The world is opening up again post pandemic and the Aussies and the Kiwis are heading to England for their Great Overseas Experience once more. London has long been a favoured destination for Antipodeans looking to work and experience life in the UK. But even if it’s been a dream for a long time, what’s it really like? Our London recruitment agency has been chatting to a few of our candidates in temporary jobs from overseas about what it’s like living and working in London.
Getting used to the lingo
Dario told us, “You arrive in England and think the language will be the least of your problems. It’s true, you speak the same language, but you speak it differently! In the workplace setting, the biggest difference is that the Brits aren’t as upfront. They may say something’s ‘not bad’ and mean it’s great, or they may say ‘no problem’ when they are quietly seething inside! Seek clarification!”
Londoners are friendlier than you think
Tanya said, “Everyone warns you that Londoners are grumpy. I’ve not found that at all! I’ve found it really easy to make friends, both with other expats and with locals. Most people on the street are busy and focused, but within the workplace, it’s easy to make friends and get to know people.”
“I found joining hobbies good for meeting people, too,” added TJ. “I come from a little backwater town, so the choice and variety of hobbies in London is fantastic. Whatever you want to do, you can do it.”
Make sense of the wages and working conditions
Zak said, “It’s always going to be confusing making sense of your first few payslips, but try and figure it out. The Brits have a system where you have income tax taken at source called PAYE and then also an extra amount taken for National Insurance. I found it really helpful to have the support of my Love Success consultant to explain everything.”
“Me too,” agreed Chantelle. “But it was more than wages. You need someone local to explain things like holiday allowance and such. I’d always recommend using a recruitment agency as they can help with that.”
Don’t put your career on hold
Mahad told us, “Before I came to England, I thought I would have to resort to bar work or something in hospitality. It was by accident that I discovered I could continue building my career in business. I’ve had a couple of excellent placements. An extra benefit is that these roles pay better than hospitality, so I’ve had more cash to play with. I think the experience in London will help with my CV in the future, too.”
It’s huge!
“London is way bigger than I expected,” said Romesh. “It’s really useful to take advice on where to live. You don’t want to end up with a flat share in Stratford if your work is near Heathrow, for example. And getting from one place to another takes a lot longer in such a busy and crowded city. But you can be in Paris and exploring mainland Europe in just a couple of hours, so it’s great for that!”
We’re here to answer any questions you have about finding work in London and making the most of your experience. Get in touch to enjoy a London experience the Love Success way.
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