Job Search Guide: Starting Your Career in the UK
Job Search Guide: Starting Your Career in the UK
United Kingdom offers many opportunities for those looking to begin their careers on an international platform. With London at the forefront, numerous international companies and a broad range of job opportunities across various sectors create significant prospects for foreign candidates. In this guide, we will discuss how to start your career journey in the UK, the key points to consider during job applications, and essential tips to help you succeed in the job search process.
Understanding the UK Job Market
The UK job market is diverse and offers many opportunities, though these can vary by sector. For example, finance, engineering, technology, creative industries, and healthcare are some of the fields that offer the most job opportunities in the UK.
- Finance and Banking: London is one of the world’s major financial hubs, hosting numerous international banks, investment firms, and fintech companies, offering many job opportunities.
- Technology: The UK is recognized as Europe’s technology hub, with growing opportunities in software development, data science, and artificial intelligence, both in start-ups and larger corporations.
- Food Industry: The UK is a center where traditional and innovative culinary cultures converge, offering a wide range of job opportunities in the food sector. Chefs, kitchen staff, restaurant managers, and food suppliers can find extensive career opportunities.
- Healthcare: The UK provides vast career opportunities in healthcare, with both the public and private sectors experiencing high demand. The National Health Service (NHS) is one of the largest employers, offering roles for doctors, nurses, healthcare technicians, and administrators.
Before starting your job search in the UK, it is crucial to research the requirements and opportunities in your targeted sector to streamline the process.
Work Permits and Visa Requirements in the UK
Foreign nationals wishing to work in the United Kingdom must have the appropriate work permit and visa. Post-Brexit immigration rules have changed, and applicants now need to apply for visas such as the Skilled Worker Visa, Health and Care Worker Visa, Innovator Founder Visa, or Scale-up Worker Visa.
The Job Search Process in the UK: Key Steps
Finding a job in the UK requires a strategic approach and effective steps. Below are some important points to consider to ease the process:
- CV and Cover Letter Preparation: In the UK, a well-prepared CV and cover letter are critical in making a strong first impression. Employers prefer concise, professional CVs that highlight relevant experience without including a photo, in order to maintain equality among candidates. Personal details and work experience should be listed at the top of your CV. Additionally, depending on your profession, you may need to register with or be licensed by a relevant professional body in the UK.
- Job Search Websites: You can utilize popular job search websites to submit applications. Additionally, for more specialized job openings, you may want to follow industry-specific job boards that align with your career goals.
- Networking: Networking is one of the most important factors in finding a job in the UK. By attending professional events, industry conferences, and engaging with social media platforms, you can increase your chances of accessing job opportunities. Platforms like LinkedIn are excellent for expanding your professional network.
- Recruitment Agencies: Recruitment agencies play a crucial role in job searching in the UK. These agencies act as intermediaries between employers and candidates, helping streamline the application process for suitable roles. Research and contact agencies that specialize in your sector to speed up your job search.
Starting your career in the UK offers global opportunities, but success requires accurate information, an effective strategy, and a professional approach. From visa requirements to the application process, you can use this guide as a tool to take the next step in your career in the UK.
We wish you success on your career journey in the UK!
- Published in General, Study, UK Immigration
What is the Opportunity Card? Who Can Apply?
Today, I will provide information about the Opportunity Card, which offers a work permit. This card presents a significant opportunity for qualified workers seeking employment in Germany.
What is the Opportunity Card?
The Opportunity Card is a residence permit for qualified workers. It is a type of visa that allows you to search for a job in Germany and permits part-time work. It is valid for one year and allows you to work up to 20 hours per week.
Who Can Apply?
There are two ways to apply for the Opportunity Card:
- Qualified Workers: Those with a recognized university degree or two years of vocational training in Germany.
- Points System Applicants: If you are not a qualified worker, you need to score at least six points based on specific criteria, including language skills, work experience, age, and education level.
Application Requirements
- Language Skills: You need to know basic German (A1) or have good English skills (B2).
- Financial Requirements: You must prove that you can support yourself during your stay in Germany. This can be shown by having at least €1,027 per month in a blocked account or by having a valid job offer in Germany.
Rights and Advantages
- Work Permit: Allows you to work up to 20 hours per week while searching for a job.
- Trial Work Period: Provides the opportunity to gain full-time job experience for two weeks.
- Long-term Residency: Grants the right to stay in Germany during the application and job search process.
The Opportunity Card offers a great chance for those looking to start a new career in Germany. For more detailed information, please contact LexLegal. Best of luck!
- Published in General
Most Common Reasons for Refusal of a Tourist Visa
The reasons for refusal in tourist visa applications for the UK:
- Financial Insufficiency: If the applicant is deemed to lack sufficient financial resources to cover travel expenses, the visa may be refused.
- Documentary Insufficiency or Error: Errors or omissions in the application form or supporting documents can lead to visa refusal. For example, required documents may be missing or expired.
- Past Travel Behavior: If the applicant has a history of visa violations, border crossing issues, or failure to return from previous visits to the UK, they may be deemed unreliable and the visa may be refused.
- Credibility of Travel Purpose: If the purpose or plans of the applicant’s travel are deemed unclear or illogical, the visa may be refused. For instance, if a person intends to travel to the UK for a specific event without obtaining the necessary permissions.
- Lack of Ties: If the applicant lacks strong ties to their home country that would demonstrate an intention to return the visa may be refused. For example, not having a job or school to return to.
- False Documents: If it is determined that the documents submitted by the applicant are fake or altered, the visa may be refused.
- Legal Barriers: If the applicant has been previously banned from entering the UK or faces legal barriers within their own country, the visa may be refused.
These are some common reasons for visa refusal, but there could be various
other factors considered during the visa application process. It depends on the individual circumstances of the applicant and the UK’s visa policies.
- Published in General
Who Can Become A Level 1 User in the Sponsor Licence?
Sponsor license is a license obtained from the ministry that allows companies to bring qualified workers from abroad.
To obtain this license, you must fulfill some obligations determined by the Ministry of Internal Affairs. When you apply for a license, you must appoint at least one person from your business to manage the sponsorship process.
So Who Can Be A Level 1 User?
Someone who works in your company, a company partner or a company manager can be a Level 1 user.
There may be additional Level 1 users employed by third-party organizations that provide human resources services.
However, it should not be forgotten that in order to assign an additional Level 1 user, at least one of the employees, company partners or company managers in your company must be a Level 1 user.
However;
- If there is an unspent criminal conviction for the crime included in the published guidelines for sponsors,
- People who have been fined by the UK immigration authority in the last 12 months,
- Persons reported to the UK visa and immigration authority,
- People who have violated UK law,
- Persons who have worked as a ‘key person’ for a sponsor whose license has been revoked in the last 12 months,
- Persons who have not paid VAT or other special consumption taxes,
is not suitable to be a Level 1 user.
In addition, people who are eligible to be Level 1 users;
- Definitely being in the UK most of the time,
- Not having a contractor or consultant contracted for a particular project,
- Not subject to bankruptcy, debt postponement or commitment,
- And must not have previously violated sponsor requirements.
- Published in General
Visa Processing Times
The Home Office has updated the Visa processing times for the applications from outside the UK on its official website. You can find updated information in our article.
If you are applying for a visa from outside the UK, you can now know how long it will take for a decision to be made on your application.
As it is known, you do not need to make any travel reservations for UK visa applications before you apply or before a decision is made on your application. Depending on your visa type, it is possible to get a faster decision on your application if you make an extra payment for a FastTrack service. Moreover, if you withdraw your application, you may be entitled to get a refund of your application fee if your application has not been started t be processed. The United Kingdom Visas and Immigration (UKVI) is the body that manages your visa process. Your application processing time starts when you do one of the following.
- Verify your identity using the Identity Check app and submit your documents and application online.
- Attend your appointment at the visa application centre to provide your fingerprints and your photo.
If You Are Applying From The USA
To submit your fingerprints and photo, you must make an appointment at the USCIS Application Support Centre and send your passport and documents to the VFS processing centre in New York.
If you make an appointment at the VFS premium Application Centre to submit your fingerprints and photo, you can send your passport and supporting documents to this location.
In both cases, the processing time will start when VFS receives your application.
When a Decision Is Made On Your Visa Application
If you have already applied for a visa and your application is still within the current processing period, you do not need to contact UKVI to follow up on your application.
When Your Application Processing Period Expires
You will receive a letter or email informing you that a decision has been made on your application.
If you have visited a visa application centre, you do not need to visit it again until you are contacted.
Visit visas
| Category | Processing time |
| Standard Visitor | 3 weeks |
| Permitted Paid Engagement | 3 weeks |
| Marriage Visitor | 3 weeks |
| Chinese tour group | 3 weeks |
| Transit | 3 weeks |
Study visas
| Category | Processing time |
| Student | 3 weeks |
| Child Student | 3 weeks |
| Study English in the UK: Short-term student (6 to 11 month English language courses) | 3 weeks |
Family visas
| Category | Processing time | |
| Partner or spouse | 24 weeks | |
| Parent | 24 weeks | |
| Child | 24 weeks | |
| Adult coming to be cared for by a relative | 24 weeks | |
| Homes for Ukraine | As quickly as possible | |
| Ukraine Family Scheme | As quickly as possible |
Temporary work visas
| Category | Processing time | |
| Government Authorised Exchange | 3 weeks | |
| Charity Worker | 3 weeks | |
| Creative Worker | 3 weeks | |
| International Agreement | 3 weeks | |
| Seasonal Worker | 3 weeks | |
| Religious Worker | 3 weeks |
Work visas you can apply for without a job offer
| Category | Processing time | |
| Global Talent | 3 weeks | |
| Youth Mobility Scheme | 3 weeks | |
| India Young Professionals Scheme visa | 3 weeks | |
| UK Ancestry | 3 weeks | |
| High Potential Individual (HPI) | 3 weeks |
Work visas for an overseas employer
| Category | Processing time | |
| Overseas Domestic Worker | 3 weeks | |
| Graduate Trainee | 3 weeks | |
| Secondment Worker | 3 weeks | |
| Senior or Specialist Worker | 3 weeks | |
| Representative of an Overseas Business | 3 weeks | |
| Service Supplier | 3 weeks | |
| UK Expansion Worker | 3 weeks |
Other visas and permits
| Category | Processing time | |
| British National (Overseas) | 12 weeks | |
| International Sportsperson | 3 weeks | |
| Minister of Religion | 3 weeks | |
| Scale-up Worker | 3 weeks |
Situations Where The Processing Time Might Be Extended.
Situations where the processing time might be extended.
It may take longer to process your visa application;
- If the information in your application is not correct or requires further evaluation
- If you need to provide more evidence
- If verification of your supporting documents is required
- If you need to attend an interview
- If more information is required about your personal situation (e.g. if you have a criminal conviction)
- If the UKVI experiences a surge in visa demand, visa processing times may be extended due to overcrowding.
If Home Office requires further information about your visa application, the Home Office will contact you by letter or email.
For more information about visa types and the application process, please contact us.
- Published in General