Post
by ajex-2000 » Fri Oct 27, 2006 12:43 pm
Hi all,
Sharing with you my learnings while on HSMP in UK
I landed end March 06 in UK on HSMP without a job in hand but hope in the eyes.
Used to work as Sales director with MNC Giant in India but travels abroad motivated me to apply for HSMP.
My Learnings.
Key ---- If you do not have a job in hand think twice before getting your family along with..
1>> It is extremely difficult to find a job here in sales and marketing coming from India though u may have worked for top MNC for 15 years and may have a MBA to boot with.... It took me almost 100 days...
It was hell sitting home apply,apply and no response.
But one needs to persevere....
I was fortunate to have a ex colleague working in another country, working for the same company I joined.i was able to use his reference ...
Before coming here try to find out contacts who will put in a word for you.....
I am sure the story is entirely different for our Software programmers as their skills are readily transferrable but in Front ending sales role it is damn tough....
2>> The consultants see your CV and see zero UK experience they do not forward your CV to recruiting companies.Use Jobsite,Jobseve,monster etc, I have totally sent 400 applications before getting the job..
Tailor make your each job response covering letter and CV suiting the ad requirements.Cover letter is absolutely important unlike back home...
3>> It makes eminent sense to contact the employer directly than through consultants.See which companies are new start ups..
4>> 99 out of 100 consultants do not bother to write back if the applied position has been filled.They will call you with Great intrest and then vanish for ever...
5>> As soon as you arrive in UK apply for provisional driving licence - many banks accept this as proof of residence and your passport is sufficient for the DVLA to issue the licence.
6>>Based on the licence you can get membership of local council liabrary where you can spend the day mailing ,reading etc ,,now a days they are even allowing to use memory stick to upload new version of CV also.
7>> Stay in wembley/Hounslow like indian areas where food and other suff is comparitively cheap.
Warning - London is one of the most expensive citi in the world
8>> Try to come during summer if possible it is easier to adjust...
9>> Try to take help from your UK friend to get a contract mobile phone/ Pay as you go option on all operators is very expensive.
10>> If you smoke then come from India with legally permissible number of cigarettes.Smoking is really expensive here.May be that will motivate all to give up...
11.> UK is a very good country with extremely aloof culture ( no body talks to each other on the tube example one day some one just jumped infront of the tube and died but only one lady expressed shock among 25 people ) but people are generally fair,honest in their dealing with all .
12>> Remember when you are in Rome behave as if you are Roman ,adapt their manner of speaking esp. the accent,be very polite to others ,learn to thank others and not to take anyone for granted etc..
All the best in your quest....
Cheers