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✎ EN Working in London

Discussion in 'London' started by Sunshine16992716, Feb 24, 2008.

  1. Sunshine16992716

    Sunshine16992716 New Member

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    I'm currently an American in the states looking to move to London this summer. I have 3+ years professional writing experience at well-respected, nationally recognized newspapers in the U.S., with additional experience at a large, daily college student newspaper and an internship at a London magazine.

    I'm planning on moving without a job lined up (risky I know, but I'm young, have no comittments and have enough savings to last me 3-6 months with no income). I have distant family there and a fellow American friend of mine will be graduating from Oxford this summer, and we plan to share a flat in London and try to find jobs. She's in a better position because she already lives there and has a National Insurance number.

    I'm basically just looking for any advice you can offer in moving there and finding a job/ freelance work. I realize that depsite my experience I'll be at a disadvantage because an employer would have to file for a work permit, but this is something I've thought about for a long time and the timing seems right to take the risk.

    Specific questions include:
    Since I don't have a work visa, is the best way to go there through a tourist visa? I know technically I wouldn't be allowed to work until an employer applied for a work permit for me, and I might have to leave the country if and when this happens. Is this the best way? I've looked into the Highly Skilled Migrant Workers visa, and I would be eligible except for the fact that writers are universally underpaid and I don't make enough to garner extra points.

    I'm also wondering if I can obtain a National Insurance number without a job/ work visa or does the job come first and then the insurance number?

    Thanks for any and all help and advice.
     
  2. travelnwork

    travelnwork New Member

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    You have a couple of things in your favor.

    1. You sound young and motivated
    2. London is still a hot job market
    3. It sounds like you have a skill that could be used widely
    4. You have savings to last several months (to endure)
    5. You know someone...you're not totally alone / on your own

    Challenges you will face.

    1. Your experience is from America...things are either done different here or there is the constant perception that the way America does things is inferior. This is not always the case, but it can be difficult especially without a work visa
    2. Companies sometimes have quotas they cannot exceed in terms of the number of people on work permits that can be employed with them.


    Suggestions

    1. Make a pre-planning trip. Come spend a week here and prior to your arrival try to arrange as many interviews as possible. This will give you a feel for the job market and challenges you may not have been aware of. Additionally, after getting your feet wet it still gives you option to back out without potentially losing all your savings.
    2. Plan as much as you can, but expect the the unexpected. There is so much to enjoy and do in London, but it can also eat you up like many big cities.
    3. Search for international companies. Try to get interviews in the U.S. and then after you make a good impression express your desire to work and live in the U.K. and see if they are open to hiring you for their London office. This is low risk/high reward type scenario.

    I moved over in August on a work transfer and spouse visa...about as good as it gets for this type of situation. I've recorded a number of lessons learned you may find useful at my blog
     
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