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If you're a skilled worker or student, it's important you consider the details of finding a Tier 2 sponsorship job in the UK before starting to make your applications or travel arrangements. Understanding the process, what you need to know, and what you should expect is essential for making it as smooth and stress-free an experience as possible.
Before starting work in the UK, you'll need to secure a job offer in a company that has a relevant sponsorship license. This license allows them to sponsor relevant candidates, like you, through the working visa program. When you get your job, you'll be given a certificate of sponsorship; this acts as evidence that your new employer stands behind your qualifications and suitability for the job they're hiring you to do. It's important you understand that you need to get your application done and a concrete offer of a job before applying for a Tier 2 visa, now known as a skilled worker visa. If you're currently studying in the UK, you'll need that offer of a job before your student visa expires.
Not every profession qualifies for a skilled worker visa. You can learn more about the list of acceptable occupations, and the general process, by reading the UK Government's official information.
Your skilled worker visa will last up to five years, or to the maximum level of time stated within your employment contract if this is under five years. If you want to continue working in the UK, you will have to make another application for a visa extension at the end of your initial five-year visa period.
Before embarking on your journey to find your ideal job, make sure you keep these top tips in mind.
It's important that you don't waste your time making applications with employers who are not licensed to provide skilled worker visa sponsorships. You can find a useful list of licensed sponsors, which you should save. When you find a company that seems suitable, make sure to check their name in the directory to ensure their status before continuing with your application.
The key to a successful job search is targeting. Think about your skills, experience, and qualifications, and put them together to determine which kind of industries you should be focusing your job search within. There are many industries to choose from; hospitality, banking and finance, science and engineering, healthcare, and many more besides. This is your opportunity to show off your skills, so ensure you're making applications to companies that can actually recognise and benefit from them.
Something else to consider is the specifics of the way employment is handled in the UK. It's important to familiarise yourself with certain things you might experience, or maybe required of you.
Here are some things to think about:
Before you start making applications, make sure you have done some research into the types of questions that might be asked as a part of the interview process, or the types of skill tests you might encounter. This gives you an opportunity to prepare yourself with appropriate answers and responses based on your experience. Remember that it's important you don't learn answers off by heart, however, as employers generally don't look kindly on responses they think have been copied from somewhere else. Instead use that practice to begin familiarising yourself with the application process, to prevent you from getting caught out.
It's always a good time to make sure your English skills, both written and verbal, are as good as possible. If English is not your first language, there will always be allowances made for mistakes and misspeaking, but you still want to minimise their likelihood as much as you can.
Make sure you prepare yourself as well as possible for your applications. If you're still unsure of anything about the application process, or how you can make sure you're applying to companies licensed to provide skilled worker visa sponsorship, contact a professional. Even a brief conversation with a specialist in immigration law can yield positive results, and help you find the clarity you're looking for. If you ever get stuck, contact a professional for further help and guidance.
We have extensive experience in successfully helping businesses and individuals apply for a wide range of UK visas. When you work with us, you will receive clear, practical and reliable advice to help you achieve your immigration goals.