The unemployment rate in this country is currently at a relatively low 3.7% (as of September 2022), and the labor market for recent graduates is as robust as it has been for some time and continues to show signs of improvement. The competition for jobs open to recent graduates is fierce; however, candidates who possess the appropriate qualifications, skills, and experience have a good chance of finding employment.
Because of the growing significance of language skills, there is a growing demand for candidates who are foreign nationals. As a foreign worker in the UK, you won't be alone because the country is home to a large number of different international communities.
It should come as no surprise that the United Kingdom is a popular destination for international graduates who are interested in beginning their careers in a new country because of the country's diverse job sectors, favorable working conditions, and numerous employment opportunities.
Jobs available in the UK
Major industries in the UK include:
The financial industry, business, and general commerce are the primary contributors to the expansion of the United Kingdom's economy; however, the services sector is by far the most important. Metals, chemicals, aerospace, shipbuilding, automobiles, food processing, textiles and clothing, design, the arts, and electronic and communication equipment are some of the other important industries.
Although there has been a decline in the manufacturing industry in recent years, it is essential to note that this sector is still responsible for the employment of a significant number of people.
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POPULAR GRADUATE JOBS
- Business analyst
- Data scientist
- Finance analyst/adviser
- HR manager
- Marketing and sales professionals
- Nurse
- Project manager
- Software developer
- Teacher
- Welfare/housing associates.
Graduate schemes are available at many of the UK's large and multinational companies, in sectors such as:
To find out more, see graduate schemes.
According to The Times Top 100 Graduate Employers 2022, the most popular graduate employers include the Civil Service, National Health Service (NHS), PwC, Deloitte and Google.
More information on particular industries can be found in our job sectors.
Look for job vacancies at:
- Prospects job search - for the latest graduate schemes, placements and jobs
- The Guardian Jobs - national news site advertising UK and international jobs
- Indeed - job site listing vacancies throughout the UK
- Reed - lists vacancies in a range of sectors throughout the UK.
Skills scarcities
There are currently a number of occupations that are in short supply, including the following:
- Accountancy, banking and finance - actuaries, economists and statisticians
- Business services - analysts, market researchers, HR officers
- Construction - surveyors, architects, planners and project managers
- Creative arts and design - artists, dancers and choreographers, musicians, graphic designers, producers and directors
- Education - primary and secondary school teachers (particularly maths teachers)
- Engineering - electrical, design and development engineers, mechanical and chemical engineers, civil engineers and, product and process engineers
- Healthcare - nurses, carers, health managers and directors
- Hospitality - baristas, chefs
- IT - cyber security analysts, SEO marketers web design, programme/software developers and systems engineers
- Science and pharmaceuticals - nuclear medical scientists, biochemists, construction scientists, laboratory technicians
- Social care - counsellors, social workers.
How to be Employed in the United Kingdom
In the UK you can apply for most jobs online by sending a CV and cover letter or by filling out an application form. Where possible, CVs should be no longer than two sides of A4 and cover letters no more than a page. Learn more about writing CVs and cover letters.
It is important to network, and a significant number of job openings are filled through word of mouth. Make use of any contacts you already have in the UK to inquire about open positions and let those contacts know that you are actively seeking employment in the UK.
Speculative applications are also welcome, and they can be helpful when applying to small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs), which don't always advertise vacancies in their workforce due to the nature of their size.
Because so many companies have drawn-out hiring processes, you should get your job application in as early as possible. Complete the application in the country in which you currently reside, and only relocate once you have been offered a job.
Because of the high rate of employee turnover, the retail and hospitality industries frequently conduct hiring all through the year. While cities like Birmingham and Manchester are experiencing a marketing and public relations boom, London is frequently the location of job openings in the creative arts and design sector.
If you're shortlisted for a job, you may have to attend a series of interviews. These could be one-to-one interviews with your potential line manager or panel interviews with managers and HR personnel. Larger companies and graduate schemes often use a mix of psychometric testing, assessment centres and interviews to select successful candidates.
Get more advice on how to find a job.
It is possible that you will be required to participate in a number of interviews if you are shortlisted for a job. These could be one-on-one interviews with your potential line manager or panel interviews with managers and HR personnel. Either way, the focus is on getting to know you better. The selection of successful candidates is typically accomplished through a combination of psychometric testing, assessment centers, and interviews in larger companies and graduate programs.
Find out more information about how to improve your job search.
Summer jobs
There are a lot of summer jobs, seasonal jobs, and temporary jobs available in the United Kingdom, and the majority of them are in the retail, hospitality, and tourism industries.
Summer employment opportunities can be found working at summer or holiday camps, at outdoor adventure and water sport parks, on campsites, and at a variety of festivals throughout the United Kingdom.
In large cities and areas with a heavy tourist industry, there is always a need for temporary workers in hospitality industries such as restaurants, bars, and hotels. Additionally, temporary workers are hired by the retail industry to cover shifts during the holiday shopping rush.
You will find a wide variety of opportunities in the UK to contribute to charitable causes while also improving your command of the English language through participation in a variety of volunteer activities.
If you are in a position where you can afford to work for free in order to gain experience, it will be to your advantage to participate in a volunteer placement. This will look good on your resume.
- Do-it is the UK's national volunteering database, listing opportunities from thousands of charities and social groups.
- Volunteering England is part of the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO).
- Volunteering Matters works in partnership with UK organisations to deliver programmes that enable people of all ages and backgrounds to put something back into the community.
Checking the local newspapers and the notice boards in your community can help you locate volunteer opportunities in your area. Before you sign up for a program, do some background research on the various opportunities for volunteer work and read over the associated terms and conditions.
Teaching jobs
French, Spanish, and German are the primary languages that are taught in schools throughout the UK. It is possible to find work as a modern foreign language (MFL) teacher in the United Kingdom if you are a native speaker of one of these languages and come from a country other than the United Kingdom.
There are not enough trained professionals in these fields, so there is a significant demand for exceptionally talented people. You may be eligible for financial assistance in the form of a bursary to finish the necessary postgraduate study if you already have a degree from a university or an English equivalent and a solid command of the English language.
For more information on teaching languages in the UK, available bursaries and training options, go to Teach Modern Foreign Languages.
The British Council also provides opportunities to teach foreign languages in British schools through their Modern language assistant programme.
You could spend a year teaching in the United Kingdom to gain valuable teaching experience and transferable skills if you are fluent in French, German, Irish, Italian, Mandarin, or Spanish. If this describes you, you could also teach in Ireland. The national average salary is approximately 20,000 pounds, but in London it is closer to 38,000.
Internships
Many students in the UK look for relevant work experience in order to increase their chances of gaining employment after graduation. There are opportunities to gain work experience in almost every industry, and the length of these opportunities will vary from organization to organization. A placement may last for as little as one day in some circumstances, while in others it may continue for several months and eventually lead to a full-time job.
Keep in mind that any and all work experience is valuable, and that a significant number of students are able to successfully secure placements that last for several months.
Your university's international office can help you find and apply for work experience and internships.
Search for work experience in the UK.
Placement Year International
Provides paid business and hospitality internships for students and recent graduates.
UK visas
After you have finished your studies in the UK, you can apply for a Graduate visa so that you can remain there for another two years. This will buy you some time during which you can search for a job and then submit an application for a work visa.
If you have what's called a skilled worker visa, you'll be able to stay in the UK for a total of five years before being eligible to apply for permanent residency there. Submit an application for the visa three months before you are scheduled to begin working and bring proof that an approved employer has extended you a job offer.
You might be eligible for a Health and Care Worker visa if you want to satisfy demand in the healthcare industry. You need to be a qualified doctor, nurse, health professional, or adult social care professional, and the Home Office needs to be satisfied with your employer before they will let you work for them.
For people who are self-employed, there are also options for visas called Innovator and Start-up. As long as you can demonstrate that your idea is both original and feasible, they will grant you residency for a period of two to three years.
If you are coming to the country temporarily for the purposes of work, study, or pleasure, you may be able to purchase a Short-term visa that will allow you to remain in the country for up to six months.
The visa you need will differ depending on the purpose of your visit. Take a look at GOV.UK - Work in the UK to see what you're eligible for.
Language requirements
If you are over the age of 18 and want to settle in the UK, you may be required to demonstrate your proficiency in English by obtaining a qualification in the language or a degree that was either taught in English or researched in English.
Those of certain nationalities, such as those from Australia, Jamaica, and the United States of America, are exempt from the requirement that they demonstrate their level of proficiency, as are individuals who have had a long-term mental or physical condition. People who wish to live in the United Kingdom can find information on GOV.UK's Settle in the UK website regarding the language requirements, recognized English Language tests, and other criteria.
How to describe your experience and skills to potential employers
The Bologna Process has made it possible for certain countries to offer higher education qualifications that are directly comparable to those offered in the United Kingdom.
Employers in the UK should be required to acknowledge your degree if you are a citizen of the European Union (EU) and earned it in your home country of residence.
Be sure to check your current qualifications and learn whether or not they will be recognized in the UK before applying for a job or approaching potential employers. This should be done before you even consider approaching potential employers.
Check out the UK ENIC if you want to learn more about how qualifications are recognized.
What it's like to be employed in the United Kingdom
Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., is the typical work schedule followed in the UK. Your employment contract should outline the hours you are expected to work, and you shouldn't be required to put in more than 48 hours per week unless you voluntarily choose to do so.
Every worker is afforded the legal right to demand more adaptable working arrangements, such as part-time or flexible work schedules.
Workers over the age of 18 are eligible for a minimum of one day off per week, four weeks of paid vacation time per year, paid sick leave, and both maternity and paternity leave. Although it is not required by law for employers to provide time off for bank or public holidays, many employers do honor these dates.
There are eight bank holidays and public holidays celebrated annually in England and Wales, while Scotland celebrates nine and Northern Ireland celebrates ten.
If you are employed in the United Kingdom and are between the ages of 16 and 24, you are eligible to receive the National Minimum Wage (NMW). The hourly rate for workers aged 21-22 will be £9.18 as of April 2022, while the hourly rate for workers aged 18-20 will be £6.83. If you are employed, over the age of 23, and not in the first year of an apprenticeship, then you are eligible for the National Living Wage (NLW), which is a minimum wage set by the government that amounts to £9.50 per hour.
When you first begin to bring in money for yourself, you are required to begin paying Income Tax. Your wages from a job and any profits you realize from your own business are both considered taxable income. If you are self-employed, you must also include these earnings in your tally. The majority of individuals are eligible for a personal allowance of tax-free income, which at this time is equal to £12,570. The current standard rate of income tax is 20% of a person's taxable income.
Find out more
- Discover what it's like to study in the UK.
- Learn about living in the UK.
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