Originally published on Geekfenceon 24th September 2022
Professionals who have been exposed to international jobs are valued and deemed more desirable candidates in the job application process. This is especially true if you are applying for mid or senior-level roles.
As technology innovation becomes a powerful force driving the globe into convergent commonality, and practically every firm wants to have a global footprint, their choice for senior hiring will certainly be someone with good overseas professional experience. This is because professionals with global exposure are open to new experiences, highly resourceful, good at problem solving, and self-reliant.
This article guides tech professionals on how they can secure a tech job in the UK to broaden their knowledge and experience at a global level.
Preparing for your job hunt
It’s as much about being prepared and knowing where to look and whom to talk to as it is about having the essential skills and qualifications to get the right job in the UK. Your job search strategy may include preparing a very professional UK market as well as job specific CV and Cover Letter, professional upgradation of your Linkedin profile and setting a job search goal. For example, you should apply for jobs that require your core skills; if you apply to everything remotely intriguing, you will not be successful; and simply throwing your CV out into the open vacancies will not assist.
As you are clear about your job search, lay out a job hunting plan that includes the kind of job boards, recruitment agencies and companies you want to target. As an international applicant, you can use Linkedin, Totaljobs, Indeed, Reed, UKhired, CV Library, and Monster job boards for your applications. LinkedIn is increasingly being used by businesses to hire professionals from all over the world.
Some of the top recruitment agencies in the UK for international talents may include Hays, Manpower Group, Michael Page, Robert Half, Korn Ferry, Kelly Services, Aston Carter, Adecco and Jbhired. You may also list down companies that recruit overseas talent and have sponsorship licences to specifically target jobs that provide work permits. There are a number of companies such as TCS, Cognizant, Infosys, Accenture, IBM, Wipro, Capgemini, HCL etc. they always have some openings for tech jobs, and they hire overseas talent who needs work permits. Furthermore, the majority of organisations give work visas when they employ for high-demanding tech positions, and they clearly state whether or not the company provides sponsorship in their job advertisements.
Finding the perfect job
You should be selective and strategic while using job boards. Find just a few that best serve your needs, your industry, and your goals. If you’re sending out 20 CVs every day, you’re probably in the “anything will do” region. So, be selective, and look for terms related to your expertise. Look for places where you’d want to live and work. Every few months, scan the websites of your dream companies to see who is recruiting and where they are in their business. Make sure you don’t pass on a great opportunity because you spotted it too late. You may even set up alerts for jobs associated with companies or industries. Another excellent technique to find a job is through social media. In addition to LinkedIn, search Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. You can follow the companies you want to work at and also do hashtag searches for jobs or your career role.
Networking
In the UK, networking is the most reliable way to get a new job, as many new positions are never advertised because internal or preferred applicants are already in the pipeline. More than 70% of jobs are filled through networking recommendations, making this one of the most effective methods to add value to your job hunt. Invest in your network now so that when you have an ask tomorrow, it is rich and ready. LinkedIn networking is immensely popular in the United Kingdom. You can Join LinkedIn to expand your network by connecting with similar professionals, exploring topics and conversations of interest in LinkedIn Groups, requesting a referral, contacting the job advertiser, following the company’s LinkedIn page and engaging with the company’s content etc.
How to get a job at a company of interest
Recruiters and hiring managers are significantly more inclined to speak with someone who has been vouched for by someone who already works there than a random person who comes in through job advertising. The simplest approach to discover your way into the company is to go to LinkedIn and type in the name of the firm you’re applying to work for in the search box. Choose People to see all of your first-, second-, and third-degree contacts at that firm. You might not have a first-degree relationship there, but if you have a second-degree connection, you approach your common connection directly and request an introduction. If you don’t have a second-degree connection, then you might find a fellow alumnus who works at that company or a fellow member of a professional association. And the best part is you can do that right on LinkedIn.
Attract or find the right recruiters
Optimise your LinkedIn profile with the right keywords so that the right recruiters can discover you; make sure to switch on the LinkedIn Open to Work feature, and you can make it visible to recruiters only, which alerts them that you’re available to be contacted. You may use the hashtags #openfornewopportunities #ONO #OpenToWork or availability in your profile heading to encourage recruiters to contact you.
On the other hand, you don’t have to wait to be discovered; you can contact recruiters directly and immediately. You want to contact agencies that specialise in your field, and you can find out that by Observing job advertisements put online by the recruitment firm. You might also look into professional bodies in your field and their job boards; you could uncover speciality job ads that are relevant to you.
Interview Preparation
You must demonstrate that you understand the company beyond the fundamentals, and it is critical that you understand the role and explain why you want the job and most crucially, why the company should select you above other applicants. Find out who will be interviewing you using LinkedIn and the company website’s ‘About us’ section to learn more about their professional interests and expertise, which may assist you in connecting with your interviewers and making a favourable impression during the interview.
In tech interviews, you should be prepared to write code on the spot or answer questions about your technical talents and expertise, as well as the latest tech advancements and industry trends. In addition to tech interviews, UK employers conduct competency-based interviews, which are also called structured or behavioural interviews. This helps to determine your level of ability in key areas related to the post you’re applying to, such as flexibility, communication, business awareness, leadership, decision making, problem-solving, adaptability, collaboration, critical thinking etc.
You might utilise LinkedIn’s Interview Preparation feature to help you prepare for your interview. On how to answer the most common interview questions, you may discover videos, instructional resources, and tips from hiring managers and experts. You can privately practise interview replies, either by videotaping or writing a response and receive private AI-powered feedback on practice questions instantly.
Living and working in the UK is a goal for many as it offers work experience on a global scale. Tech jobs have reached the top spot for the UK hiring partly due to a 130% increase in venture capital investment into UK digital businesses. There have never been as many options for the global talent pool, so use the strategies to land a job in the UK to learn, grow and build a successful life in UK’s most organically supportive and robust tech ecosystems.
