Six ways to turbocharge your job search in the UK

Moving to a new country presents many new challenges, and that’s why we’re passionate about ensuring that you start on the right foot and are always a step ahead. From creating the ultimate checklist to run through before you move to helping your search for the perfect first home or passing your driver's test and buying a car in the UK, we’re there for you every step of the way.

So if you've just moved to the UK and are now job-hunting, you should know that we hosted a Twitter space with @taadelodun on Saturday about how to turbocharge your job search in a new country. Here are the top five tips from our conversation:

1. Start with some research: Research the job market in your field or area of specialisation and look at the current jobs available in the UK. During your research, look for trends: what types of jobs are most common? What does it take to get a job like that? Are there any skills required that you don't have? Doing so will give you a good idea of where your resume should go when applying for jobs. Websites like cv.library.co.uk, jobs.ac.UK, Indeed and Linkedin are super helpful for this.

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2. Evaluate your skills: Now is the time to check your academic certificates by the Quality Assurance Commission (QAC). If you think you’ve got some skill gaps, consider getting a certificate or diploma in your specialisation. This will show your employer that you are willing to go the extra mile to fill the gaps in your experience. As a new immigrant in the UK, it can be difficult to find a job so don't be afraid to ask your peers questions. Perhaps they can give you tips on how they got their first job so that you can follow in their footsteps and get a good start.

3. Don’t be afraid to ask questions: If you're looking for a job in a new city, it's essential to ask the right questions. You want to know the cost of living in your new city and how much money you'll need to make to live comfortably there. Reach out to people who have been where you're going and ask them what they think about it—what the good parts are, what the bad parts are, and whether or not they recommend living there. This information will give you an idea about whether or not this place is right for you!

4.Send cold emails: If you have been living in the UK for a while and are looking for a job, you may have seen how hard it can be to be noticed. It is challenging if your experience does not seem relevant to the position you want or if there is a lot of competition from people with similar qualifications and experience. One way that many people find jobs after moving to another country is by sending out cold emails. A cold email does not come from an existing relationship or connection but from someone who has researched their target company and decided they're interested in working there. Here’s a helpful guide to sending cold emails.

5. Give yourself time to adjust: As a new immigrant, you will need time to adjust. You should not be in a hurry as it will take some time to get a job in the UK. Be patient and be prepared to wait. If you are offered a job that is not exactly what you want, it may not be the worst idea to take it because it's better than nothing–even if the salary is low as it may be helpful to build some experience. You can always negotiate later on with your employer about better terms and conditions if necessary but at least give yourself some time before making any decisions about changing jobs or quitting altogether. And when you get your dream job, don’t forget to take care of those at home using Lemonade Finance. As you can see, there are many ways to get your foot in the job market door. Don't be afraid to ask questions and seek out answers from those who have been there before. Remember that it's not all about qualifications; sometimes, a partial qualification can be enough if you're willing to do extra work!

6. It’s a numbers game: Job hunting is draining, but it helps to remember that your chances of getting a job increase with the number of applications you put in. While it’s tempting to make just a few applications a month, remember that those positions will likely have hundreds of applicants as well.
   While remembering that job-hunting is a numbers game, you can also keep the quality of your applications high by having variations of your cover letter for different industries or roles. It’s also helpful to have a spreadsheet where you can track the number of applications you’ve put in and what cover letter version seems to get the most and best responses. Remember, what gets measured gets managed!