Live abroad, looking for contracts in Uk

[richclever]

Hi,

I live in France and have been looking for contracts in the UK for a while. I don't tend to get many replies to adverts etc. and was wondering if it could be because I am over here rather than in the Uk already.

I've got the skills and experience on my cv so don't think it's that.

What do others think? Would it be worth putting a Uk phone number on that redirects to my French number?

Oh, and if any one needs a php/mysql developer for a contract let me know!

[Spacecadet]

have you got a track record of working on UK contracts whilst being based in France?

I know when i started contracting trying to find anything more than an easy commute away was a nightmare as agencies need to know that you can hack the travelling

[stan2484]

have you got a track record of working on UK contracts whilst being based in France?

I know when i started contracting trying to find anything more than an easy commute away was a nightmare as agencies need to know that you can hack the travelling

Yeah I live in Yorkshire and have mainly worked either in Edinburgh or the South East, some of the agencies have grilled me about how does my missus feel to me being away etc etc, fortunately I am an ex squaddie who did 13 years so when I tell them that its suddenly no dramas!!

Winds me up as does it really matter?, as long as the contractor does the job and sees the contract out it doesn't matter where they come from.

[TheFaQQer]

Some agents, and clients, will worry though - I almost lost a gig because the client thought that I'd be commuting the 3 hours each way on the train every day.

Until I told him I wasn't.

[scooterscot]

In one interview I was turned down for the job because my home address was 400 miles away, and that was within the UK, despite having the skills they wanted.

Part of the reason was the client not understanding my flexibility to move and my not emphasising my flexibility.

I don't bother placing my home address on my CV anymore, now I get contacts from the world over.

[richclever]

Thanks for the replies guys,

From what you have said I reckon it is a problem then.

Personally I don't have a problem living in the Uk and travelling back here every few weeks, and neither does my wife (she'll ba glad to get rid of me I reckon!!).

What I think will be difficult for me is justifying my experience as most of it has been with French companies, so not putting my address down might seem a little odd to them.

Also, at present my telephone number is obviously on my CV, and it is obvious it is a foreign number. I do have an English 0845 number that re directs to here, but is it wise to have this on a CV instead of my French number.

As a family we are looking to return to the UK in about 18months, and I really want to get my foot in the door in the UK workplace before that happens. Also it's flipping difficult to make a decent living here in France due to very high taxes and contributions.

[TheFaQQer]

Thanks for the replies guys,

From what you have said I reckon it is a problem then.

Personally I don't have a problem living in the Uk and travelling back here every few weeks, and neither does my wife (she'll ba glad to get rid of me I reckon!!).

What I think will be difficult for me is justifying my experience as most of it has been with French companies, so not putting my address down might seem a little odd to them.

Also, at present my telephone number is obviously on my CV, and it is obvious it is a foreign number. I do have an English 0845 number that re directs to here, but is it wise to have this on a CV instead of my French number.

As a family we are looking to return to the UK in about 18months, and I really want to get my foot in the door in the UK workplace before that happens. Also it's flipping difficult to make a decent living here in France due to very high taxes and contributions.

I would put a UK number on there - whether that's an 0845 number or a Skype number that is an 020 or whatever.

[darmstadt]

I have my German number on mine and quite regularly get calls from UK agents asking about gigs in the UK. Never any questions about travel as they know that I'll commute weekly anyway. Never took up any offers as the rates are always too low.

[richclever]

Thanks,

Will do that then.

What about my address and the fact that my last 3yrs work has been based over here rather than in the UK?

[TheFaQQer]

Thanks,

Will do that then.

What about my address and the fact that my last 3yrs work has been based over here rather than in the UK?

I wouldn't mention the address on CV, but tell the agent when they ring you about where you live, that you've spent lots of time away from home, don't mind the commute / travel, and that you're planning on returning to the UK soon permanently and are just in the process of selling up in France.

No big deal about where the client is based - mate of mine spent five years in Geneva with no problems getting UK roles when he came back. It's just another client, their location is irrelevant.