How Difficult to Find a Job in UK?

Hi everone,

Your advice and feedback is needed.  How difficult is it to find a job in the UK?  How long did it take in general for you all to find a job once you landed?  And finally, what are the best agencies to use in the UK?

I have seven years of legal experience in the US, but no UK law experience.  I am getting nervous as my move to the UK becomes closer.  Thanks.

I wouldn't be surprised if it really varies depending on where you will be living and what kind of work you want to be doing. Some things are in great demand. For some things, there's demand, but only ver localized (localised?). One major problem seems to be the requirement of two UK work references to get most jobs. People who grow up here have no problems because work placements and apprenticeships are part of the system, even for jobs in restaurants, for instance. I'm solving that one by volunteering in areas I want to work. I'm also considering starting my own business because there seem to be no appropriate jobs for me (textile design) in my area (Norwich). I'm trying to see that as a positive. Norwich is booming and there's no competition, so there may be an unserved market out there.
     What kind of work do you want and where are you going to be living? I can recommend the Guardian jobs pages.

DJC

 

One major problem seems to be the requirement of two UK work references to get most jobs.
 

I've just started looking, so haven't been on any interviews yet. However, I've given employment agencies written references from my US job, and they are happy with them.  The referees have stated in the letters that they are willing to speak to any potential employers, but I don't know if the employers will want to make the long distance call.

You might also think about which of your skills are transferable to other industries, so you don't have to restrict yourself to looking for legal jobs.

i had no UK references..just american ones and people were fine with that. 

it took me a month and a half...and it was slow going through 4 of those 6 weeks-it was the last 2 weeks where i was in a bidding war with 2 companies that it got exciting. 

it seemed really slow....like the recruiters were rubbish and not doing their jobs...but in the end it all worked out.  it just takes a while here.....

It took me 1 day, but this was many years ago, and it might be a bit more difficult nowadays.

I just took the first job I was offered to get a roof over my head. I found it my 4th day here, after two days of serious looking. I don't have a great job (I work at a certain notorious american cafe franchise) but it works for now. Been concentrating of getting our home together more or less (and I badly broke my arm early this year), but I intend to stretch out very soon and see if I can find something more tailor-made for me. I'm certain it is out there, the economy here seems very strong. Good luck!

Hm. I'd like to take one of those get-by jobs. Folks look at my CV and actually laugh. I don't blame them. Experience as a research scientist, editor/proofreader (American English, of course), and textile designer. Agile mind and versatility, but only very minimal office experience, retail experience, or food service experience. Of course, we scientists were the ones they handed the office programs to while they still had all the bugs in them, and I've been selling the things I make at craft fairs for 20 years. I've just done a pretty good job of avoiding doing any of those things for anyone else! Yes, I think starting my own business is a good idea.

DJC

I've found it quite difficult to get a job here, but I have a VERY specific and unusual set of qualifications that don't fit too many jobs. I've been short-listed for interviews for a few jobs, but have been 1st runner up for everything so far.... I took a retail job for a while just as a stop-gap and I got that one with no troubles whatsoever. I haven't had much luck with agencies, I think largely because I've got such a weird work history - it takes effort to explain why I fit into person specs and I find that it's easier for me to do that myself rather than trust an agency to "get it."

The Guardian has been a good source for me as well as several charity job sites. I use my local paper too, but it's necissarily quite limited and has only produced one or two good leads. At this point I'm getting desperate and have been sending my CV to specific companies that I'd like to work for - just in case they have a position that they haven't advertised yet....

As for references, I used US ones exclusively at first and no one seemed to mind - I always include a fax and email for American references just to make contact as easy as possible, even if that's not specifically asked for.

I got a temp job a week after I applied at an agency and worked for a temp agency for little over a year until I found a permanent job. I hated that job and found a new one in no time at all which I love and have been there for little over a year now.

I found it very easy to get interviews with little to no UK experience. I found that in my field (secretarial first, legal secretary now) experience wasn't the biggest thing they were looking for. They wanted someone to fit in with the company and the employees.

Hi everyone and thanks for all your helpful feedback.  I will be living in London and have had a couple of agencies email me wanting me to come in to meet with them.  I don't think they realize I am not there yet.  I am just hoping to find something, even temping, just to sustain myself until I find a good permanent job.  Ashley, which temp agency did you start off with?

I am hoping that I can start off at a US law firm in London and gain experience working in London.  I think a US firm will be more keen to hire me on since I have 7 years of experience in US law.  I'll make sure to get all my references together.  Thanks.

Ashley, which temp agency did you start off with?

I used several. I must have signed up to about 10 agencies within Leeds city centre and only a couple actually came through for me.

I recommend you sign up with as many as you can.

i agree with ash, register with as many as possible! and keep notes on who is helping you with what job!!

PS: i saw you had asked about hudson and the woman i worked with there was great.  professional and actually *cared*.  she was top notch. i'd go back to them if i ever left my job here.

Along these lines, I won't have any UK references. To be honest, I don't know if I'll have more than one reference whom they could realistically call at all. The problem is that I'm currently living in Finland, where in addition to a different language, references aren't done. So, I'm not even sure I could get in touch with old employers, and even if I found them their English might not be good enough for a phone call...

Does anybody know how I could go around this and if potential employers would be understanding with this sort of thing?
I have an MA in translation studies, but am currently working in an admin type job (and will continue to do so--hopefully at the same company--until next year when we leave for England).  I graduated in the summer of 2004, but worked at a food product factory for 5 years while getting my degree (basically March thru September + December every year).

Do you think that my lack of years and years of office experience will make things difficult, or will 2 years + MA be enough?
I'll be looking for admin type jobs, am a coordinator at the moment, but basically anything that brings in +£13k/year will work for me.

Coffeebean, do you still stay in touch with any of your old professors? I use one of my American profs as a reference since I was her TA, research assistant and student so she knows me quite well. As I mentioned earlier, I make sure to give potential employers her email and fax number as well so that it's as easy as possible to get in touch with her....

I think 2 years and a Masters will be enough - maybe not for senior admin. jobs or PA jobs (which I have found to be quite competitive) but for basic admin. you'll probably be fine. There's a good job site calles secsinthecity that has nothing but admin jobs.

Coffeebean, an MA in translation studies could be very useful.  Do you list all the languages you speak on your CV?  Being multilingual would be a great asset when looking for an admin job.