How to find a job in the UK: If you are thinking of coming to the United Kingdom to work for a while, keep reading because in this post we will tell you the best ways to find your ideal job in the United Kingdom and some good advice so that you can get it as soon as possible.
Before we go over the different options for finding a job in the UK, you’ll want to know that salaries vary not only depending on your job but also on your age. Currently, the minimum wage for those over 23 is £8.91, and £8.36 if you’re between 21 and 22 years old. The minimum wage is £15,000 per year, although people tend to earn more. To give you an idea, the average salary is £40,000 per year.
In This Article
How to Find a Job in the UK
Discover expert tips and strategies on how to successfully find a job in the UK. Learn about the job market, visa requirements, resume writing, interview techniques, and more.
Now, let’s start with the best ways to find work in the United Kingdom. Let’s Go!
Search online job portals
Using the Internet to search for work is nothing new, and many websites make the task much easier. Job portals put employers in contact with employees. You can filter by the type of job you are looking for, as well as set up alerts that will arrive in your email when an employer offers a job that meets the characteristics you are looking for.
The most used website for job searching in the United Kingdom is Gumtree, although others work very well, such as Jobserch, Monster, Reed, or Jobs.
Go to the Job Centers
Job Centres are the same as employment offices in your country but in the United Kingdom. In addition to applying for your social security number, at Job Centres you will also have access to all job offers that exist in the British national employment system.
To use the services of these employment offices, you simply have to go to one of the offices in your city and access the touch screen machines through which you can search for job offers by filtering by sector, city, type of contract, etc.
Access Universal Jobmatch
This is a British Government website that compiles the same job offers that exist on the Job Centre machines that we mentioned in the previous point. Therefore, from Dingoos, we recommend that you consult the Universal Jobmatch website for the ease of accessing the same job offers from the Job Centres from the comfort of your own home.
Use the cold calling method
This is job hunting the old-fashioned way. Print out a few copies of your CV and go out and hand-deliver it to the places that offer the jobs that interest you the most. This way of looking for work is usually used more for less qualified jobs such as in pubs, shops, restaurants, etc.
As a tip, dress well, prepare your speech in English, ask for the manager, and don’t lose your smile since a positive attitude will help you make a good first impression, something important when looking for a job.
Don’t forget about temporary employment agencies
These are companies specifically for job searches. They exist in all countries of the world and the United Kingdom is no exception. Temporary employment agencies (ETT) are organized by sectors, are completely free and they will interview you to create a profile for you and notify you when a job offer in the United Kingdom is available that matches your profile.
In this link, you will find many of the temporary employment agencies in London classified by sectors.
Facebook groups work
Another great option for finding work in the UK is to join Facebook groups for Spaniards and Latinos in the UK. They often post available job offers and also good advice on finding work, making leisure plans, and much more.
Also See: Packing Assistant Job at Mistral Recruitment, Guildford UK: Earn Up to £24k/yr
Spread through word of mouth
The more active avenues you have when looking for work, the sooner you will find your first job in the UK. So don’t forget to use word of mouth to find work. For example, if you came to the UK first to study, ask your classmates if they know of any job openings, or if they know of anyone who has recently left theirs. At the gym, in the supermarket… any place is a good place to let people know that you are looking for a job in the UK.
Don’t miss the job fairs
In the main cities of the United Kingdom, they usually organize job fairs or Careers Fairs where you can also access a lot of employment opportunities. Find out more and make time in your schedule to go with your CV in hand to hand it in at the different stands of the companies you would be most interested in working for.
Search in the newspapers
This is the most traditional method of job searching. Most newspapers have a section listing available jobs. If you are a romantic, you can buy a newspaper and a red pen to mark the UK job vacancies that interest you, but if the Internet is your thing, you can visit the jobs section of your favorite newspaper’s website. Our favorite one for finding jobs in the UK is The Guardian Jobs.
Bonus: Tips for finding a job in the UK
Now that you know the main ways to find work in the UK, we give you some tips to put into practice and get a job in the UK as soon as possible.
Don’t forget to apply for your National Insurance Number (NIN)
The National Insurance Number is like the social security number of your country and is mandatory to be able to work in the United Kingdom. However, you don’t have to apply for it before finding a job since in most cases companies can assign you a provisional one with which you can work until you apply for the definitive one.
Adapt your CV to the British style and prepare a cover letter
Before you start looking for a job in the UK, it is important to adapt your CV to the British style. For example, British CVs do not include a photo or date of birth. In any case, don’t worry too much, if you need help with adapting your CV to the British style, if you travel to the UK with us, we will help you to make yours stand out wherever you hand it in.
It is also very common to submit a cover letter when applying for a job. It usually explains why you are interested in the position and how you can add value to the company.
Get a British phone number
Not having a UK phone number can make you miss out on many job opportunities as companies that are interested in you will, in most cases, contact you by phone.
When you arrive in the UK, your Dingoos Integrator will help you activate your English mobile line so if you travel with Dingoos, you will have your new phone number active from the moment you land.
Open your British bank account
It’s important to have a UK bank account up and running as this is where your pay will be paid. You can also open an account with UK bank details with Wise, it will only take a few minutes and your employer will be able to pay you for your work through it.
Find out about your visa options to work in the UK
Following Brexit, the requirements for working in the UK have become stricter, so to work in the country, you will need a visa that grants you a work permit.
If you are thinking of applying for a work visa, keep in mind the new points system
Following Brexit, a new points system has been implemented to obtain a UK work visa. You will need to accumulate 70 points, and meet three mandatory requirements:
- Have a job offer from a company approved by the UK Home Office.
- Have the level of skill required to perform one of the jobs on the list of professions in demand by the British Government
- Have a minimum level of English of B1 within the common European framework.
Final Words
If you are thinking of traveling to the United Kingdom to work but do not yet have a good level of English, remember that at Dingoos we help you with the choice of English courses, registration at the school, and all the procedures you need to begin your experience in the United Kingdom.
You will be able to study English and look for work options as you improve your language skills so that when you finish your studies you can stay working for a company that sponsors you and gives you access to a work visa.
Originally from Cyprus, Yaren is an island girl who writes about all things travel and expat life. As a Languages major, she loves learning about different languages, cultures, and countries all over the world. After studying in the UK and France, interning in Belgium, and backpacking in Latin America, Yaren wants to continue traveling for as long as she can. She wants to show that the best things in life come when we push our limits and broaden our horizons.
