Living and Working in the UKJomo Ladepon-Thomas

EURES Adviser

What do you think of when you think of the UK?

London ?

U.K LABOUR MARKET (Dec. 2010)

• Employment Rate was 70.4 % (-0.3)= 21.16 M People

• Unemployment Rate was 7.9 %(+0.2) = 2.50 M People

• Total Pay (including bonuses) up by 1.8 % on year

• Regular Pay (excluding bonuses) up by 2.3 %

Looking for a job in the U.K

• Develop your job search• Plan what to do next• Preparing a very good CV for U.K employers• Understand how to answer tough interview

questions

5

Job application process

• Curriculum vitae (CV)– 2 Pages in length– Typed

• Online Job applications• Online Job interview

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Curriculum Vitae (CV)

• Makes the task of selection easier for the employer• Use clear, structured layout• No more than two pages• Always have a short, clear personal statement• Show your skills and achievements • Tailor & include relevent information to the Job• Quantify facts where possible• Use positive action words

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CV (Cont..)

• Date of birth NOT required under UK law• Use plenty of spacing• Write in reverse date order• Use a clear typeface / font • Put your ‘name’ in the header

– so it appears on both pages

CV Profile

• Professional profile• An enthusiastic and professional Web Designer, • who enjoys being part of, as well as leading, a • successful and productive team. • Quick to grasp new ideas and concepts, and to • develop innovative and creative solutions to • problems. Able to work well on own initiative and • can demonstrate the high levels of motivation • required to meet the tightest of deadlines. • Even under significant pressure, possesses a strong• ability to perform effectively.

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Applying for jobs online

• Think carefully– Try to research for a job using alternative job titles

• For example– Personal assistant instead of Secretary

• Check the closing date– Do not waste time applying if it might be too late

• Read TERMS and CONDITIONS– Be sure to apply on a secured Website (Https: )

before you input your personal details

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Applying for Jobs online

• Beware of false jobs– Not all jobs are ‘real’

• Do not be a SPAMMER ( sending CV to all)– Avoid sending your CV to MULTIPLE companies

• Make sure you prepare well– Print and check your application form off-Line before

sending

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Applying for Jobs online

• Do NOT become invisible– You should call the employer after one week

to check if your CV has been received

• Check your E-mail jobs notifications and – If the Jobs you receive do not match what you

are searching for then UNSUBSCRIBE from the service

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Job Interview Advice

• What to do:– Dress smartly– Examine the job description and compare with your CV– Think ahead !

• Prepare some answers to possible questions• What NOT to do

– Do not lie– Do not be rude– Do not read direct from notes– Do not criticise a previous employer

Prepare for the Job Interview

• Find out more about the employer• Think about questions you may be asked • Take your ID to the interview• Do not sit down until you are asked to• Look interested with good eye contact• Be confident and smile occasionally • Do not interrupt • Ask for a question to be clarified if you don’t

understand• Do not give a long answer in reply to a question

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How to answer tough Interview questions

• Why were you sacked from your last job ?– Do not blame someone

• Instead say that there was a personality clash

• What are your greatest weaknesses ?– Convert a weakness into a strength– For example:– I like to work with urgency so I push people too hard

• How do you explain this gap in time in your CV?– ‘This time was used for training’ is better than saying to employer that you were unemployed

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How to answer tough Interview questions

• What relevant experience do you have?– Focus on explaining how your skills and experience

fit well into the job on offer

• Do you think you are over qualified for the job?– « Assure the interviewer that you will not leave soon »– I want to make best use of my skills doing work that I

enjoy

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UK Skills Shortagesref. www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk

• Production Works and Maintenance Managers• Biological Scientists and Biochemists• Physicists, Geologists and Meteorologists• Social Workers in family services• Secondary School Teachers in Maths, Physics, Chemistry & Biology• Teachers in Special Needs Schools• ENGINEERS –Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, Chemical, Design,

– Production Process, Planning & Quality Control

• Medical Consultants (various)• Medical & Dental Technicians• Speech & Language Therapists• Dancers & Choreographers• Agricultural Trades• Pipe Welders- 3 years plus exp.• Metal Production & Maintenance Fitters• Overhead Line Repairers & Cable jointers• Butchers & Meat Cutters• Chefs & Cooks

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Graduates

• Average Graduate wage is £27,000 according to• www.milkround.com • or £25,000 according to Association of Graduate Recruiters

• ( 2009 figures).

• For more information :• www.prospects.ac.uk – Official U.K Graduate Careers site• www.top100graduateemployers.com

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How to recognise your Qualification

• For recognition of qualifications, contact NARIC• www.naric.org.uk

• Learning the language • www.britishcouncil.org

• University courses in the UK www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk

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Employment Law in the UK

• National Minimum Wage • £5.93 The main rate if you are age 21 • £4.92 If you are age 18 - 20 • £3.64 If you are age 16-17 • The Working Week 35-48 hours full time• If you work 5 days a week – 28 days Holidays• Salary is paid monthly or Wages weekly• Minimum 30 minutes lunch break during working hours must be granted• www.direct.gov.uk• www.tuc.org.uk• www.acas.org.uk

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Income Tax in the UK

• Basic rate: 20% payable from £0 - £37,400

• Higher rate: 40% payable from £37,401-£150,000

• 50% Rate for earning £150,001

• Self employed people pay their own tax• http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/incometax/basics.htm

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National Insurance Number

• You must apply for a National Insurance Number when you start work

• If you have worked in the UK before you do not need

a new number• Phone 0845 600 0643 to apply• Phone 90 545500 Northern Ireland to • apply • www.nidirect.gov.uk

JOBS IN THE U.K

Jobs Advertised64%

Not advertised36%

Percentage of jobs advertised Annual Employer Survey 2009

Where are the jobs advertised?

1%

1%

2%

4%

4%

7%

9%

11%

13%

29%

32%

Jobs Fairs

Government Schemes

Careers Service

Trade Press

National Newspapers

Own website

Industry specific agencies

High street agencies

Online agencies

Local newspapers

Jobcentre plus

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Where to find work

• www.direct.gov.uk/en/employment • User friendly job search facility• Jobseeker Direct Tel: 00 44 845 6060 234 • Self service computers in Jobcentre Plus

offices

• Internet Job Sites e.g• www.jobsite.co.uk

• Private Employment Agencies

http://www.rec.uk.com/jobseeker

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Work placement opportunities

www.placement-uk.com www.work-experience.org www.targetcareers.co.uk www.get.hobsons.co.uk www.internuk.com

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Accomodation in the UK

Average monthly rental charges:

• Apartments/Flats: £450 - £600 = (€513-684)

• Houses: £500 - £800 = (€570 - 912)

• Rooms: £200 - £350 = (€228 - 399)

• Deposit + 1 month’s rent in advance

• Council Tax – local tax on accommodation

• Bills– water, gas, electricity & telephone• Flats and houses

• Out of London average £500 month 1-bedroomed flat

• London £1,000 month average 1-bedroomed flat

• Room in a shared house in London £100-£160 per week• www.rightmove.co.uk www.yell.com

What is the most popular meal in the UK?

Roast beef and Yorkshire pudding?

Fish and chips?

Indian cuisine?

Thank you !

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