Sorting out the Basics
So before you can really settle into your London adventure there are a few technicalities you’ll need to work out.
The three big things are the job, the flat and the bank account.
It can be a bit of a drag I know (trust me, I know) but it’s all plain sailing after this point… well… mostly.
The most important thing to try and sort out first is the job.
I had a lot of trouble opening a bank account over here before I started my job because most banks require evidence of employment before you can open your own account. Seems like a catch 22 doesn’t it? Need the account to be paid but need the job to get an account to be paid into. I certainly couldn’t get my head around it when the bank refused to let me sign up on account of me being unemployed.
Same goes for finding a place to live. If you’re trying to find a flat to rent, most agencies or even current tennants in a flat share will want to see some evidence that you have some money coming into the old bank account (that you haven’t yet been able to open). It’s all a bit tough without that letter from your employer.
So make finding a job your number one priority.
Maybe even try to secure something before you move.
I have a few friends that signed up for temping agencies before they moved to London and they’ve had it pretty sweet since moving here. There are a lot of companies who maybe aren’t as legit as they may seem so it always pays to do your homework and read reviews and ask the big questions to see if they will come up with the goods.
If you already know people in London, then don’t be afraid to ask them if they know of any work going around. This is exactly how I landed my job. My mate Dave had moved to London a few years before me and we’d always stayed in touch so when I moved with absolutely no idea what I was going to do with myself, I asked him for advise on how I should go about trying to find work. Luck and very fortunate timing was on my side because he told me his work was hiring temp admin assistants and that he’d put in a good word for me. I applied for the job and the rest, as they say, is history. Have been there for 18 months now and I’ve since gone permanent. You just need to get your foot in the door and then you work your butt off to make yourself indispensable.
My best advise is to apply for anything and everything that you can and be prepared to really put yourself out there. While you may want to move to London to become a high flying advertising exec, the likelihood of the perfect job coming up before you run out of money and outstay your welcome on your friend’s couch is highly unlikely. So why not get yourself some bar work to pay the bills and get yourself sorted in a flat while you search high and low for that dream job? Pop your resume in every shop on your local High St (which is the main road with shops) and maybe grab a job in retail. Takes the stress off and doesn’t prolong you settling into your own London life. Be prepared to start small but never stop aiming big in the long run. Remember this is all about just getting your foot in the door. Yes you may only earn 6 pounds an hour in hospitality... but it's 6 pounds an hour more than you'd be earning if you would accept nothing less than your dream job. And that couple of thousand dollars you've saved up to move with won't go very far in London I tell you. Securing a job ASAP should be your number one priority.
A few websites you may like to have a squiz at to look for work are:
Ok so now (hopefully) you’ve got yourself a job even if it’s only temporary and you can get the golden ticket, the letter from your employer confirming your employment. You beaut! Now you can stroll on into that bank that didn’t want to know you a few weeks ago and plant this letter firmly on their desk and request that they open you a bank account quick smart.
There are loads of banks with loads of different accounts so again it pays to do a bit of homework and find yourself a good deal. Paying a bit extra can get you things like travel insurance and phone insurance included. I also got a credit card with mine which has bailed me out a few times. The major banks over here would be Natwest, HSBC, Lloyds and Barclays. There are a lot of other smaller banks around as well. I am a Natwest customer myself and they've never let me down so far. But as I said, do some homework and find out which bank best suits your needs.
So this leaves the last thing and this will probably be the thing that causes you the most stress and trouble… and this is finding a place to live.
This warrants its own post I think so I will sign off here and write a new entry about finding a place to live. Where to look, what to look for and what you’ll be expected to pay. The truth may surprise you…
Until next time.
Much love from London.
Jess
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Comments (6)
Hi,
My husband and i are looking at moving to the UK next year.
I am an extremely organised person (most call me OCD) so there is absolutely no way i want to move away with being organised and having everything sorted down to a tee.
As far as work is concerned, i have started looking on line.
Can i ask though, what the average wages are?
Further, what are some good suburbs to live in?
I have seen a two bedroom apartment in Wimbledon for 300 pounds - is that generally the going price?
I assume that the tube is the best way to get into the CBD, so how long would this take form Wimbledon?
We really don't want to live with anyone and would prefer to live on our own.
If you could help us out with any details regarding the above i would be forever grateful (i'm worried this will all get too overwhelming and give up).
I look forward to hearing from you.
Thanks,
Ashlee
Hey Ashlee,
Sorry it's taken so long to get back to you. I've only just realised there were comments on this entry.
Don't dispair... it may feel overwhelming and I know I was when I first arrived, but it doesn't take long to settle in and get your head around it all. It sounds like you're doing a lot more homework and preparation than I did when I moved so I'm sure you guys will be absolutely fine!
The average wage is a tricky one because it really depends on your industry. Hospitality and retail are notorious for having pretty low wages but you can expect tips in a bar or restaurant. An hourly wage of about £6 would be standard.
For admin assistants, secretaries etc you would probably expect in the low £20,000 region. Higher £20k for more senior roles and then £30k plus would teachers, managers etc. Best place to look would be on job sites to see what the going rate would be for a position that you'd be interested in.
Wimbledon is a lovely little part of the world. Not too far away from where I live actually and on the same tube line. If you were catching the tube to work in central London you'd be on the District Line which is famous for being a bit slow and rubbish but it would get you in to the CBD area in about 45mins door to door or so which is a good commute via London standards.
Not sure on the pricing for Wimbledon at the moment but it's a really nice area so not the cheapest in London... was this £300 a month or a week? I've actually just done a blog entry about finding a place to live which should be posted up shortly so keep an eye out for that for some tips. If you want to live on your own you may wish to go through an agency to find a place. Or check out www.findaproperty.com which is how we found our place.
Hope this all helps!
Best of luck with it all!
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Im having trouble with what visa i should be applying for when I do move, without a job. Which one did you apply for?
It can depend on your circumstances as well. Where you are from, where your parents are from, are you considering studying? Or travelling and working etc.
check out our visa section for the types of visas you can get.
http://www.moving2london.com/uk-visas/
thank you! im really confused, I think. Two of my close friends and I really would love to just spend a year or so there before going back to school for our MBA's. We're all americans , we would have the right "funds" and some of our friends are already over there.
however we want to work, even if its just a hospitality job. No one can seem to give me an answer as to how I can go about choosing the right visa for that.
Hi C, I hate to say this, but if you're American, I don't think you can apply for a work visa without a job, because an employer would have to sponsor you (unless you have British Ancestry, then you're golden). Most of us apply for the YMS visa, but that's only for Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and Monaco.