Durhamlad. I feel in many ways that my volunteer work is a job but minus the pay. Good to know it’s respected over here.

Volunteering is a good way to get UK work experience and UK references, which can then help you to get a job in the UK, especially as lot of people do find it tough to get a job in the UK after they have moved over, because they don't have any UK work experience yet.

Also, unpaid volunteering is classed as 'work' in the UK under the immigration rules, so it's something that you can only do for a long period of time if you have a visa that allows work. For example, visitors to the UK are allowed to volunteer with a UK registered charity for up to 30 days in total during their trip (as long as volunteering isn't the main purpose of their visit), but any more than that, and it is considered illegal work.

What industry are you in? The important thing to remember with recruiters is they don't always care how good the fit with the company will be so they will send you everything, they get paid if they get someone hired. Usually if you see a job posting by a recruiter you just apply through them, and they add you to their database for future postings. But it does vary by industry a bit!

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Seconding this! When we moved here DH used recruiters for the first time and figured out quite quickly you're best off finding those who specialise in your industry (or the one you want to be in) rather than some of the big-name agencies because of what the previous poster put in the first sentence.

Also worth mentioning that, at least with his field, there are  recruiters that each company favoured and vice versa, so when he wanted to leave his job he went to a different recruiter because the first one was so closely allied with his first company. Might be good to speak to several people if it feels like you're getting too narrow a stream of options. Good luck with it!