Finding a Job in the UK

Finding a job in the UK may be too daunting for some, especially in the middle of the Brexit crisis. The Office of National Statistics 2019 Migration Quarterly Report has shown that immigration to the UK for work has fallen to its lowest level since 2014. Though not confirmed to be a result of Brexit, EU net migration has fallen to a level last seen in 2009. Still, there seems to be no sign of a final Brexit decision on the horizon, so, at the minute it’s hard to predict how exactly the UK job market will be affected. However, at present, it seems to be business as usual in the recruitment sector, and migration to the UK continues to add to the population. Brexit or No-Brexit, Send My Bag are here to guide you when it comes to finding a job in the UK, as there seems to be no apparent fall in job prospects. If anything, the UK needs more people and their skills to get through the economic turmoil of Brexit.

Job Sectors with the Highest Demand

Despite Brexit, the UK still has shortages in certain job sectors, meaning that it will be easier to get a job in these sectors. After all, the more demand there is for a service, the more people and skills are needed to supply the demand. An occupation list released by GOV.UK, shows that these sectors in 2019 include engineering, IT, environmental, health and medical and teaching (secondary school). Other jobs include chefs, social workers (for children and family), graphic design and animation.

For those with a creative flair, you’ll be happy to hear that employment in the creative industries is growing at a speedy rate due to the massive contribution by the UK creative economy. The creative industry was reported to make a record-breaking £100 billion contribution to the economy in 2017. This triumph is destroying the myth that the creative industry and the arts are dying, in fact, it shows that this industry is growing. Nesta have forecasted that the industry is on track to create 900,000 jobs by 2030.  The digital creative industries are now worth more than £130 billion which isn’t surprising with the growth of digital in everything we do. So, for all the creative junkies out there, and those who are also digital and tech-savvy, now seems like a perfect time to find a job in the UK!

UK Workplace  

The workplace is an incredibly important factor to consider when finding a job. You might find a job that is a perfect fit, but, when it comes to your 9-5 working life you may not be happy because of the environment you are working in. As much as your fulfilment at work is about the job you’re doing, it’s equally about the working environment. There seems to be a few modes of operation that can be found in most UK workplaces, which include team-work, managerial hierarchies, pragmatism and logical reasoning. Qualities like practicality, problem-solving, and team work will, therefore, be amongst those most sought after by prospective UK employers. These are most likely to be globally applicable as well, as after all, no one really wants to work in a team where they can’t communicate with colleagues or be in an environment where there is no form of logical reasoning.

Without talking about intense and irritating office hierarchies, managerial hierarchies are good for job guidance, structure, and as an intermedium for work issues, so, unfortunately, they are needed as much as they can be hated. The UK working environment is known to be formal, with lots of meetings. Just look at how many meetings Theresa May has had back and forth with the EU.

If you’re working in a British business environment for the first time, it might take a while to read between the lines when it comes to communication and British humour. For example, you may be confused by indirect ‘suggestions’, when it can be hard to tell the difference between a suggestion and an order. Just be wary that when your boss says, ‘if you can do this’, check that they don’t really mean ‘you need to do this.’ One thing that will probably be easier to get on board with, however, is ‘going to the pub’. This is a common after-work activity in the UK, which allows you to build relationships with your colleagues.

Job Sources

Nowadays, you are most likely to find a higher volume of jobs online than in newspapers and other print advertisements. Whilst UK newspapers like The Guardian are still known for listing jobs, especially graduate roles, recruitment websites are the more common way of searching for UK jobs. The ones that are mostly used include Indeed, Reed, Job Centre Online, Monster, and Totaljobs.

LinkedIn is a central social platform that can be helpful for finding a job in the UK. The site has 27 million UK users as of 2019, and amongst these users are people and businesses from lots of different sectors. To successfully get a job through LinkedIn, you should connect with people and businesses from the career sector you’re interested in, keep your profile updated, and be seen to be actively engaging.

Recruitment agencies are growing in popularity because of their convenience, as these agencies employ staff to specialise in job sectors. It is their job to get you a job! These recruitment agencies are active on social networks like LinkedIn and Facebook, so whilst scrolling through your phone, all you need to do is send them a message and they will get in touch to help you find a job.

Top Companies to Work for in the UK Based on Glassdoor Ratings:

After an examination of feedback at the end of 2018 that UK employees gave on the review site Glassdoor, the top 10 companies to work for in the UK were released. On the site Glassdoor, employees give companies feedback by rating them on a scale of 1-5. We have listed below the top 10 companies that received the highest ratings throughout 2018. These companies have been found to have brilliant benefits, competitive salaries alongside equal pay, flexible hours and flexible options for parental leave and other staff requirements.

1. Anglian Water: Water supply service and the only utility business featured in the top 10.
2. Bain & Company: Management Consultancy with over 55 offices across the globe.
3. XPO Logistics: Leading logistics firm that flew up from the 28^th spot in 2017.
4. Bromford: Housing Support Service that values social welfare.
5. Salesforce: Cloud-based software company that abides by an innovative, equal, and honest work ethos.
6. Sky Betting & Gaming: Gambling firm with jobs in data and customer operations, among other things.
7. Hiscox: Insurance company with over 100 years’ experience.
8. SAP: German-founded software firm with nearly 100,000 employees.
9. Taylor Wimpey: House-building business jumping up from the 15^th spot in 2017.
10. Royal London: Insurance company specialising in life insurance, pensions, and investments.

Part-Time and Temporary Work 

You might be relocating to the UK on a temporary basis and so aren’t looking to start a career in a professional field. If so, you can opt for part-time work in the UK, which still allows you to develop transferable skills, but without the stress that a professional job might bring. This type of work is also a better fit if you don’t want to be working 9-5 every weekday. The downside is that there is lower stability when it comes to pay and working hours.

Although the pay in a part-time job will be reasonably lower than in the professional fields, the national minimum wage in the UK has recently increased. The retail and hospitality sectors hire the highest number of employees with no prior experience in the UK, with their demand for employees rising particularly in the lead up to UK holidays. Popular sites for finding part-time jobs in the UK include StudentJob and Employment4students.

Job hunting can be long and frustrating, especially when it’s for work in different country and you need to sort things like a visa, accommodation, healthcare and finances. Check out our guide on moving to the UK to steer you in the right direction. Our relocation shipping service can help you send all your removal boxes, from wherever you currently call home, right to your new front door in the UK.