Advice: American working in UK after finishing postgrad degree

Hey guys!

Had a question: does anyone (maybe some fellow Americans/internationals floating around here) have any advice about getting work in the UK. I'm currently finishing my MA at a top-10 university here in England, and have loved the UK. I'd like to stay and work for a while after I finish my degree. My visa lasts until January, but from what I understand I don't have enough points for the point based visa. It seems employee-sponsorship is the only way to go (unless I'm missing some magical visa-extender that I can't find anything about).

My main question: Which UK employers will be interested in sponsoring me for a visa, if you happen to know?

About me: I have a diverse background in politics, writing, and communications. So I'd be interested in really anything involving marketing, political analysis, writing, communications, business start-ups, technology, etc.

Also, one last thing I wanted to add: please don't be offended. I know the job market is bad here as it's also bad back home, I'm not trying to steal your jobs It's really a compliment... I liked the rain enough to stay!

Have you been looking at job websites? I have the same problem, as I'm not UK/EU citizen. I've looked at a few job centre kind of thing but they don't take international applicants..

This country really doesn't like foreigners..

Any help on this matter would help!

I've actually applied to like 20 jobs... I've gotten numerous offers for interviews, etc, but the clincher is that the only employer that was willing to sponsor my visa was HSBC, but it was for finances which is OK, but not really in my field of expertise (at all).

It seems like my best bet is international corporations or American companies with offices in London who typically hire Americans.

I honestly understand why their immigration is tough (the US's is also hellishly frustrating as any Brit trying to get work there will tell)... but it seems the best option is currently marriage Which isn't happening anytime soon.

Accord to this site HSBC does support Tier 2 Visa holders http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/documents/employersandsponsors/pointsbasedsystem/pbsregisterofsponsors

And I'm in the same boat or I will be. I'm making a list of orgs I am interested in and I will be hitting them hard for a job from the start of my postgraduate studies term.
(I'm an American too however I would not only be interested in a job but permanent residency, leading up to citizenship)

I'm just saying I'm a bit more committed than perhaps most.
I am going to be studying for an MSc Political Comm myself at the Uni of Glasgow.

That is disappointing about transport for London :-(.

I've got time to plan a strategy but this is discouraging.


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the job market is tough over here, if I was you I'd have a solid plan in place rather than coming here expecting jobs to be falling off trees.

I don't think anyone expects that ^. Job market is tough everywhere in the Western world.

UK-Yankee is a forum for American expats in the UK. I'm sure they'll have some bright ideas if you post on there.

If you don't mind me asking what degree do you have (or will you have) since you discussed communications, politics, technology, marketing (it sounds very much like my background.)

Did you read anyone's posts in this thread? We're discussing this in the most pragmatic and proactive way possible. No offense intended, but I'm hardworking, have a decent CV, and just like this country enough that I'd like to stay here for a while. The job market's tough everywhere; I'm ready to work. I'm not waiting for jobs to come to me... I'm actively seeking them. I am just asking if anyone has any advice which might be relevant to my particular set of circumstances. You can only benefit from networking, right?

There's a lot of Brits that also want to work in the States; I think it's good. I've actually helped them out. It's a two-way street. I have no spite for internationals seeking work in the states. I'm sorry if my attempt at working here offends you; however, if you ever look for work in the states, it's always nice to have an American to ask for help.

Hi ListenerFriendly,

My advice to you is: don't count on being able to get a UK job.


I'm a Brit who lived for almost a decade in the US, finished high school there, got my BA, my Masters, and worked as much as allowed on my student visa. I wasn't able to transition my experience into a long-term job due to visa restrictions, so I'm now back in the UK, not by choice (although obviously both places have pros and cons). Like you, I look great on paper and could do the jobs as well as any local candidate. But I found that if you don't have work authorisation and the employer won't sponsor you (most won't, as you say), you are SOL. Even if you want to work for the employer and they want to hire you, the visa is a huge barrier. For me, it was insurmountable. If you can overcome it, more power to you, but I would make some contingency plans as well.


Keep networking in the US and laying groundwork for a possible return. You'll miss out on a lot of US-based opportunities, so make sure you don't lose any ground on peers. Think of this as the opportunity cost of choosing to study internationally. You may not get the "halo effect" of your university's good reputation, and your networking opportunities may also be limited, so you have to work around that. If you're determined to work in the UK, you may have to compromise on industry/locations/pay/working conditions. If you want a job suited to your qualifications, you may be better off in the US. Sad but true.

One of my biggest challenges returning to the UK is that UK employers have no idea about my US university (which has a good reputation in the US though is not Ivy League), nor do they understand a GPA (mine is good), and even contacting foreign references is daunting for many of them. I imagine it would be similar in reverse (e.g., a US employer wouldn't have a clue that a 1st is better than a 2.1). I have a whole packet that I submit on request to employers explaining a standard US education, including how to interpret my SAT/AP scores, GPAs, transcripts, etc. I suggest you put something similar together that plays to your strengths. If the employer doesn't understand your background, you'll get overlooked, and I had not expected this to be as prevalent as it is. We study internationally, and we may one day work internationally, but for new grads, hiring is still very localised.

Sorry if this sounds negative. I wish someone had told me these realities when I was in your situation, so I am saying it to help you. I am sure you're awesome, but the market is just horrible right now even without all the extra visa hassles internationals face, and that employers don't want to know about. I'm not saying don't try, but be prepared for it not to work, and try and have a back-up plan for US jobs too.

Good luck.