Working in the UK
Heading over to the UK to work and live it up in London has long been a kind of rite of passage for young travel hungry Aussies. Up until recently the strong pound and healthy job market meant that you could head over to the UK, find yourself a share house in London, a job then spend your weekends hopping over to endless European cities on cheap flights. You could also save a few pounds which were worth their weight in gold when you brought them back down under, or used them to fuel your travel elsewhere.
This opportunity still exists, but following the punch in the guts delivered to the British economy during the global financial crisis, it is no longer the cash cow it was. Britain is well and truly in recession and the British job market is a bit bleak, but do not let these little things deter you.
Just be aware that you will need to be prepared for a tougher job hunt, possibly lower wages, less employment stability and a pound which is worth less internationally. But London is still there, it is still a big, beautiful, dirty, complex boiling pot efficiently placed at the centre of everything.
With a dark and fascinating history and cheap flights and trains linking you to fairytale cities like Paris, Dublin, Rome, Prague and even New York you will never be bored. As opportunities in London are undoubtedly less abundant than they were a few years ago, remember there is a whole country to be explored, be flexible and you might find yourself anywhere in the British Isles.
Recession tip: If possible organise some work before you arrive, even if it’s a shitty job out of your area of interest. Otherwise you might chew through your savings in just a few weeks of job hunting ($700-$1000 minimum per week to live in London if you are living independently).
Visas
Getting a visa to work in the UK
Other visas to get into the UK
Getting work
Getting a national insurance number
