Working in the UK - CareerStructure.com
Working in the UK
A booming market and growing skills shortages mean there are plenty of job opportunities across the UK construction sector. Forecasts from the Construction Skills Network estimate 384,000 more employees will be needed in the construction industry between 2006 and 2010 ? an average of 87,000 extra jobs each year.
The skills shortage is likely to continue with demand for skilled workers boosted by the now-almost-complete Heathrow Terminal 5 project and construction projects associated with the 2012 Olympic Games and the Thames Gateway developments.
Your skills
With shortages existing for architects, town and traffic planners, and civil engineers, a degree in one of these subject areas will stand you in good stead. It is also likely that UK employers will wish to see evidence of relevant work experience on your CV. Demand for site engineers, contracts managers, and skilled tradesmen, among others, is also high and a relevant trade qualification will be essential.
Be aware that not all academic and professional qualifications are recognised internationally and UK employers may not immediately understand the level or scope of the qualifications you possess, so be prepared to outline exactly what you can do.
Opportunities in the UK construction industry will increase dramatically in the run up to the 2012 Olympics and the Construction Industry Training Board (
www.citb.co.uk) is preparing a system to assess workers from overseas, particularly those in skilled trades. This will include a health and safety test and a skills assessment to identify and convert foreign formal qualifications.
Most contractors and clients now demand proof of competence, before allowing workers onto their sites, which is provided by a Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) card. This is the industry's largest scheme and covers around 220 occupations including trades, technical, supervisory and management.
Not having a CSCS card may affect your ability to work on certain UK sites. For more information visit
www.citb-constructionskills.co.uk.
UK employers
The private sector offers the greatest number of employment opportunities, although many jobs exist with local authorities and other public bodies. The main employers operate in the following fields:
Your opportunities
Leading UK employers are keen to recruit the best people in the marketplace so don't be put off by red tape. Many say they will treat candidates on merit and if you are the best person for the job they may apply for a work permit on your behalf. Some employers recruit only from overseas for specific jobs.
For example Balfour Beatty will take applications for its graduate programme from people outside the UK who need a work permit only if they have a degree in quantity surveying, civil engineering or construction management.
When looking for work in the UK there are many resources available to help with your job search: to get a good idea of the kinds of vacancies available in the UK register with the leading job sites; visit the corporate sites of leading UK companies to view their professional and graduate vacancies; and register with UK-based recruitment consultancies.
A useful starting point for jobseekers not based in the UK is the European Employment Services (EURES) network (
www.eures-jobs.com) - a partnership between all the public employment services in the European Economic Area. If you are an EEA citizen, your country's employment service will have details of UK vacancies supplied to it by the EURES website.
Applying for jobs
Make sure you tailor your job applications to the UK market and understand just what information employers expect to see in your Curriculum Vitae, and application letters.
See our Getting Started pages for advice on
writing CVs and covering letters.
If you are successful at making it to the interview stage make sure you are thoroughly prepared to answer the questions you may be asked and to deal with the skills and personality tests that organisations may ask applicants to sit.
See our Getting Started pages for advice approaching
interviews and tests.
Will I be allowed to work in the UK?
Be aware though that the UK government and employers are often only interested in recruiting non-UK graduates if they are unable to satisfy recruitment needs from their own nationals. It is generally very difficult for nationals of non-European Union countries to get employment in the UK if there are British people who can do the job.
Your right to work in the UK depends on a number of factors, including your nationality and the terms of your permission to enter the UK.
There are different rules for three main groups:
- citizens of the European Economic Area (EEA)
- other foreign nationals outside the UK
- other foreign nationals who are already in the UK
Each year, tens of thousands of work permit holders and dependents come to work in the UK in professions where there are skills shortages. By mid-2007, the UK should have a new system in place making it simpler for highly qualified non-UK residents to obtain visas.
The government-run site, Working in the UK (
www.workingintheuk.gov.uk), provides clear information about the various routes open to foreign nationals who want to come and work here.
A visa (also know as 'entry clearance') is required for various foreign nationals before entering the country. Check with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (
www.fco.gov.uk) to see what kind of visa you need.
In the case of work permits, you will need to have secured a job before you arrive in the UK. It is employers who apply for work permits; not employees or recruitment agencies. Your employer has to prove you are the right person for the job. However, you must continue working for that employer to stay in the UK.
The Science and Engineering Graduates Scheme (SEGS), launched in 2004, enables certain non-EEA students who have successfully completed and obtained a degree (with second class honours or above), a Master's degree or a PhD, to work in the UK for up to 12 months upon completion of their studies.
