Working After Studying in the UK
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Lesson
Summary: |
When you finish your program in the UK, you are
supposed to leave and go back to your home country. However, in
certain circumstances, you may be able to stay in the UK
and work!
Working in the UK will be a great way to both earn good money and
gain valuable international experience that can lead you to a
great future career. This is just
one of the great benefits the UK offers to international
students.
Can You Work?
The Different Schemes
Depending on what you've studied
you can apply under one of the following
schemes:
Tier 1 (Post-Study
Work)
If you are a student and you've just earned a
UK degree or diploma, you may apply to this scheme. You should
apply 1 month before your student leave expires. The scheme works
on a point-system: you're awarded points for certain things such
as the type of program you've graduated from and where you intend
to work. If you score enough points you will receive leave
(permission) to stay and work in the UK. However, note that your
leave in the post-study worker category does not allow you to
apply to live permanently in the United Kingdom.
For more information, consult the attached pdf document from the
UK Border Agency Home Office.
Work Permit Scheme
This scheme applies if there is a shortage of
workers for the job you're qualified to do. An employer in the UK
must have a genuine vacancy you can fill with the degree you've
earned in the UK. The permit will last up to 5 years. For more
information, consult the attached pdf document from the UK Border
Agency Home Office.
Training and Work
Experience Scheme
This is similar to the Work Permit. The purpose
here is to allow you to gain training and experience on the job
in the UK, if you require the experience for a specialist or
professional qualification (for example, gaining an accounting or
engineering designations). An employer satisfying certain
conditions in terms of position available must apply for this
permit. For more information consult the attached pdf document
from the UK Border Agency Home Office.
Tier 1 General (Highly Skilled
worker)
This category allows skilled people to come to
the UK for employment in general, not just students. This
category also works with a point-based system. You should apply
at least one month before your current student leave runs
out.
For more information about work permits and policies consult the
UK Border Agency website.
How Do You Find a Job?
Employment Resources
The UK offers plenty of resources
for finding work:
The
Internet- Probably the easiest
and fastest way to find work. There are a whole lot of websites
out there that can help you find jobs just by doing a simple
search, in the same way you can search for apartments and other
things online. Websites such as Work Gateways and the UK Jobs Network are great,
easy-to-use, free resources. For graduate careers, Prospects
is the recommended site. Remember, it is highly important to make
sure the job is legitimate before you agree to anything, since
web-scams are common all over the world these days.
Your
School- Schools in the UK are
renowned for offering great career services. For instance, the
University
of Stirling has its own Career Development Centre, with
newsletters, career fairs and an information room to help
students find jobs. Schools can also help you write a successful
resume and participate in mock-interviews and workshops that will
help you improve your prospects of good employment. You should
make sure to find out whether your UK schools offers such
services and make use of them- you'll find that many internships
at good companies have connections with alumni at schools that
can help you get ahead.
Other Resources-
There are a lot of other ways to find
employment in the UK. Look around companies and stores that have
"Help Wanted" signs. Check local newspaper listings for more
options. Make sure to talk to your friends and contacts in the
UK, they may know of a good job opening that fits your study
program and other needs, and may be able to help you apply for
the job. As long as you're actively doing your best and utilizing
all resources available, you should be able to find a good job in
the UK.
Which Jobs Should You Apply For?
Top-paying UK Jobs!
You can find a lot of information in this lesson. The 5 top-paying jobs for graduates in the UK are:
- Protective Service Officers
- Health Professionals
- Functional Managers
- Engineering Professionals
- Public Service Professionals
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Salaries for these jobs range at
£25,053 - £22,657 upon graduation, which is
quite a respectable amount. You'll also find good money in
expanding and emerging industry such as IT, nursing and general
healthcare, and business.
Of course, you should remember that money isn't everything. It's
a good idea to apply for jobs at well-known, international
companies. Even unpaid internships can be a good idea if it's in
a very good company, since these type of jobs are certain to make
your resume and profile look great, and will be of a big
advantage in you future when you apply to other jobs or when you
try to further your education.
The Next Step
Your Future Prospects
After you've done some work in the UK, you have a lot of options to choose from:
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Master's or PhD- To further you education, simply continue your studies. Having another academic degree will help you secure an even better job with higher pay! You can also join the academia, teach or conduct research in your field, and maybe even become rich and famous for your discoveries. Work experience will help you get admission, and it will also show you what kind of skills and knowledge you'll really need in the future, and therefore working in the UK will benefit you.
MBA- Getting an MBA is a very popular option for a lot students these days. If you have work experience you'll be eligible to apply into an MBA program, and graduating will jump-start your managerial career and increase your pay and prospects. You can find a lot of information in our Business Schools Community.
Start Your Career-
Once you get back to your home country, your
work experience in the UK will help you gain employment at a
prestigious company. You can start a successful career right
away. You can even become an entrepreneur and start your own
business if you've taken some business courses and gained the
right kind of experience. You'll make your life count!
For more information, join the Study in the UK
Community!
Resources: Uk Border Agency , UK Council for International Student Affairs
Image Credits: Harris Graber, Chrit Rousseau, kalebdf, taminator.
