Starting a new career anywhere is daunting. But starting one in London can be even scarier than you’d think. The city is enormous, loud and fast. And it’s easy to get lost out there, in more ways than one. A career in London is a fantastic stepping stone though. It’s the city of culture, and one of the business capitals of the world. So the saying goes ‘if you can make it here you can make it anywhere’.
But first you need to come up with a strategy to help you ‘make it’. It’s difficult to plan a career path at the best of times. And with London there are so many other things to think about as well. What you need is a guide to starting your London career. A guide that touches on the things you’ll need to consider when you get there. This is that guide.
Find Somewhere to Live
The first thing you need to do as you step off the train wide-eyed and open-mouthed is find somewhere to live. Where you live is going to have a bearing over the kind of career you can do, so it’s important. You could always stay with friends or family. But this can get awkward, plus you’re only going to have to move again eventually. Instead, think about getting somewhere of your own in a convenient location. Have a look at the number of central London properties on offer and see how many fit into your budget. Of course, it might help if you take this approach before you arrive in the capital as this will save time.
Apply for Work
Okay, so now you’ve got your accommodation sorted you need to start applying for work. Make sure your CV is the best it can be. Consult friends and see if they can help you with it. Then you can start applying for roles. You need to make sure the jobs you apply for are relevant to your career path. They also have to relate to the experience you have. If you’re trying to enter a brand new career, this can be very difficult and frustrating. Now, when you apply for work expect to be rejected most of the time. It’s common, and it’s par for the course. Don’t take it personally, and try not to get too demoralised.
Go to Interviews
Applying for work is the easy part. The tricky part is passing the screening process and being invited for an interview. This is exciting and a big achievement in itself. But then a sense of dread kicks in, and you start to fret over the prospect of an interview. This presents a whole other set of considerations. When it comes to an interview, you’ve got to do your research. You need to know about the company. You need to know what recruiters look for in candidates. You need to be able to field and respond to questions and scrutiny in a professional and eloquent way. Get a trusted friend to sit you down and give you a mock interview. Work on the things you struggle with.
Starting your career in the big, bad city can be nerve-wracking, and you may well feel like a fish out of water. But with these excellent tips you should find the process much less stressful. It should help transition into the move, and not spend forever trying to settle in.
