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WORKgateways UK e-newsletter

Monthly e-News for the UK Working Traveler

01 February 2005 Volume 2 Issue 9

WORKgateways e-newsletter is written for UK working travelers whether you are in the UK, impatiently awaiting your departure date or thinking about going in the future.... Scroll down to view this month's topics, articles and info.

Contents

Introductory Comments

What’s New:

Focus:

In every issue:

  • Site of the month - Travel Health - Guide books are OK but
    websites lead the way in good information, and for good reason...

Introductory Comments

Are you already flagging in your determination to follow through on your 2005 resolutions? Feel like you'll never accomplish what's on your list? Did you ever consider that maybe you're just not thinking big enough? I believe a New Year's resolution has to be fun, challenging and inspiring - or forget about it.

The better question to ask yourself now is: what are you going to do in 2005? Travel? Change Jobs? Change countries? Make new friends? Or (following the 'go big or go home' theory). just do it ALL at once? So your '2005 Plan' is: get your passport, buy a ticket and GO O/S! What about all the 'details' you ask? Easy - we've taken care of it all - jobs, insurance, tax, accommodation, getting around, visas and heaps more (all at WORKgateways - http://www.workgateways.com) Now you have no excuse. And, if you hit the travellers' trail in 2005, you can be sure you won't be alone - and your timing couldn't be better.

Read on and enjoy this month's UK e-newsletters for those current or 'resolved to be' working travellers.

Accommodation London

Need well-located, stylish, affordable accommodation when you first arrive in London? Visit www.accommodationlondon.net


Bank Accounts

Need a UK bank account before you arrive in the UK? Visit Opening a UK Bank Account


What’s New...

Job Industry Updates

Architecture Jobs UK

  • Architecture is busy. The surest sign of increased demand for experienced Architects, CAD technicians and Technicians is when Recruitment companies tell us that many candidates from WORKgateways are getting interviews in the first week of arrival. View the latest architecture jobs.

Town Planning Jobs UK

  • In our experience, 'planning' can be somewhat 'cool' during the first part of the year. However, if this January is anything to go by, we are in for a huge year of Planning Recruitment. All signs point towards a strong job market for working travellers in the UK in 2005. View all town planning jobs...
  • Breaking News for Planners - If you are a planner going to the UK here is the Essential Guide to the UK

Engineering and Construction Jobs UK

  • In construction the demand for Quantity Surveyors is unprecedented. All civil engineers with experience in Infrastructure or Building are in high demand. View all construction jobs...
  • Engineers also are highly sought after. The best recruitment areas are structures, highways, water, HVAC, and most Civil design positions. View all engineering jobs...

Trades, Building Services and Building Jobs UK

  • Trades, Building Services and Building Jobs - All trades, particularly in housing construction UK-wide, as well as refurbishment and maintenance in London, require experienced trades people. View the latest UK Trades, Building Services and Building Jobs

Teaching Jobs UK

  • January term has begun in earnest and now the focus is for supply teaching in Primary and Secondary Schools - as with all professions you will need at least 6 months experience, have a work visa and be arriving in the UK. View all teaching jobs or Register with Agencies.

Legal , Accounting, Banking, Office and other City Jobs

  • With more agencies and more jobs this year - the demand for professionals and support has clearly turned the corner. View the latest

Bar, Waiting, Admin, Sales UK

  • If all the Aussie, Kiwi and South African receptionists, chefs, sales people and bartenders left town, London would come to a screeching halt. The demand will always be strong. View the latest

Qualified Social Worker Jobs UK

  • Always strong demand for qualified Social Workers with experience and GSCC registration. View all social work jobs...

Focus

In The UK

QUESTION OF THE MONTH

Does anyone know if I need an NI number and if I do need one how do I get one? I'm going to the UK next month and plan to work there for two years. -Anne M.

Hi Anne,

The short answer to your first question is yes, if you are going to the UK and expect to work, you do need an NI number. Unfortunately, actually getting one is a bit of a process so here is a short explanation to make it seem more like 'fun'.

An NI (National Insurance) number is the number that links you with your payments made to the UK government's NI system. So essentially, NI is a pay-roll deducted government tax. These contributions (payments) to the NI system help the UK government pay for things like 'UK Retirement Benefit' and 'Jobseeker's Allowance'.

Even though most working travellers have no intention of retiring in the UK, or tapping into Jobseeker's Allowance, we all know that, unfortunately, tax isn't optional. Your employer will need your NI number in order to remit to the government the correct amount each pay cheque.

To get a National Insurance (NI) number you will need to make an appointment at the DWP (Department for Work and Pensions) to lodge an application. The application will result in an interview being scheduled. You'll need patience and an afternoon/ morning off to get it sorted. In the meantime, you'll be paying NI at the highest rate (correctly adjusted later on, sure, but wouldn't you like the money now?) and be issued with an 'emergency code' by your employer. To book an appointment to get an NI number here is the website.

For more information on our website visit "Your NI Number"

It is not necessary to have an NI number before you start work, however some employers will expect you to have one or to get one very soon (depending on how familiar they are with the bureaucracy affecting newly arrived travellers). Therefore, you'll want to apply for one within the first few weeks. Once you do, you will get a temporary NI number and your permanent number and card will be mailed to you - in about 6 weeks.

JS


Still in Australia/NZ/SA/Canada

A very common question we hear is: how many agencies should I apply to?

Travellers planning their trip to the UK understandably want the job-seeking process to run smoothly. Our answer? There is no one solution for everyone. Annoyingly vague maybe - but very true. To understand what's best for you, you have to understand 'the balance'.

The elusive 'balance' lies somewhere between getting your resume out in front of enough pairs of recruitment eyes on the one hand, and remaining a 'strong candidate' that has not swamped the market on the other hand. On the latter point, it is important to understand that recruitment consultants work on commission. That means they'll (if they are wise recruitment consultants) ask themselves how likely it is that they will find you a job. If it is pretty likely, they will put a lot of effort into helping you.

What factors help form their opinion of you and your job prospects? For our purposes in this article, the most important factor is how many other recruitment agencies have you got your resume with? If you have swamped the market they will find out soon enough and they'll deem their efforts better spent elsewhere.

What's the answer for you? Choose a few good agencies, not all of them. Choose a 'first string' of agencies and see how they go. Give them some time - at least two or three weeks.

Try to keep track of where your resume has been sent (i.e. to what employers). Some recruitment consultants prefer to have a free reign to market you to their clients. Other consultants will phone you up about specific jobs and ask your permission to put you forward. Both techniques are ok and can work well. If you have very specific job parameters in mind, tell your consultant and have them get your permission before sending your resume out. If you really just need to get some pounds sterling flowing in - try giving your consultant a free reign.

Now, if you are going to limit yourself to a few good recruitment consultants - how do you find these consultants?? That's where we come in.

WORKgateways has put its experience towards designing a SIMPLE system to help you choose only the best and most applicable agencies for you. You need to be casting a line, not tossing a net - we help you do that. How? If you plan to go to the UK in the next 2 years - register with the agencies that are listed under your field at workgateways.com "Register with Agencies." There may be one or there may be six. We don't overload you with agencies, we ensure you get only the agencies that can and will help you.

If you find that you need more action as time draws closer to your arrival or if you are looking for NON-Professional work (ie. Bar Work, Laboring etc.) start applying to specific jobs in your field about 1 month to 2 weeks before you arrival.

For more information about how to deal with UK recruitment agencies, here is our Survivors Guide to dealing with UK recruitment agencies.

For more information on when and how to apply to agencies click here.


In Every Issue:

Site of the Month:

Many guide books offer advice about precautions you should take to keep healthy when you are visiting overseas countries. But out-breaks of disease are unpredictable and widespread and therefore the internet is a better place for travellers to look to get more up-to-date recommendations. Here is one site we really like: Visit MDTravelhealth.com.

Your Say: email your say to jane.stewart@workgateways.com

Do you have questions, comments; is there anything you’d like to see addressed in WORKgateways e-newsletter? Please email with any comments.

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