Moving to the UK

[Grolub]

Hi to all,
Two years ago I tried moving to the UK from Portugal. At the time I had 2 years Java development, mainly in Swing. Although I had a lot of calls at that time, I decided to stay in Portugal to further my career in J2EE (Spring, Hibernate, Echo2).

I also learned at the time that the way my CV was presented wasn't the most adequate for UK workers. With the experience, I completely redesigned my CV to match the UK criteria.

Now, I'm trying once again to move to the UK, but I'm having quite a lot of difficulties. Besides the bad contract time the UK is suffering, even for permie positions, I rarely receive any call at all... I'm finishing my contract in September and I'm sending CV's for like a month now without any news...

Now I'm trying mainly London, because that's were I want. Could be because the market is so well shut inside itself that don't allow out comers, or could it be my CV? I have the main structure (Profile, Achievements, Work Experience, Educations, certificates). My CV is 3 pages and the third page is just the education, a small paragraph stating my degree.

Can you help me please?

Thanks in advance!

[max]

Hi to all,
Two years ago I tried moving to the UK from Portugal. At the time I had 2 years Java development, mainly in Swing. Although I had a lot of calls at that time, I decided to stay in Portugal to further my career in J2EE (Spring, Hibernate, Echo2).

I also learned at the time that the way my CV was presented wasn't the most adequate for UK workers. With the experience, I completely redesigned my CV to match the UK criteria.

Now, I'm trying once again to move to the UK, but I'm having quite a lot of difficulties. Besides the bad contract time the UK is suffering, even for permie positions, I rarely receive any call at all... I'm finishing my contract in September and I'm sending CV's for like a month now without any news...

Now I'm trying mainly London, because that's were I want. Could be because the market is so well shut inside itself that don't allow out comers, or could it be my CV? I have the main structure (Profile, Achievements, Work Experience, Educations, certificates). My CV is 3 pages and the third page is just the education, a small paragraph stating my degree.

Can you help me please?

Thanks in advance!

Hi Grolub, Your CV sounds fine. 3 Pages should work. I don't think you'll have problems because you are an "out comer".

You are right about the UK suffering at the moment. It's like a road crash at the moment...job losses and rate cuts everywhere. Sounds like a cliche, but in London we live/work on the edge....high rates, but when things go bad, best to get in a bunker and wait it out.

Things will get better, but who knows when...

but keep in mind.... 'e who dares wins....

[Churchill]

With respect to coming to the UK for work, you might want to push your language skills. There's plenty of software in the UK that requires nationalisation.

It would at least get your foot in the door so to speak.

[ladymuck]

You also say your current contract ends in September - it may well be that you are not currently available enough yet. You'll most likely find that closer to your availability date, the more calls you get.

[techno]

Hi to all,
...moving to the UK from Portugal...

Maybe we should do a swap as I want to get out to Portugal!! Do you know any 3 bed villas in west / south algarve for sale?

[Grolub]

Ehehehe! Cool! Although in Algarve there isn't much work, besides tourism. For IT it's Lisbon, and a little bit of OPorto, other than that, forget it! You are aware of the rates in Portugal, right?

Churchill, my english is pretty good, both spoken and written, so I shouldn't have any problem with that. In the past I have stayed in NY and also Cambridge for some summer english courses.

You're right max, I must persist. I also know that the UK market, mostly in London is pretty savage (100 dogs to a bone), but I can't give up.

[Ruprect]

FWIW 4 years experience still isn't that much in what is a buyer's market. There are many more contractors vying for the same positions, and I'd wager that for most contracts the client is likely to get options of people with much more experience than you have. Also, if they need to, references will be much easier to follow up from UK based companies.

Still, don't listen to me, good luck with the contract search.