I am an IT professional with a degree and six years' experience. I
have project management skills and I am a CCNA and an MCSE. I
recently relocated from South Africa to the UK. My problem, besides
being on a working visa, is that employers seem to look down on my
qualifications because my experience is non-UK. Do you have any
advice on how I get started?
Permit puts off some employers
In my experience, it may
not be that your skills were gained abroad that puts off potential
employers but that you are on a work permit. While many companies
have a positive approach to foreign nationals, others do not, and
you may also be experiencing some hesitance from the agencies you
have registered with.
You have excellent skills and are obviously well-educated - where
this came from is ultimately irrelevant. Lack of UK experience
should not be a hindrance unless you are moving into the sales
market, where a current client base would be needed.
There are things that you can do to help yourself. One would be to
approach some of the contract companies that help expats find work
in the UK. I deal with many, although they are predominantly for
people from New Zealand and Australia. They provide advice about
agencies that can help you and will advise you about potential
employers, taxes and other factors that will affect you.
Look at the South African Embassy Web site, where UK-based South
African companies advertise. Many embassies have this service and
it is popular with foreign nationals because their experience is
actually sought after by the employers rather than ignored.
You will find that looking for contract work may prove easier in
the first instance because no distinctions are made apart from who
is the best candidate. This would also allow you to gain the UK
experience that other employers want.
Solution by Tracey Abbott, Zarak
Technology
The panel: MSB International, Best International, BCS,
Computer Futures, Computer People, Elan, Reed Computing, Netheads
Consulting, Zarak Technology, E-Skills UK