help!! any american recruitment agencies?

I have spoken to lots of people from many different countries and they have all told me that there is what they call a 'community' where people from their country go for help finding jobs, flats, general advice,etc. Do us Americans have anything like that. I have been having the most difficult time finding a job and wondered if we had some kind of service that could help me out with that and help me possibly meet other Americans living in London.

Thanks!!

I have spoken to lots of people from many different countries and they have all told me that there is what they call a 'community' where people from their country go for help finding jobs, flats, general advice,etc. Do us Americans have anything like that. I have been having the most difficult time finding a job and wondered if we had some kind of service that could help me out with that and help me possibly meet other Americans living in London.

Thanks!!

Well, as far as finding a job here, it is illegal for Americans to just come over and look for work, unfortunately.  You must have gained employer sponsorship and get a work permit stamped into your passport before you come over here to work. 

I've never heard of such a thing.... Except this website which has helped me enormously on the general advice front!!!   Are you already living here with permission to work? If not, you're going to have a terrible time finding a job unless you're in a profession that's got a shortage.... Recruitment agencies generally won't help anyone without a work permit largely because it's illegal to come here specifically to hunt for a job....

Oops - just cross-posted with EIS. Er, yeah, what she said. 

I suggest you browse the Visas section of this forum.  Basically, as an American who does not also have Commonwealth citizenship, you can seek work here if 1) you are an EU or UK national or have UK/EU national parents (in this case you must apply for UK or EU nationality yourself) 2) you are a full-time student (and then you can only work 20 hours/week during term time and full-time at holidays) 3) you apply for and are granted entry on the Highly Skilled Migrant Programme (HSMP) 4) you gain work permit sponsorship before entering the UK.  'Shortage' professions include:  general practice medicine, dentist, nursing, radiography/ultrasonography/nuclear medicine, social work, and *some* areas of teaching (secondary maths and sciences, for example) 5) you are married to a UK or EU national. 

Looked at bridget's posting history and she's married to a UK citizen so she has legal right to work. 

But I don't know of any American 'community' that takes care of its own to provide work, etc.  What kind of job are you seeking?

If we don't it's our own lack of initiative. You are right that there are such informal networks, usually having to do as much with language of origin as country of origin, which may be why no American-in-the-UK network has formed. I see no reason why there shouldn't be such a custom. Makes me wonder whether there is any way to get hold of a list of American-owned small businesses in the UK. They might not be able to help anyone who came or tried to work illegally, but it might make sense for someone who had a work permit to approach such companies for work.

DJC

okay, let me try this again.

i got deleted - "i think" because something i said may have come across as racist () - sorry, i didn't mean to be.

anyway, i was just remarking how odd it is that brits and americans have such a hard time legally working and/or living in one another's countries, when it's easier for north americans under NAFTA to work in the US and for europeans under the EU to work in the UK.

sure, there's geographic proximity, but why haven't the politicians loosened up the laws to permit brits to work in the US and americans to work in the UK - without all the need to show job necessity etc? what kind of "special relationship" is that?

a few yrs back there was a movement to create a transatlantic marketplace between the US and Britain, but the politicians didn't take it up! i think most brits would prefer to work in the US than Europe, esp. considering the common language, culture and business culture, and the better and better paid opportunities. and i think most americans prefer the UK over other parts of north america for the same reasons.

The UK is much, much smaller than the US.  I don't think it would make a lot of sense for them to open up their borders to Americans, especially considering they've already opened up to the entire EU.  Besides, the LAST thing I'd like to see is more American ways of life spreading over here - with long work weeks, privatised health'care', etc. 

As for America's immigration policy, I don't really know. 

i think you reinforced my point for me. there was and still is no point in permitting over 400,000 europeans to freely enter our country to live and work, and we should close our borders with the rest of the EU i.e., regulate them again so that people can't just uproot and move here in search of a better life. it would make more sense to have a more liberal "border" policy with the anglo english-speaking countries like the US, australia, new zealand, canada and south africa.

there was and still is no point in permitting over 400,000 europeans to freely enter our country to live and work, and we should close our borders with the rest of the EU i.e., regulate them again so that people can't just uproot and move here in search of a better life. it would make more sense to have a more liberal "border" policy with the anglo english-speaking countries like the US, australia, new zealand, canada and south africa.

How is that?  Why not just re-establish the old 'Empire' as well?  Let's not forget that thousands of Brits have benefited from liberal borders w/the EU and moved to Europe for what they feel is a better quality of life - and continue to do so.  And I'm SO sure countries like Australia and New Zealand would really love to be invaded by more 'poms' driving up their property prices.   

okay, let me try this again.

! i think most brits would prefer to work in the US than Europe, esp. considering the common language, culture and business culture, and the better and better paid opportunities. and i think most americans prefer the UK over other parts of north america for the same reasons.

Why do you make such massive assumptions. Speaking as one brit, I know plenty of people who would prefer to work in the US than Europe - and what have you got against Europeans? I have friends living here from many different countries, including the US, and relatives who have emigrated to Australia,  but I see no reason for any special treatment of citizens from English-speaking countries. We're lazy enough here about learning foreign languages without enforcing that isolation.  Many of us here still feel closer to Europe in history and culture - and I think that is why some ex-pats find the UK surprisingly alien despite the shared language. PLEASE NOTE this is not intended to offend Americans on this board, or to imply that we are not grateful for help in past conflicts.

I see no reason for any special treatment of citizens from English-speaking countries. We're lazy enough here about learning foreign languages without enforcing that isolation.  Many of us here still feel closer to Europe in history and culture - and I think that is why some ex-pats find the UK surprisingly alien despite the shared language. PLEASE NOTE this is not intended to offend Americans on this board, or to imply that we are not grateful for help in past conflicts.

I don't think your comment was at all offensive. In fact I think the idea that there should be more liberal policies based on your language is far more offensive... and quite ridiculous really.

I'm not offended, either, that's for sure.

Why should the UK open up their arms to a countryful of people who can't appreciate what it REALLY has to offer and just seem intent on trying to turn it into "Little America"?

I am legally living in the UK and am allowed to work. I have never had such a difficult time finding a job. I have been going to tons of shops, restauarants, offices, etc., I give them my resume and never hear from them. I have a degree in fashion but planned to find any work just to pay the rent as it would take me a while to find a job in the fashion industry. I even registered at different temp agencies and I have to keep calling them to ask if they found me a job, but still nothing. I spend my days on the internet, at the local job center, looking in newspapers, walking from door to door of different shops. Its not like I'm living in the middle of farmland I'm in the middle of London! I have never had this problem back home. I have always been able to find a job. Is anyone else having a problem. Please Help!!

If you're looking for shop work as a stop-gap, I'd suggest not handing out your CV. In my experience, they'll see you as over-qualified and not bother. Walk up and down the high streets daily until you see a sign in a shop and then go in and fill out their app. and talk to someone in person. That's how I got a shop job (a stop-gap for me, too) last September. Also, remember that school is out right now and a lot of shops don't need help 'cause they've got college kids to fill the jobs for the summer. I found that there were a million signs in shop windows last Sept. but there's NOTHING right now.... Hang in there. And good luck!!