April 2021
UK Job search etiquette.
How to advance your UK career.
I need a job with sponsorship!
Can you get me a job with sponsorship?
Kindly let me know if you have any suitable openings for me
Please find attached my CV and do the needful
I am looking for a job with sponsorship. Sending my CV so you can refer me to suitable positions.
The above are examples of the types of messages I receive on a daily basis by email, linkedIn and facebook from people I don’t know. Of course, with the profession I am in and nature of my business, it is not completely unreasonable that I receive questions and messages like this and I like to think I appear approachable to others who have these types of questions or who are seeking support with their UK job search as this is what I am professionally committed to. It is not what is asked, but more about how it is asked. At times when I have viewed the LinkedIn profiles of people who have sent me messages like these, I quickly realise that many possess a strong skillset, extensive professional experience in their field and an impressive academic background. So I wonder, why are they struggling with their UK job search? My experience of working in career guidance, supporting hundreds of international candidates gives me insight into how cross cultural differences impact not only on career planning and development but also on communication style, interview etiquette, use of English language, and formulating of CVs & cover letters. I hear from individuals everyday who although are strong candidates aren't progressing with their job search, and this is not because they don't have the required skills, it's because of small things, such as not having their CV in a UK format, or asking inappropriate questions in an interview. These types of things can be easily avoided through education. I feel that having more open discussions about the interplay between cultural differences and UK job search is needed to help international job seekers be more informed about how to navigate their UK career and thrive with success.
My own personal experiences of navigating my career in a global context helps me relate and empathise with the struggles and challenges internationals face with their UK job search. When I was applying for jobs in Spain, I discovered that an informal, speculative approach worked best and a lot of the time, securing a job comes down to your connections and who you know, not necessarily what you know. People can often secure jobs based on referrals, without having to go through a formal interview process. This isn’t the norm in the UK and would likely raise questions about an unfair recruitment process. I also had to alter the format of my CV to ensure it was appropriate and I had to invest time and effort into researching where to look for jobs as well as develop knowledge of how interview formats, communication style and professional etiquette differed. When attending an interview for a teaching job in South Korea, I was asked if I drink alcohol or smoke. First question I was asked in an interview for a job in Spain was, How old are you? These questions came as a shock to me, as they wouldn't be appropriate to ask in UK interviews. Fortunately, all these experiences, have developed my cultural awareness and intelligence and the reality of how recruitment practices differ globally and I understand how crucial these variables are for any one wishing to pursue an international career.
It is important for your own success to be mindful that securing a job with sponsorship in the UK is a process. The more you understand the process, the more likely you will adopt an effective job search strategy. It is also vital to view things from the perspective of employers when approaching them directly. Consider, why would they offer sponsorship to you without never having met you? Sponsored jobs aren’t simply handed out and covid and Brexit have made securing sponsorship more competitive, so now more than ever, you really need to stand out and know your WHY and communicate your unique value. So what is your why?
Building a rapport and a personal connection is a lot more effective and is where your focus should be in the early stages of the process. It will get you a lot further than asking about sponsorship up front, without them knowing your background and interest in working for their company. Don’t ruin it for yourself. I recently listened to an inspirational story of an international student in Canada on the Freshstart podcast and one of the things Temi talks about is how she set time aside to draft templates of messages and emails to send to employers to make sure they were appropriate. This is key as first impressions really do matter and last. Listen to Temi Odesanya’ story here and the practical strategies she adopted to successfully navigate her graduate career in Canada.
The challenges and difficulties I faced with navigating my career internationally, is something which motivates me to help others fulfil their dream of getting a job in the UK. Moreover, my curiosity for understanding how individuals approach their career differently based on their social and cultural background is something which I believe is seriously overlooked within the career guidance profession and more research could and should be done in this area to inform professional practice and support career guidance practitioners facilitating individuals from diverse backgrounds with their career development.
In my daily practice, I am fortunate enough to witness the prevailing and vast differences in people’s career mindset, outlook, perspectives and attitudes. This is one of the things I love most about helping clients from all around the world. I find cultural diversity beautiful and inspiring and something to be acknowledged and celebrated.
Subscribe for free to the Praino Careers newsletter to receive weekly emails with jobs with sponsorship through the skilled worker visa route and opportunities for international students.
Advice and information:
If you are looking for a job in the UK with sponsorship:
To check if an employer holds a sponsor license, check the register of sponsor license holders.
Visa information, gov.co.uk
Students and graduates:
Student Circus (if university isn’t a partner, can register with student email for a 30 day free trial)
Target jobs (can filter by jobs accepting those requiring work permit)
Working after studies and post study work visa eligibility UKCISA
Thanks for reading,
Ciao for now!
Bianca