Working outside the UK : Applying for non-UK jobs

Having completed your studies in the UK, you may be considering returning home to find graduate work. There may be differences between the graduate recruitment system in your home country and the UK, so you will need to familiarise yourself with the:

• application process;
• timing of graduate recruitment;
• methods that employers use to meet potential candidates, e.g. ‘walk-ins’ in India, where candidates can be recruited through open days run by employers.

Getting advice

Your careers service can provide information and advice on your career options and finding work in your home country, and can help you prepare for the selection process.

See also country profiles for useful tips and advice on working and studying in over 50 countries, including information on visa requirements, language requirements, vacancy sources, work placements and applying for jobs.

International employers

Many large UK graduate recruiters are multinational companies that may have graduate schemes for your home country. If organisations are developing their business interests overseas, they may actively recruit graduates through a specific international programme, e.g. Tesco China Programme which recruits UK-educated Chinese graduates in the UK for their China operation.

To find companies with an interest in your country you can also:

• search the membership directories of business organisations, e.g. UK India Business Council (UKIB);
• search the international members/websites of professional bodies, e.g. ACCA Global for accountancy;
• research UK Trade & Investment (UKTI)  news for details of businesses trading overseas;
• research stories about business investment in newspapers and websites in the UK and your target country.

Also, keep in touch with your network of contacts in your home country while you are in the UK, e.g. former classmates and lecturers, to help you keep up to date with the employment market.

Finding job vacancies

• If you return to your home country during vacations, use the time to make applications or to network with employers.
• Make use of the internet. All global organisations, government agencies and an increasing number of small and medium-sized enterprises have websites, usually with a ‘careers’ or ‘current vacancies’ section. Search engines can be used to locate employers and vacancies in specific countries.
• Visit high commissions and embassies in London, which usually provide information about jobs in their countries. See the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) - Find a foreign embassy in the UK  in the UK for contact details.
• Check UK and foreign newspapers and professional journals. Search for foreign newspapers using online directories such as Kidon Media-Link .
• Use online recruitment agencies such as OverseasJobs.com . You should not pay money to an agency in the UK or overseas for help in finding jobs.
• Send speculative enquiries, using a targeted CV and covering letter, directly to organisations.
• Contact alumni associations in your home country. The British Council  website has information on alumni networks. They sometimes provide job clubs for graduates with UK qualifications where you can post your CV online, get access to vacancies or be matched to a suitable company that has signed up with the British Council.

Your university careers centre will also provide a number of resources, including:

• graduate recruitment publications which detail overseas opportunities.
• country specific directories, for example Graduan  and GradChina .
• graduate recruitment fairs which attract global organisations and provide a good opportunity for networking. Some overseas employers also hold campus presentations and interviews at UK universities. Ask your careers centre for event listings.
• international job-seeking resources, for example Going Global , a website containing country profiles, an employer directory and vacancy listings.
• specific events held by overseas talent organisations, e.g. Global Career Company  recruitment summits.

Selection procedures

These will differ between countries, companies and industry sectors as cultural differences will produce variations in what is valued in an employee. If the organisation you are applying for is multinational, you may encounter similar processes to those used in the UK.

If the company operates a country recruitment programme from the UK, then recruitment will generally be in the UK style. This is also true if the organisation sends representatives to the UK to recruit, although procedures depend on how easy it is for employers to visit UK campuses for recruitment. Interviews and assessment centres, which usually involve a range of tests, may be used.

For companies who do not send representatives, interviews may take place by telephone, internet conferencing, e.g. Skype, or via video conferencing. However, you will usually also be required to attend a face-to-face interview in the country.

Careers advice contains information on job applications, CVs, covering letters and interviews that will help you with the process. These resources are primarily UK focused and you should check for particular requirements for your home country.

Going Global  is a useful resource for finding out about the recruitment and selection procedures in different countries. You may be able to access this in your careers service. See also country profiles.

Job offers

Successful candidates may receive a job offer whilst still in the UK. Most offers have conditions such as:

• good final exam results;
• passing a medical examination;
• work permit/immigration approval if the candidate is from a different country.

When you get an offer of employment, check it carefully to ensure the job title, job description, terms and conditions are accurate. If there is anything that you are uncertain about, seek clarification from the organisation before accepting.

If you are offered a job in a country different from your own, check that the offer covers important issues such as healthcare costs, relocation allowances, minimum employment periods, bond conditions, if appropriate, and accommodation assistance.

Working in other countries

Most countries have an immigration procedure that requires foreign workers to apply for a work permit or employment visa. You may be able to obtain immigration permission if:

• the job role is a ‘shortage occupation’, i.e. the country has need of these particular skills;
• you can do the job on a working holiday visa (not suitable for graduate roles);
• an employer is willing to sponsor overseas workers for the position.

Consult the relevant embassy or high commission of the country you are interested in for more information.