Moving To/Living In London Megathread - ALL QUESTIONS TO GO HERE

Grandpa Hassan

seachto7 wrote: »

Quick one. Someone might be able to offers some advice here. I'm heading over to London for a few days the week after next.
The plan was to arrange some meetings with recruitment agencies and suss things out. (show I'm interested by coming over etc)
I've emailed a few, told them the story, and have yet to get a reply.
Obviously I will follow them up early next week, but is it just a case they are probably binning applications or enquiries coming from Ireland?

Unless you send your cv, and are very clear about what you are looking for, they probably won't get back to you. You have to remember that they're not there to provide you with a service. They are there to provide their corporate clients with a service. So if you are vague, and they don't feel that there is immediate opportunity to put you forward, and ultimately get a fee off the back of that, then you'll struggle to get much of their time. Coming from overseas doesn't make it any easier. You need to sell yourself hard

FTA69

I agree. Agencies are a shower of bastards as a rule and they exist solely to service companies for a fee, they aren't an employment service. You won't get anything out of an agency unless you make it clear you're immediately available for work and provide the necessary CV etc to back that up.

seachto7

I do have experience. I sent them a general email to tell them my story and to tell them I'd be over next week, and if it would be possible to call in to them to meet in person.

I'll follow them all up during the week.

Sclosages

Hi Seachto - what sector are you looking at?
I'm over here and looking at the moment. Reed.co.uk, seems to have the vast majority of jobs (for my sector anyway).
I was getting very few responses to applications, so decided to ring the agencies directly instead (the ones advertising the vacancies).
Got a call back from one yesterday and went in and registered.
Other ones will only ask you to register if they have a position they are going to put you forward for.

seachto7

Sclosages wrote: »

Hi Seachto - what sector are you looking at?
I'm over here and looking at the moment. Reed.co.uk, seems to have the vast majority of jobs (for my sector anyway).
I was getting very few responses to applications, so decided to ring the agencies directly instead (the ones advertising the vacancies).
Got a call back from one yesterday and went in and registered.
Other ones will only ask you to register if they have a position they are going to put you forward for.

Looking for a job in editorial/digital editing/copywriting/online content writer etc. (Don't laugh!)

I'm actually over here since Monday, got a UK number, and am using a UK address. I go back to Ireland tomorrow though, and so far no joy.

I registered with one yesterday, so will see how it goes. If I haven't made any headway before Christmas, I think I'll up sticks and move over here, and chance my arm.

How I will sort accommodation will be another thing though.

S.M.B.

Any field in particular? And what level?

I work for a large publishing company and I could keep an eye out on jobs being posted on our intranet.

Sclosages

I'm no help to you on that sector I'm afraid. Hopefully SMB can help you out.

In terms of accomodation, I'm renting a room in a house - all bills included. Expensive enough - £140 per week for a double room for one person or £160 for a couple. If you'd prefer to live on your own, you might get a studio flat for £700 per month if you're lucky. I'm in North London - so the cheaper end. Going to stay here until I get sorted with a job and money.

Sclosages

Oh - have you applied for your NI NUMBER?

Sclosages

seachto7 wrote: »

Looking for a job in editorial/digital editing/copywriting/online content writer etc. (Don't laugh!)

I'm actually over here since Monday, got a UK number, and am using a UK address. I go back to Ireland tomorrow though, and so far no joy.

I registered with one yesterday, so will see how it goes. If I haven't made any headway before Christmas, I think I'll up sticks and move over here, and chance my arm.

How I will sort accommodation will be another thing though.

Just saw the following position which may be in your line? Don't know enough about the industry lol to know whether it would be relevant or not!

http://www.reed.co.uk/jobs/group-copywriter/25947729#/jobs/new-look-retailers-ltd/p17877/london?proximity=30

seachto7

S.M.B. wrote: »

Any field in particular? And what level?

I work for a large publishing company and I could keep an eye out on jobs being posted on our intranet.

Open to anything at the moment. Finished a journalism masters, but the odds of getting a regular journo gig are slim these days.

Just my luck I got a call yesterday in the airport about an online marketing job. I have experience in paid advertising (PPC), but to be honest, I'd like to move away from PPC and into content writing/digital editing/ etc.

I also have some foreign lingos

I haven't applied for an NI number. I remember working in France in the late 90s and I had to get an NI number. I'm not sure if it was just something temporary at the time.

exiledelbows

What sites are you looking on for journalism jobs?

Gorkana? journalism.co.uk?

seachto7

exiledelbows wrote: »

What sites are you looking on for journalism jobs?

Gorkana? journalism.co.uk?

I've been mainly looking at Linkedin, Gorkana, journalism.co.uk, The Guardian and Media Argh.

Many of the jobs would overlap obviously on these sites.

I think I need to come back over to England and have meetings nailed down with recruitment agencies rather than what I just did.

83ste

Follow all these accounts on Twitter, something suitable should eventually turn up:

@BauerMediaJobs
@YourFutureJob
@ImagineCareers
@CondeNastJobsUK
@RedwoodJobs
@UnityMediaPLC
@MediaNationUK
@TimeIncUKJobs
@Immediate_Media
@GJ_MediaJobs
@HaymarketJobs
@mediainfojobs
@SourceThatJob
@journalismnews
@pressgazette

Sclosages

Was that job with New Look in your line at all?

dinemo6

83ste wrote: »

Follow all these accounts on Twitter, something suitable should eventually turn up:

@BauerMediaJobs
@YourFutureJob
@ImagineCareers
@CondeNastJobsUK
@RedwoodJobs
@UnityMediaPLC
@MediaNationUK
@TimeIncUKJobs
@Immediate_Media
@GJ_MediaJobs
@HaymarketJobs
@mediainfojobs
@SourceThatJob
@journalismnews
@pressgazette

Hi, sorry to interrupt your conversation but you seem to know a lot about the London jobs market.... any advice on sourcing a legal job?
Recommendations of recruiters / twitter accounts like above etc.....

Thanks in advance!

83ste

dinemo6 wrote: »

Hi, sorry to interrupt your conversation but you seem to know a lot about the London jobs market.... any advice on sourcing a legal job?
Recommendations of recruiters / twitter accounts like above etc.....

Thanks in advance!

I'm afraid I don't know a lot about the London jobs market. I know a lot about the London media jobs market.

S.M.B.

The above list covers my workplace and the majority of vacant roles appear on our fees.

seachto7

83ste wrote: »

Follow all these accounts on Twitter, something suitable should eventually turn up:

@BauerMediaJobs
@YourFutureJob
@ImagineCareers
@CondeNastJobsUK
@RedwoodJobs
@UnityMediaPLC
@MediaNationUK
@TimeIncUKJobs
@Immediate_Media
@GJ_MediaJobs
@HaymarketJobs
@mediainfojobs
@SourceThatJob
@journalismnews
@pressgazette

Cheers for that. I think I need to refine the type of work I'm looking for. At the moment, I'm thinking: "a job that involved writing would be good", but that could span a lot of different areas.

I got a call last week about a PPC job, as that's what most of my experience is in, but I want to move away from that, hence me returning to study.

I wouldn't mind but the money is good, so I may have to bite the bullet yet.

DublinGirl22

Hi there!

I've recently moved to London myself (5 weeks ago, Islington) and I'm doing a masters in a Uni here. Basically I'm doing a podcast about the Irish who have relocated to London, and the things you found fairly odd, for example, nobody understands when I say 'yer man' or 'yer wan' etc etc.

Anyone interested? Your own experience of moving, why you came here etc can be serious, funny or whatever and I'll send you the audio after.

It's a nice, easy listening piece and I'd love to meet other Irish here as well! City can be a bit daunting haha!

silvervixen84

http://www.spareroom.co.uk/flatshare/where_to_live_wizard.pl

I don't know how long this has been around but it's a clever little tool for anyone who isn't sure about where to live in London. You choose a few criteria and your max rent, and it offers a few areas that would suit you.

biZrb

I thought I was booking the rail-sail ticket early this year but it seems Saturday the 20th is all sold out for the day time trips. I want me to back for the Sunday meaning I'll have to do the journey during the night instead. Has anyone done it before? I'm expecting it to be awful - will it be?

ballsymchugh

i've always taken the overnight ferry. the vast majority of people just want to sleep so bring something to keep you warm and a pair of sharp elbows in the fight for seats. try and stay as far from the bars as possible, because there's usually a few people who think it's party central ... on a ferry in the middle of the irish sea full of families.
whatever you do, don't upgrade to club class, or whatever it's called. it's noisier there!

chancer12

My son did it last year and it was dreadful. Didn't help that he had a massive hangover having come straight from his work 'do'! He got the train mid-afternoon on the Sat before Christmas from Euston to Holyhead and had to hang around there for a couple of hours. Tesco Express was the only place open. The boat trip itself wasn't too bad in terms of comfort but there were a lot of people travelling with small children who didn't settle well. Travelled through the night and arrived in Dublin Port at approx 6.30 (dreadful place). However, the trip back was a lot easier because the train was waiting for the boat and there was no hanging around. The good thing is that there are no weight restrictions and when he went back he was able to bring lots of stuff that had to be left behind when he originally went. most important thing is to get home, you'll survive it.

best of luck

breadmonkey

Yeah the worst part by far is the wait in Holyhead to get on the boat. Dress warm! I always bring a sleeping bag for the boat itself.

If you decide to get the train on Friday night (i.e. the ferry in early hours of Saturday morning) then bear in mind that the train out of Euston could be EXTREMELY busy so keep your eyes glued to the noticeboard and move your ass when the platform is announced!

Is taking the Friday off and going on the day ferry an option? It's a much more pleasant experience.

chancer12

One other thing to bear in mind is that he came with Stena and while they confirmed his boat ticket the rail ticket doesn't guarantee you a place on the train as 'breadmonkey' says you need to be sharpish about getting to the station. I'm not sure if all providers are the same but you might want to check that out. I was terrified he wouldn't get on the train and then miss the boat!

Grandpa Hassan

It shouldn't be quite as bad this year with Christmas being on a Thursday. If it is a Saturday through to a Tuesday, then the Friday night train is hell on earth. But there will be a lot of people working for a couple of days on Christmas week, and the travel volume will be a little more spread out.

Nevertheless, approach Euston with a view to running for the train. Elbows out. Don't be ashamed!

And if you can, ask a guard which the unreserved carriages are so that you can run directly to them.....to save you having to walk through the reserved ones to get to the ones with free seating

sashafierce

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x43r0

sashafierce wrote: »

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Wages in the financial sector in London are generally quite good

What area are you working in? How much experience have you?

sashafierce

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x43r0

sashafierce wrote: »

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Have a browse through the study below:
http://www.michaelpage.co.uk/minisite/salary-survey/greater-london#salary-results

I know that graduates in the investment banks in London (IT/Ops grads) come in at £35k upwards

sashafierce

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Pigwidgeon

Found out today I'm not working for Christmas... Couldn't face the 13 hour trip on the train/ferry so £200 just went onto the credit card. Quite possibly the only time I'd be willing to spend that!

Marcusm

Pigwidgeon wrote: »

Found out today I'm not working for Christmas... Couldn't face the 13 hour trip on the train/ferry so £200 just went onto the credit card. Quite possibly the only time I'd be willing to spend that!

Did you look at LCY flights? Given increase in capacity, there have been some great prices, even around Christmas.

Pigwidgeon

Marcusm wrote: »

Did you look at LCY flights? Given increase in capacity, there have been some great prices, even around Christmas.

Yeah I looked up pretty much everything and that was the best I coud find! Need an early evening flight back on the 28th as I'm working 7am on the 29th! Had been hoping to not get the 6.30am flight out of stansted but a later one was another £30! Tbh, it's pretty much what I was expecting 3 weeks before Christmas!

rainbow kirby

You're lucky - my OH ended up going from Bristol his first Christmas in London after moving over the first week in December!

Pigwidgeon

rainbow kirby wrote: »

You're lucky - my OH ended up going from Bristol his first Christmas in London after moving over the first week in December!

I never even thought of looking at other English airports, looked at irish ones but not England. Ah well too late now, I'm just glad I can make it home!

S.M.B.

£200 for a return flight to Ireland so close to Christmas? That's not bad at all. I paid close to that for just the leg home a few weeks ago.

Need to sort my flight back yet as I'm still not sure what day I'm flying back.

Sclosages

Do the tube service call a whole line to a standstill for someone 'fallen ill' at a tube stop? FFS - took me 3 hours to get home today because tubes were all stopping at King's Cross as someone had fallen ill at Holloway Road. Unless they had ebola or had 'fallen' ill onto the tube line, why the **** close the whole line????????????

As an aside, if anyone is looking for work, and I think I may have accidentally made my CV public on a website, but I got a call today from someone who had seen it. I would have never thought making your CV public on a website would ever get interest, but apparently it did - so don't rule it out. That said, the recruiter was based in Birmingham, with myself in London, but I guess if you have critical words in there that people search for, it might gain results for someone else. I'd say if you have some very specific knowledge or experience this might be more true, so to the poster who was looking at a niche industry (copyright or something), maybe try that option too.

Pigwidgeon

Sclosages wrote: »

As an aside, if anyone is looking for work, and I think I may have accidentally made my CV public on a website, but I got a call today from someone who had seen it. I would have never thought making your CV public on a website would ever get interest, but apparently it did - so don't rule it out. That said, the recruiter was based in Birmingham, with myself in London, but I guess if you have critical words in there that people search for, it might gain results for someone else. I'd say if you have some very specific knowledge or experience this might be more true, so to the poster who was looking at a niche industry (copyright or something), maybe try that option too.

This is exactly what I did and how I got the job I'm starting next week. Within an hour of posting it I'd had calls from several recruiters and different restaurants. Turns out there quite the demand for chefs in London. Also if anyone is looking for hospitality work I'd highly recommend caterer.com!

rainbow kirby

Sclosages wrote: »

Do the tube service call a whole line to a standstill for someone 'fallen ill' at a tube stop? FFS - took me 3 hours to get home today because tubes were all stopping at King's Cross as someone had fallen ill at Holloway Road. Unless they had ebola or had 'fallen' ill onto the tube line, why the **** close the whole line????????????

The service is run tight enough at peak times that even a short delay (waiting for an ambulance at a station for an ill/injured passenger etc) would have a significant knock-on effect on the rest of the line. You were stopped at King's Cross though - one of the busiest interchange stations, there were alternatives.

Sclosages

rainbow kirby wrote: »

The service is run tight enough at peak times that even a short delay (waiting for an ambulance at a station for an ill/injured passenger etc) would have a significant knock-on effect on the rest of the line. You were stopped at King's Cross though - one of the busiest interchange stations, there were alternatives.

Yup - a bus.

Sclosages

Why would waiting for an ambulance have stopped the whole line though. Wait for the ambulance! Don't call the whole line to a standstill?

biZrb

Maybe it was a suicide. Or someone was ill on the train and couldn't get off it so the line may have to stop for safety reasons.

Jamey

My understanding was that a "person falling ill" on the tube is in most cases a heart attack. Serious enough to stop the line in my opinion.

chancer12

Anyone able to answer a phone questions? If I'm calling a London mobile from an Irish mobile are they charged roaming or am I the only one paying?

enda1

chancer12 wrote: »

Anyone able to answer a phone questions? If I'm calling a London mobile from an Irish mobile are they charged roaming or am I the only one paying?

"London mobile" I presume means UK mobile.
Where are each of the respective parties, you and them?

In the EU it's the caller who pays the expected charge to call a UK phone irrespective of where that other phone is. So if you're in Dublin with an Irish mobile and call a UK mobile number, the call cost is the same if they're in the UK, Ireland or USA.

For them, the origin of the call is not reflected in the cost of receiving a call. If they're in the UK it's free. If they're in the EU ex UK then it's a fixed per minute cost usually and outside EU a per country cost depending where.

Louche Lad

chancer12 wrote: »

Anyone able to answer a phone questions? If I'm calling a London mobile from an Irish mobile are they charged roaming or am I the only one paying?

Is the London mobile in London a UK-registered mobile in London, or an Irish-registered mobile in London, or a UK-regsitered mobile outside the UK? Is your Irish mobile in the UK or in Ireland? So many possible combinations!:)

If a call is made or received by a phone that's in a different country from where it's registered, then (I think) roaming charges apply. So for example if you're ringing a UK-registered mobile that's in Ireland, and you're on an Irish-regsitered mobile in London, then both of you pay roaming.

chancer12

Sorry, I wasn't clear on that. I was phone from Dublin using an Irish mobile to London where he has a UK registered mobile. So, I guess he wasn't charged for receiving the call. thanks so much

Sclosages

chancer12 wrote: »

Anyone able to answer a phone questions? If I'm calling a London mobile from an Irish mobile are they charged roaming or am I the only one paying?

Ye, they wouldn't be roaming if they have a UK mobile and are in the UK.

If however, you have an Irish mobile, and you're in the UK and someone from Ireland calls you, then the 'roamer' i.e. the recipient of the call in the UK, would be charged roaming fees for receipt of the call.

chancer12

Wd anyone know if a prescription from a doctor in Dublin can be processed in London? My son has been in Lnd for the last couple of months but has only now signed up with a GP practice and can't get an appointment for another 2 weeks. he has an ongoing medical condition that requires medication and has run out of tablets, grrrrrrrrrrrrrr! If I get a copy of the prescription and send it, will it be processed? Am afraid to get the tablets and send them via the mail in case they're confiscated. Could kill him for this!