Working in the UK after graduation_

Q: I have a degree from a UK university but I am not a British citizen. Will I need a work permit?
A work permit is issued for a specific job with a specific employer. You cannot apply for it yourself. An employer has to apply on your behalf, proving that they have advertised the job nationally without success and that you are the most suitable candidate.

If you are a European Economic Area (EEA) or Swiss national, or the dependant of one, you will not need a work permit. However, if you do not fall into this category you will require a permit to work here.

It is very difficult to obtain a 'full work permit' in the UK, but it may be possible to stay for a period of practical training or work experience under the 'Training and Work Experience Scheme' or to establish a business under the pilot 'Innovators Scheme'. The 'Science and Engineering Graduate Scheme (SEGS)' and The 'Highly Skilled Migrant Programme' may be other options. For more information, visit the UKCOSA, Council for International Education, website and choose Advice for students. Alternatively, telephone their advice line on +44 (0) 20 7107 9922 (1-4pm Monday-Friday).

Q: I have a degree from outside the UK and am now living here. How can I get a work permit?
If you are a European Economic Area (EEA) or Swiss national, or the dependant of one, you will not need a work permit. However, if you do not fall into this category you will require a permit to work here.

The regulations surrounding work permits are complicated and each person's case is different. For further advice, visit the Home Office Immigration and Nationality Directorate website or telephone +44 (0) 114 259 4074.

Q: Will my degree from another country be acceptable in the UK?
For a comparison of your international qualifications against UK standards, contact The National Recognition Information Centre for the UK (UK NARIC) or telephone +44 (0) 870 9904088. General enquiries are answered free of charge, but if you require an individual assessment and a letter of comparability, there is a standard charge of £30 plus VAT.

Many large recruiters will also have the facilities and expertise to assess your qualifications themselves. Telephone potential employers to check this out.

Q: I want to work in the UK, can you tell me the best place to look for a job?
Typical places to look for advertised vacancies include newspapers (national, regional and local), trade publications, Job Centres, the Internet and recruitment consultancies.

Depending on the area of work that interests you, you may also find speculative applications effective. If you have a particular skill, such as speaking unusual languages, identify employers who are looking for this and it should give you an advantage over other candidates.

To access the contact details of potential employers, you could consult specialist directories of companies and organisations in a particular field. The City Business Library in London (telephone +44 (0) 20 7332 1812) is a useful source of information. Alternatively, professional bodies or trade associations will often provide lists of members.

The Online Careers Library includes useful sections on 'Job Hunting'and 'Employer Websites'.

Networking with current practitioners and building a list of relevant contacts is also a useful strategy. For more information, access our Online publications on Job Hunting on the Internet.

Q: I want to work in the UK. Where can I find a list of vacancies in a particular type of work?
Vacancies in a particular field are often advertised in trade publications or through specialist recruitment consultancies. National newspapers have specific days of the week when certain types of jobs are advertised. Many of them have online jobs pages, for example Jobs Unlimited Guardian.

If there is a particular employer that interests you, contact them and ask where they advertise their vacancies. They may have a recruitment section on their company website.

Talk to current practitioners in the field and find out how they found their jobs. For detailed information on specific occupations, visit the Online Careers Library.

The Careers Group, University of London has developed a vacancy email service for students, graduates and employers. It brings jobs and events which are specially selected to match your preferences directly to you. All you need is a valid email address where you can read the messages. For more information, visit Alert.

Q: I want to work in the UK. Where can I find a list of organisations that employ graduates?
The Online Careers Library provides a huge directory of links to careers related websites, including those of a number of graduate employers.

Websites such as Prospects.ac.uk and Hobsons Graduate Careers Centre also provide useful information, including lists of UK graduate employers.

If you are in London and wish to visit our Careers Information Resource Centre or visit C2, you can  telephone +44 (0) 20 7863 6060 to find more.

Q: Can you advise me whether my resume is in the correct format to apply for a job in the UK?
In the UK, a resumé is called a CV (Curriculum Vitae) and may have a different format to that used in your home country. If you want to compete in the UK job market you will need to ensure that your CV can be easily understood, gives all the required information and is in a format that is readily recognised by a UK employer. In particular you will need to give a summary of your education and employment experience. To give the employer a fuller impression of all your personal qualities it is customary to include an indication of your extra-curricular achievements and interests.

If you require a personal consultation, visit C2, to investigate the range of competitively priced services that are available to non University of London graduates. They can also provide guidance and a service to improve your CV via email.

Q: I have applied for lots of jobs but so far have been unsuccessful. I need advice on what to do next.
If your rejections are occurring at application stage, there may be something you can do to improve your application form or CV writing technique. You must demonstrate to the employer that you have researched and understood their requirements, and provide evidence to support this. It is also important that you target your applications to each post rather than sending the same CV for every job.

If you are rejected after interview stage it can be useful to ask for feedback. Not all employers will offer this service, but if they do it can give you a vital insight into your interview technique. For further advice on interviews, access our Online Publications.

However, you may have to accept that you just don't meet the requirements of a particularly competitive industry. If this is the case, you may have to change your strategy and introduce a short-term plan to allow you to gain the experience/skills/maturity that you may be missing at this stage.

If you require a personal consultation, visit C2 to investigate the range of competitively priced services that are available to non University of London graduates. They can also provide guidance and a service to improve your CV  via email.