Immigrant Student In London
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Judging from our 20 years of experience, we can freely say that a lot has changed. The students today are nothing like the ones who were settling in London 15 or even 5 years ago. Everything is different now starting with lifestyle preferences and ending with the goals in life.
One thing and one thing alone remains intact – a question every new Londoner asks us when relocating to his or her new Alma mater. What is that question, you ask?
Where is the nearest pub?
Where can I go out to?
How can I get to my uni/shop/library/museum?
Nope, none of the above. Truth be told, people rarely ask us about these things nowadays. They have the internet and social media at their disposal.
What is it then? What is the ultimate question that boggles the minds of generations of students?
“How can I get a part-time job while studying?”
Yes, this may seem trivial, but students need their money above all, especially in modern-day London. This means that the time has come for us to shed some light on the answer.
Uni matters
Can foreign students get part-time jobs in London? Well, some of them can. It all depends on the university you’ve chosen.
Please read the following passages carefully: a student will only be allowed to work in the UK if his or her University is listed in both the list of ‘recognized awarding bodies’ and the official UKVI Sponsor list.
If the university of your choice is not mentioned in these lists or is only mentioned in one of them – you will be denied the opportunity to work in the UK.
There are also additional limitations like:
- You will not be allowed to work for more than 20 hrs per week
- You are allowed to work full time during holidays
On the bright side, students from EU member countries have no working restrictions.
Is there a life after graduation?
Working after you graduate – part-time or not – is, by far, less challenging yet still requires a bit of preparation and strategy, because there are 5 types of visas you may apply for and you only need one. The one that fits your goals best.
So what are the Work Visa choices for Non-EU graduates in the UK?
- Tier 5 Youth Mobility: residents of particular countries are allowed to apply for a work scheme permit that is valid for two years. This is one of the simplest options yet it only applies to a set array of nationalities. Check the list here.
- Tier 5 Temporary Worker: This is a plain old Visa that allows you to work in the UK for a period of up to 24 months.
- Tier 4 Visa AKA Student Visa: This one’s for students finishing their Ph.D. in a higher institution and allows the right to stay and work in the UK for up a year.
- Tier 2 Visa: This is the most common Visa for graduates and it allows you to stay and work in the UK but you require a job offer that pays at least 20,800 pounds in order to qualify for it.
- Tier 1 Visa: A treat for entrepreneurs, this Visa is the perfect choice for those of you who are planning on developing a custom business instead of working for someone. That noted you will require sponsorship from your university and proof of potential in order to apply for it.
What’s next?
Ok, we all know that being allowed to work in the UK is not the same as having a decent part-time job. First and foremost, you are to know where to look for the latter.
- StudentJob.co.uk: This is one of the biggest websites for young professionals in all of Europe. The website offers a lot of options for graduates, interns, and part-time job seekers.
- Indeed.co.uk: This is a nice resource with a simple interface that has helped a lot of our clients get the job of their dreams.
- Resources like Unicorn Hunt, F6S and AngelList are awesome if you are on the tech-savvy side and are interested in working for the new Apple or Google.
- Facebook: Join local communities and follow brands. They often post job offers straight on their social media pages.
Let the hunt begin
The job hunt itself is definitely worth separate mention as it is the stage where most students fail due to their lack of experience.
Let’s start our talk with the way you design your CV or resume. It has to be simple. Nothing too bright, flashy or creative. You might think that a unique touch might get you ahead of your competition, but it will not.
Just think about it – your potential employer or the people from the HR department are looking through hundreds of resumes on a daily basis. They have established certain habits, like looking for the job experience in a certain order below personal details. Remove it somewhere else and your CV will break their system in a negative way. Without knowing where to look it is easier for the HR person to just grab another CV from the pile than to scan the whole thing for clues.
Ok, now that your CV is ready the tie has come to talk about the looks. Ok, we know you are very special and your style is a characteristic of your inner world and stuff like that but you have come to a job interview (someone else’s playground), so please try to meet with their expectations (play by their rules). We are not saying you should rent a tux and a monocle, but anything outside smart-casual should be considered a no-no.
And, lastly, don’t forget to follow up after the interview. Sure, you might get a “no” for an answer, but that is definitely better than wasting your time while sitting and waiting.
Ok, guys, your turn: do you have any tips about finding a part-time job in London? Please share them in the comments section below!
