Employment
So just how do you go about getting work in London?
The first step is to get your CV in order and then to find out what you're worth. The next step is to start sending your CV out to agencies. Remember: London is a big place so ensure that you don't pin your hopes on just a few roles or agencies.
Popular websites where you can search for roles & agencies are:
- Monster
- Job Search UK
- Seek UK (Especially for Aussies and Kiwis)
- 1st Contact Jobs (they quality check your CV and then forward it on to agencies for you)
- TNT Jobs
Whether you're emailing recruitment agencies or emailing recruiters directly, it's a good idea to keep track of which roles you have applied for. Most online advertisements will include a Job ID for your personal reference.
Preparing your CV
There is a standard CV format used in London. As many companies and recruitment agents feed your CV into their HR software, it's best to stick to the format. Check out our CV Template page.
Some tips:
- Keep the formatting clean and simple. Don't add fancy fonts and images as these will most likely be wiped out by recruitment agencies anyway.
- Submit your CV in MS Word format. If you're using the latest version of Office, it's best to save your file as a .doc instead of .docx to ensure that it will appear to all recipients as you see it. Avoid PDFs as these can not usually be 'read' by recruitment agency software.
- Include your Visa status. If your Visa has been approved, state which Visa you hold.
The next step: Find out what you're worth
Pay rates: What you can expect to earn
It's tricky trying to find out how much you should be earning in London - a straight currency conversion may not be accurate as the cost of living is different to in New Zealand and Australia.
Do your research before applying for roles - there's nothing worse than being asked the dreaded salary question at a job interview and having no idea what to answer!
Some things you can do to find out how much you can expect to be getting paid:
- Look at job listings online. Websites such as Monster and Job Search UK can show you what is currently on offer.
- Look at a salary survey website such as PayScale. They allow you to enter information such as your years of experience and then display average salary data for your chosen role.
- Ask your friends/family who live in London. While they may not be happy to tell you exactly how much they make - they may be able to provide you with a guide as to what you can expect to earn.
