[ayukobaby]

Im struggling whether to move to UK or not. Im thinking of applying a working holiday visa and stay in UK for two years. But Im worried that i cant get a part time job there to support my travelling. Do you know when its the best time apply for such visa? And does anyone know any good website or connection where they might want to employ PA, child care worker, language tutor, or even waiter in restaurant or cafe? I've been to England but I dunno where is the best places to stay. I think this Geoexpat forum is very useful to people coming to hk, but do u know if there is similar site in UK for expat? haha
Its a tough decision coz i will have to quit my job here and start a new life there. So, i'll appreciate any advice or info.

[jimbo]

Ayu

Why do you want to move to U.K? the grass isn't always greener over there.
I should know as I spent the past 33 years there!

London for example is a tough and a very unfriendly place if you don't know anybody there.

Yes you could get a part time job but it may well be bar work and you'll get paid in cash and it won't be a lot either.

you know how to reach me if you want more info.

[HK_Newbie100]

what nationality are you? If you're HK Chinese, then it should be quite easy to find a job in a Chinatown restaurant. Not legal of course, but no problem unless someone reported you. You'll become 'invisible' amongst all the Chinese there. Pay is not bad considering no qualifications needed, about £250+ per week, up to £500+ during Christmas, after tax (cos you don't pay any). And they usually provide accommodation, so all the money you earn is money in your pocket.

I’m actually going back to UK next week for a couple of months. If you decide to go over and get stuck, you can email me for helpr. PM me if you need any info.

[ayukobaby]

well i suppose everywhere is pretty much the same. once u live here for too long, u'll find it boring too and sometimes its refreshing to have a change in life and live in a new environment. i wanna go to UK coz i always like western culture and people. i've been there last month and i like it. i also wanna see more of the world. so im thinking of travelling around Europe within the coming 2 yrs.
but yea i m just worried that i dunno too many people there, so it will be difficult for me to fit in esp when im not that independent haha but thats why i wanna try all these adventure
i dont mind to do any part time job i guess, as long as it gives me some money for roof n food. i think it'll be better if i have some connection for jobs though. if u do have any, pls let me know.

Originally Posted by jimbo

Ayu

Why do you want to move to U.K? the grass isn't always greener over there.
I should know as I spent the past 33 years there!

London for example is a tough and a very unfriendly place if you don't know anybody there.

Yes you could get a part time job but it may well be bar work and you'll get paid in cash and it won't be a lot either.

you know how to reach me if you want more info.

[jimbo]

sure not a problem ayu.

we should meet up and discuss this more. I'm sure I can introduce you to some people in London.

[ayukobaby]

oh thx alot jimbo, i have to work on both mon n fri (public holiday) this week.... so maybe weekend will do.

[thetokyoproject]

just to make you aware that uk has the highest level of of immigration ever now - official number at the end of 2005 was 582,000 (though unofficially with the illegal immigration, it is thought to be just under the million mark).

hence the competition for jobs is getting higher and higher - it was weird that one day i was shopping in a sports shop in town and every customer seemed to be foreign and even most of the shop staff were eastern european or oriental. i've never experienced this before having lives most of my life in uk.

good luck with uk but i'd say be wary of the competition for work. maybe choose an area which is not so popular with recent immigrants. that way you can prob increase your chances of getting work and also it will probably be cheaper living.

oh, i've been terribly politically incorrect since britain has gone mad - immigrant is a word deemed not PC here nowadays - the only people it seems to offend are the pen pushing bureaucratic hypocrites who set these rules in the 1st place so they keep themselves in work in a nation that needs to justify the enormous budget spent on the public sector - hey i'm not cynical at all ;-)

oh another thing about the lack of immigration controls is that the BNP are likely to win few seats in parliament because of this. uk really has gone mad.

[Decca]

Well I just moved here from that sunny HK, the weather is predictable.. rainy.

- however I was also suprised from the level of immigrants in London. They are not centred in other parts of the country but stick in the popular areas. There are a high amount of Polish and Oriental mix. Speaing to some of them it seems that most of the people they know only work the low paid labour positions, and they say that work is difficult in those areas, Bricklayers, White van drivers and general store attendants at best. I figure this is because they are not skilled and do not have a good grasp of English. Also a lot of the eastern european workers have a low level of customer service care . - they self-admitted this.
If you are coming in to the UK with accreditations and skilled hands experience Esp. nursing and managerial you could make a decent wage above the law. But It is easier to get a job once in the country than from abroad. - just like HK...

[lima1971]

I moved from London(where I lived and worked for 8 years) and I didnt like it much, although I did try. Its quite an unfriendly place and very expensive too i.e. transport, accommodation, going out etc. How about Scotland - Glasgow or Edinburgh to be precise? I was born there and lived there before I moved to London. Its a great place, the people are very friendly and there is a big Chinese community. Housing and transport is alot cheaper too.

[ayukobaby]

thx for the advice. i wanted to move there next year so bad but now im starting to get worried... im really afraid that i cant get a part time job there coz i can only stay in the same job for 3 months under this working holiday scheme. so if u have any connection, i would really appreciate. it affects pretty much whether im going or not.