Working in the UK(for international students)
David Levinson, Careers Adviser
This session will:
To provide information and advice on UK job hunting
To highlight support and resources available from the Careers Service
Answer many, but perhaps not all of your questions
We won’t go into detail on
Looking for part-time jobs Visa regulations CVs, application forms, interviews
We run regular workshops on all of these
“It’s the start of semester, why think
about careers now?”
Some UK deadlines are as early as October
Don’t wait until it’s too late
It’s not too early to think about what you want to do after University and to plan how to get there
The UK graduate job market is very competitive – you need to stand out from the crowd
How do we work?
Can the Careers Service find me a job?
Will the Careers Service write my CV?
Is the information only for UK students?
A quick quiz….
TRUE / FALSE - In the UK all jobs must be advertised FALSE
TRUE / FALSE – Most graduate jobs in the UK are either targeting only undergraduates or only postgraduates FALSE
TRUE / FALSE – It’s possible for a Tier 4 international masters student to do a full-time internship next summer FALSE
CVs in the UK should be no longer than 2 pages
What kind of work can I do during my studies?
As an international (non-EEA) student you can do most kinds of part-time work for up to 20 hours per week, but you must not:
be self-employed
be employed as a professional sportsperson or sports coach
be employed as an entertainer
take a permanent full-time job
Students from EEA are not restricted in the type of work they undertake
The UK graduate job market…
Graduate training schemes ( large blue chip companies)
Graduate jobs with small & medium sized enterprises (SMEs), not-for profit sector (but salaries may not meet visa criteria….)
Graduate schemes are not your only option – many employers do not recruit in this way
Visible job market
Responding to advertised vacancies = reactive job hunting
To do this you need to know where (and if!) the jobs you want are usually advertised
Sources of vacancies include:
Websites
Campus activities
Visible UK Graduate recruitment process
On-line application forms On-line tests Telephone interviews Assessment centres Face-to-face interviews Competency-based questions
Hidden job market - proactive job hunting
Why should you consider doing it?
Where does this approach work?
Opportunities exist – but are not advertised
Employers prefer to recruit in ways which minimise costs and risk!
Websites
SAGE - our vacancy and employer database:
www.ed.ac.uk/careers/sage
Other graduate vacancy websites examples:
www.prospects.ac.uk
www.targetjobs.co.uk
www.milkround.com
Directories – e.g. GET, Prospects, Times Top100
International (non-EU) students:
Come to one of our workshops on “Work visa routes in the UK” for full information on:
Tier 2 ‘Graduate’ Skilled Worker Tier 1 ‘Graduate’ Entrepreneur Tier 5 Youth Mobility UK Ancestry Working after a PhD
International (non-EU) students:Applying for graduate jobs in the UK
NO resident labour market test under Tier 2
Minimum salary criteria form most roles is £20,300 but varies e.g. £23,600 for electrical engineers - check the Home Office SOC codes
Must switch within expiry date of T4 visa and from within UK
You must have been awarded your qualification
“How will I know if an employer is a sponsor?”
Home Office register of sponsors
Much more information is available in workshops throughout the year – but get clued up early….
What do the regulations mean in practice?
If you want to work in the UK after graduating, you have to secure a job with a sponsoring employer before your visa expires
You must check that the employer is a registered sponsor and that the job meets the salary criteria
Other routes may be possible – come to a visa workshop to find out more
How are you going to stand out from the crowd?
What do employers want?
Do you want the job? Can you do the job? Do you want to work with us?
WANT-CAN-FIT
This is often more important than what degree you have
Before applying for graduate jobs, you should ...
Assess your own skills and experience
Research suitable opportunities and organisations
Find out what they want for that role
Match yourself to their needs and identify sources of evidence
International students:Applying for graduate jobs in the UK
When should I start....? NOW!
Many UK graduate jobs close by the end of November
Top tips….
Be clear about what you want to do and why Ensure your CV / application is targeted and
relevant Use the best examples you’ve got Review – ask yourself “so what” Ask for feedback - first impressions
Resources for international students
International students web pages
International employer and vacancy information
Information on visas
How do I get help with my CV?
Appointments available every day, both centres (bookable on the day)
Resources in our careers information rooms
Talks on how to write a winning CV
Talks on application forms/interviews
Check out our events on the website
Some events to look out for: Careers workshops International talks Employer presentations Careers Fair 8-10 October, Adam House China & SE Asia Virtual Careers Fairs China Career Development Workshop & Mini Job Fair
on Sunday 27 October
and much more….
Have a great year, build your CV and use your Careers Service!!
King’s Buildings Central
Weir Building 3rd Floor, Main Library
0131 650 5773 0131 650 4670