BUNAC???

Thanks! I went into an employment agency in Manchester last week. I happened to be walking by, so I decided to stop in. They were very unfriendly, and said they would "call me if they had anything that met my qualifications." I'm going to try a different one this week. I'm really happy to be in England, but I want to be able to travel while i'm here. If I dont find a job that's not going to happen!

Try all the agencies, Angie! They want to find you a job because there's money in it for them. And it's relatively easy for you. You just give them your CV & spend an hour or so filling in their application & taking tests to determine whether or not you can use MS Office, and they do the rest for you.

Both my husband and one of the agencies i went to suggested that I visit the local job centre: www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk (now that i'm here permanently).  Although you can't claim benefits, apparently you can use the job centre's facilities to search for a job. I never did so I can't really explain how it works, or guarantee that they will help you, but it's worth a try. They would have local job postings, a bit like the BUNAC office has.

I did BUNAC in the summer of 2003 and worked in a french resturaunt.  I had tried many other places and was keen to find a "real" job since I had just graduated college, but it was a really good experience.  Have you tried pubs/clubs/resturants?  Places with high staff turnover might be good because they are always on the lookout for someone.  You can also tell them that you will give a high level of service because it's what you would expect for yourself here. Have you tried going in to a job center?  They have TONS of listings and you can search, print off and call people from the office if it's not too full of people scamming the system    I remember reading in my BUNAC paperwork that right after christmas is really hard to find work, i am sure you will find soemthing soon.  Good luck!

jackie

It's hard to find work here at the best of times and Jackie's right -- just after Christmas is a job-seeker's nightmare!  You probably aren't going to find anything "career" level since employers know you'll only be here for a few months.  I would second Jackie's suggestion that you look in the service industries -- they won't be the best jobs, but you'll get some experience (and some money!) and they're always looking for workers.  Good luck!

I've managed to find a job, but it took me a month. I'm glad I didn't go and work in a pub as my job is so much better than and will be a great position to have on my CV. I would agree that BUNAC lies about their stats. I can't see how the 28% of participants who work in office jobs managed to find a position in 10 days or less.

Keep plugging away Angie and go to as many agencies as you can. I tried 3 before I turned up at the fourth one and they had a perfect position for me. I went in on Wednesday, had an interview for the position on Friday and was working Monday morning.

I went into Manchester to look for some presents to mail back to America, and saw a shop that was hiring. I went inside to inquire about the job, and the lady inside said they "prefer not to hire forigners."    This is getting so frustrating. I had two great part-time jobs while I was in America, and I still havent found anything full or part time here. I've gone into shops, gone to employment agencies, everything. Everyone acts interested until they see I'm only here for six months. If I don't find something soon, I might have to go back to America.  :\\\'(  Which I DON'T want to do, since I don't have a job or anywhere to live there.

When my best friend was there she never told them how long she could stay.  She didn't lie, she just omitted that little fact    Only way she could find something.  I know it says in your passport, and on the blue card, but my employers were all clueless when I told them I had to leave because my visa was up, they never paid attantion to the dates and would have kept employing me if I had not spoken up.  Have you tried the local Uni's?  They always seem to be hiring.  Keep trying, you will find something!

I finally found a job!!!!  It's full time and the pay is great!!! Yeah!!! Now I can afford to stay in England 

Congratulations! Aren't you glad you didnt' give up?

congratulations!

Hi,
I had a couple questions for those who have gone through the BUNAC program or for those who just know the answer.  My brother has come over this summer for a few weeks to visit before he heads off to college in the fall.  He is quite interested in coming back and maybe getting a job.  We know about the BUNAC (not all the in's and out's)  but wanted to post several questions. DH has been reading the BUNAC website and he sometimes tells me one thing but then I read something else on this site someone else has done.


1). The BUNAC is good for 6 months.  Do you have to stay the entire 6 months or can you go home early? 
The reason I ask is because he will be on summer break after his 1st or 2nd year of college and would need to go back when school picked up again.  Most likely he would be out of school sometime early to mid May and have to return mid August or so. This really only gives him 3 months to be on it.  Is it even worth it to do it between college years?

2.)  Can you go from job to job?  Meaning can you start one job and if it doesn't work out look for another one?

3). How in the world does he get a bank account?  He will need to have one in order to get paid from his job but if it's anything like what I had to go through to get a bank account when I moved over here, it's going to be near impossible!

4). Can he apply for a job before he gets here?  DH has a potential outlet for a couple jobs for him through his work contacts but we don't want to do anything illegal either.

5).Does BUNAC sort out a NIN for you?

6).  I think I have read you are not to use the NHS services unless it is an emergency.  Is that correct?

7). While my brother is in college he is still on my parents health insurance.  Has anyone had any problems being covered under health insurance from the states while spending several months abroad or have they had to take out a whole new policy altogether?

8 ).Can you travel freely throughout Europe if he wanted to go visit other places?

9.)  How many times can you apply for the BUNAC?  I thought it was twice but DH is telling me as many times as you want.  I don't think that can be right.

10.)What is the best way to take the money back with him to the states that he earned while over here?  Also what are the tax implications for him?

11.)One who is coming over on a BUNAC is supposed to have a bit of money to bring with them to prove they can get themselves started.  The thing is, he would be staying with us so his housing problem would already be sorted.  Would this just require a letter from us stating our intentions of housing him while he is here in case he can't come up with the thousand or so dollars? (he's a student for goodness sake... he isn't going to have much money anyway)


I think those are most of the questions we have so far.  I would greatly appreciate any input anyone has to offer!!

1. Yes, he can leave early.  I don't know whether it would be worth it- depends on how quickly he finds a job, whether he can get a job arranged in advance, etc.
2. Yes
3. BUNAC has a special thing with NatWest in London that supposedly makes it easier to get an account there.  No idea if that's true.
4. Yes
5. I don't think so, but for three months he can work on a temporary NIN and then get the money back later.
6. Correct.  He'll need to purchase travel insurance through BUNAC or otherwise have insurance coverage.
7. This depends on the insurance company.  He should call and ask to see if they cover him overseas- my insurance company did not when I studied abroad.
8. He doesn't need a visa for most, if not all, countries in Western Europe (France, Netherlands, Germany, Spain, Italy, etc.)  He should just give the requirements a quick once over for the countries he wants to visit, but chances are he'll be able to just use his passport to travel.
9. You can only do BUNAC twice, and you have to go back to school for at least a semester in between the two times,
10. Not sure about the first part of the question, but since he's going back to school afterwards he'll be able to claim back all of the UK money he pays out in tax.
11. Good question- I don't know, but it would probably be a good idea.

11.)One who is coming over on a BUNAC is supposed to have a bit of money to bring with them to prove they can get themselves started.  The thing is, he would be staying with us so his housing problem would already be sorted.  Would this just require a letter from us stating our intentions of housing him while he is here in case he can't come up with the thousand or so dollars? (he's a student for goodness sake... he isn't going to have much money anyway)

The thing with BUNAC is that there's no visa to apply for ahead of time, but he would need your address when he crossed immigration.  I had printed bank statements when I went, but I didn't even need to show them - they asked me how much money I had and trusted my answer.  I really don't recall if they asked where I was staying or not, but I know that you enter an address on the customs form when you cross the border.  If the ECO asks, he should have a letter from you, saying he has a guaranteed place to live & support.  It would make things easier in case they DO ask.

hey

i'm planning on applying for BUNAC this week and moving to london right after christmas sometime, and i just wanted to say if anyone doing BUNAC or previously did it wants to talk about it you can pm me!  i graduated in june and am planning on looking for a job in an art museum if possible.  oh also i was wondering about finding a place before i leave. i found this site www.centralflats.org.uk and i was thinking about getting a place for a month through them, but i don't want to just give money to people in a different country and get screwed.  has anyone gone through them or know a good place to get short term housing?  also any tips about BUNAC or moving or getting a job or basically anything are totally welcome.

I am currently in London on BUNAC.

To clarify some of the questions:

Regarding the bank account, BUNAC has an arrangement with the Aldwych branch of Natwest in London. To open it you need your passport, BUNAC Blue Card, 100 pound minimum deposit, a bank reference letter from your home bank saying you are a customer in good standing, and the letter that BUNAC provides for you. You also have to set up your appointment through BUNAC's office (all covered in the pre-departure information and the mandatory BUNAC orientation upon arrival.) However, once it is opened, you obviously can bank at any Natwest branch, just change your address - you have to open the account using BUNAC's hostel address, but BUNAC forwards all bank mail onto you for free. I opened this account quite easily, and the only thing I don't like about it is that it only provides a Solo card (not accepted everywhere) - but was very simple to open.

For the NIN, BUNAC provides you with the number to call and information on what you need to apply, but applying for it is entirely up to you.

My home insurance company does cover me - but it does vary. BUNAC offers insurance at a fairly reasonable price if I remember correctly. (Around US$350 for 6 months?)

You need to have "access" to a minimum of 1000 pounds, not bring it all in cash or travellers cheques. They didn't ask me about finances at all at immigration, but they certainly have the right to see that have access to this amount. Personally, in addition to my bank statements, I brought over a letter from my mother stating she would provide me with funding if needed (but obviously wasn't asked to see this.)

To sum up, BUNAC has been a great option for me. Complete freedom in where to work or live, but with the right amount of support in helping get bank details and other things sorted. Their office in London is full of helpful information and listings, and the people working there are very friendly and helpful as well.

Any more questions, feel free to ask!