What to Know and Where to Look When Looking for Jobs in the UK

There are many excellent work prospects in the UK, but if you're not careful where you apply, you could not get anything in return for your efforts. Here are some pointers for landing the ideal position in the ideal setting.

Employment Sep 3, 2022 0 422 Add to Reading List

What to Know and Where to Look When Looking for Jobs in the UK

Finding employment in the UK won't be your only challenge if you're going there. Additionally, you'll need to get your visa and confirm that you are familiar with UK labor rules. Fortunately, there are several tools accessible to guide you through the process. Here are some things you should know about obtaining work in the UK, resources you may use to learn more, and the kind of visa you could require based on your circumstances.

Information on the current job market, vacant positions, British work permits, and regions where possibilities are available are included in this guide on how to find employment in the UK. The UK has always been a sought-after place for work due to its robust economy and multiple main cities housing big industries. However, restrictions are changing as the country prepares to leave the EU at the end of 2020.

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Work in the UK

The job market in the UK

According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the overall unemployment rate in the UK was 3.9% in May 2020. This is the lowest it has been for 40 years. However, this is partly explained by the growth of zero-hour contracts, which have more than quadrupled over the last decade to 896,000 in 2019.

Economic growth is concentrated in London and the southeast; unemployment is higher in the north of England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. The London job market is booming with ten times more jobs on offer than the next best area of the country, but there’s a lot more competition for those jobs.

The most significant sectors in the UK in terms of the number of employees, according to the 2018 ONS Business Register and Employment Survey, are:

wholesale and retail
healthcare and social work
administration
education
scientific and technical
manufacturing
hospitality

The largest UK-based companies in terms of market share in 2021 are:

Unilever (consumer goods)
AstraZeneca (pharmaceutical)
Royal Dutch Shell (oil and gas)
BHP (mining)
Rio Tinto (mining)
GlaxoSmithKline (pharmaceutical)
HSBC (finance)

However, public sector organizations tend to be the biggest UK employers, with the NHS, the British Army, and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) having the most employees in 2019.

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Job vacancies in the UK

The UK government website publishes and regularly updates skills shortage occupations on the website. The shortage list in August 2020 includes:

scientists (biochemistry, physics)
engineers (civil, mechanical, electrical)
IT (analysts, systems designers, programmers, web designers, software developers)
medical (practitioners, psychologists, radiographers, nurses, vets, occupational therapists)
education (secondary school teachers)
graphic designers
skilled chefs
Job salaries in the UK

The UK national minimum wage is updated each year. From April 2020, it stands at:

£8.72 per hour for employees aged 25 and above;
Between £4.55 and £8.20 per hour for employees aged 18–24;
£4.15 per hour for apprentices

In the UK, average incomes differ greatly depending on the work industry, area, gender, and skill level. A full-time employee in the UK made £585 per week on average in 2019. In 2019, the gender pay gap was 8.9%.

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British workplace customs

In most UK organizations, there are still distinct hierarchies, with managers in charge of personnel teams and the majority of decisions. Essential management skills include building good working connections with employees and providing effective team leadership.

Cooperation is strongly valued within the team. Employees frequently go to bars or pubs for drinks after work. The British take pleasure in attending several gatherings. Everyone leaves with a straightforward task even though they may have a casual tone and are frequently preplanned with a strategy.

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Methods of Work

Finding a job in the UK is very different from doing it overseas. The employment search has become more straightforward thanks to the internet. But if you're considering moving here or looking for work, there are some significant distinctions you need to be aware of. What you need to know about working in the UK will be outlined in this post.

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UK labor laws and labor rights

In the UK, written employment contracts are the standard, and every employee is entitled to one upon request. After you have signed the contract, your employer cannot change the terms and circumstances of your employment. Your employment agreement should include information on:

Your weekly working hours. For full-time workers, these are typically 35-40 hours per week. The maximum working week is 48 hours, although employees can choose to work more;
Your annual leave entitlement. This is a minimum of 28 days for full-time employees, including the eight UK public holidays;
The notice period for termination of the contract.

Job notice periods depend on the length of the period employed by the organization. It currently stands at:

At least one week if you have been employed for between one month and two years;
One week for every year if you have worked for between 2–12 years;
12 weeks if you worked for more than 12 years.

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How to find jobs in the UK

Expatica jobs

Check out Expatica’s UK job pages to find a constantly updated selection of jobs throughout the UK in various sectors.

EURES

You may still use the EURES (European Employment Services) website for hunting for a UK job if you're from the EU or the European Free Trade Association (EFTA). The European Commission runs a network of employment portals called EURES, intended to promote free mobility within the European Economic Area. You may post your resume, search for jobs, and obtain assistance with the administrative and legal challenges associated with working in the UK.

But as a result of Brexit, the UK stopped being a member of the EA in January 2023. This indicates that after the end of 2022, EURES services are no longer applicable.
Public domain

The government-run internet search engine, Find a Job covers all of the UK. Additionally, Job Centers are located on the high streets of bigger towns all around the UK, where you may look through job openings in person.
job boards

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General

You can browse thousands of full and part-time jobs, upload your CV and manage applications on websites such as CV Library, which is the UK’s leading independent job board with nearly 200,000 live jobs across all sectors:

Adecco
Adzuna
Careerbuilder
Everyjobsite
Fish4
Gumtree
Indeed
Jobsite
Monster
Reed
Totaljobs
Trovit

Specialist

Caterer – hospitality, restaurants, hotels, pubs, bars, and catering
Charityjob – charities
Computer weekly – IT
CWJobs – IT
Design Week– design, branding, copywriting, artwork, exhibitions, graphics, interiors, furniture, and packaging
Exec Appointments – executive jobs
Hays – management and professional level jobs
Justengineers – engineering
Madjobs – marketing and advertising
Mandy – TV and film
Music Jobs– all aspects of the music industry, including performers, producers, teachers
Next Station – international applicants
NHSjobs – jobs in all sectors of the National Health Service throughout the UK, from medics and nurses, through administration to cleaning and services
Prospects – graduates
Splashfind – top 100 UK specialist job sites

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Recruitment agencies

Most recruitment agencies specialize in a particular sector like IT, retail, childcare, or secretarial. Some agencies are headhunters who work for large companies to recruit executives and professionals on their behalf. Others are ‘temping’ agencies who can help you find temporary work in offices and retail, for example.

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Newspapers and newsprint

The Guardian is one of the best locations to obtain graduate and professional work, especially in politics, education, housing, and social care. All job openings may be found online; the daily print edition focuses on a particular industry.

If you're searching for a position in a professional setting, check out The Telegraph. Visit The Big Issue's online employment board to learn more about career possibilities in the charity and not-for-profit sectors around the UK.

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business websites

Check company websites for open positions and data you may use to submit a speculative application. You may learn more about the company's history and that of its competitors, as well as the best person to get in touch with if you want to make a direct approach.

Instead of the human resources or personnel office, look for the name of the person in charge of making choices regarding employment or the budget. Ask via phone or email if the name is not listed on the website.

Embassy and Consulates

Check the embassy or consulate of your home nation in the UK for job possibilities. Whatever the job, you must have good spoken and written English.

Networking

In the UK, networking is essential since many posts are filled through word-of-mouth referrals without ever being advertised. So, make as many contacts as you can. Join the professional networking site LinkedIn to meet people in your field and browse through their contacts while requesting introductions.

Make an online profile.

With a dynamic web presence and a CV that employers can easily download, you can market yourself online. Fill the filename and profile with multiple keywords relevant to the job you're seeking to ensure employers notice it first (take inspiration from other people's CVs and shapes to help you codevelop the list).

Use a PDF or similar format so that as many employers as possible may easily view it. Once finished, download and print your profile to ensure everything is how you want it to be.

Self-employment and freelancing in the UK

You are qualified to start your own business or apply to become a self-employed freelancer if you are eligible to work in the UK. You should check the prerevprerequisites users in case a business visa is required.

According to the ONS, 15.3% of the workforce in the UK was classified as self-employed in 2021. This is slightly higher than the average for the EU.

Let's say you decide to start a business in the UK under its trading name. In such cases, you register as a limited company or a sole owner from firm to firm. You must form a limited company to be able to employ yourself as a director and have your business revenue treated differently from your salary. Additional administrative papers must be submitted, along with UK taxes.

Final Words

The ideal strategy for Americans looking for work in the UK is to use their talent, network with Britons, and follow up as soon as possible.

It would help if you had your application ready after you've found a job in the UK. You must be prepared with knowledge about what to expect during a British job interview and what to do, and what not to do if you go on to the interview stage.

UK job applications frequently come in one of two formats: a request for a CV and covering letter or an application form with a personal statement (which is occasionally available online) where you need to demonstrate that you meet the requirements of the position (which should cover the same areas as a personal statement).