Moving to a new country can bear many challenges, including finding somewhere to work. That’s why, in this article, we’re going to provide five job hunting tips for immigrants living in London.
London is one of the world’s financial hubs, in addition to international business and eCommerce, meaning finding a job in the big city as an immigrant couldn’t be made more accessible. Whilst Brexit has made it far more challenging to live and work in Britain, it isn’t impossible.
Starting by finding the best immigration lawyer in London is essential and can help to make the immigration process run smoothly before you find a job. It can also provide you with more time to find the perfect fitting job for you and your circumstances. But, how else can you succeed in getting settled once you’ve landed in the UK?
To help make the process even simpler for you, we have come up with five job hunting tips for immigrants living in London. Read on to find out more…
1. Use Job Hunting Websites
One of the most obvious and easiest ways to find a job nowadays is through the means of job-hunting websites. You might have found, back home, that physically going into businesses was the way forward. That said, in the UK, as the internet has developed further, companies advertise for jobs using websites such as:
- Indeed – one of the most used platforms in the UK when it comes to finding jobs, with the ability to search specific areas and job fields.
- Monster
- Glassdoor
- FlexJobs – perfect for those individuals looking to do remote jobs.
- AngelList
- Getwork
- Scouted
- Snagajob
2. Use Social Media
Social media has its many perks, allowing you to stay in contact with family back home as an immigrant in a new country. On top of this, it also assists in job hunting.
Whilst it is unlikely that you will find a job through Twitter, Snapchat or Instagram, Facebook is often used by smaller businesses looking for employees. What’s more, other social media platforms, such as LinkedIn, are designed specifically for business means, meaning jobs are consistently posted on their platforms, as well as allowing you to connect to people in your desired industry.
3. Don’t Follow the Crowd
There are millions of people living in London, so applying for a job can come with plenty of competition. So, when it comes to applying for jobs, you need to make sure that you are sticking out from the rest of the applicants.
Your CV and cover letter need to be eye-catching and make them want to learn more about you, in hopes that they might invite you for an interview. Being creative with a CV can really do the job, so think outside of the box. Pinterest is the perfect place to find some creative ideas which can help you stand out.
Not being born in Britain can also provide some advantages. You may have other skills or differences that other applicants might not have, especially if they are British. This could be knowing multiple languages, having cultural knowledge, and more. Use this to your advantage!
4. Make the Most of Networking Opportunities in London
There is no doubt that London is a significant city in terms of finding work, especially when there are nearly 9 million people living there. It’s a place full of opportunities and talented individuals, often many who have great connections.
You’ve probably heard the saying, “it’s not what you know, it’s who you know”, and although experience and skills are a huge part of finding a job, sometimes connections are the extra push that you need. Networking can be done both in-person and through the means of social media platforms, such as LinkedIn. However, London has a huge number of opportunities for budding businesspeople, so make the most of this added advantage!
5. Be Ahead of the Game
It’s incredibly important to be on top of job postings. Flex Jobs is a website that posts roles across the UK, but they also provide some insightful articles, one in particular talks of when you should be applying to job postings, recommending applying at least a week or two after one has been posted. Any later potentially means you have missed the closing point and will not be considered as a candidate.
Some job posting websites also allow the ability to set a job alert notification for the area you are situated in and the specific field you are looking for. This means, even when you haven’t checked the website every day, you can receive email alerts notifying you of potential matching jobs.
As the saying goes, “the early bird catches the worm”. It’s better to apply as soon as you can, rather than too late so you don’t miss your chance, especially if it’s the perfect fit for you in terms of qualifications and experience.
Job Hunting Couldn’t Be Made Easier
We are so advanced in the current world that the possibility of finding a job is far easier now than it once was. Minimal effort will have you finding a job challenging, but putting these five tips together, you have the ability to stand out from the crowd, giving you more of a chance at finding the exact job you want.
Are you an immigrant that’s moved to London and secured a job? Share your own tips below to help others.