Off base employment in the UK Published March 12, 2007 RAF MILDENHALL, England -- Searching for a job in an overseas assignment is different from a job search in the US. Since the base is situated in a rural setting, there is not as much industry as you may find in more populated areas. This area in the UK also does not have the same salary scale that you are familiar with in the US. You will need a National Insurance Number (same as our Social Security Number) - but you must have a job offer in writing before applying for the number. You can work during the application process. Off-base job resumes will need to be on A4 size paper. It tends to be even more competitive here. Even though we can work on the economy, many spouses want to work on base. Job Centre Plus Most towns have a Job Centre Plus. The Job Centre Plus is similar to the State Employment Agencies in the US. Positions posted are typically entry level, administrative office positions and manual labour. The best way to search jobs is to go to a Job Centre Plus in person. Job Centre phone numbers: Mildenhall: 01638-683400 Ely: 01353-605400 Bury St. Edmunds: 01284-775500 Thetford: 01842-723000 Newmarket: 01638-683600 Cambridge: 01223-545000 Website: http://www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk Newspapers Several local newspapers have job listings on certain days of the week. Wednesdays: Cambridge Evening News and East Anglia Daily Times Fridays: Bury Free Press Recruitment Agencies One of the most common ways of locating employment in the UK is through a Recruitment or Employment Agency. These agencies offer free services for job seekers, as they collect their fees from the companies they represent. These offices do placements for both temporary and permanent positions. Unlike in the US, temporary work can be long-term; some temporary positions are for a year or more. Some example questions a recruitment agency might ask are: · Tell me about yourself · Why do you want to join our company? · Why did you leave your last company? · What do you really want from your next career move? · What can you bring to XYZ Company? The contact information for local agencies can be found in the Yellow Pages phone book. Look under "recruitment agencies" or "employment agencies." Some local agencies include: The Personnel People Greenhill Group 01842 750 750 01223 307 100 www.personnelpeople.co.uk www.greenhillgroup.com Brook Street ECM Selection Ltd. 01223 355 700 01638 742 244 www.brookstreet.co.uk http://www.ecmselection.co.uk Neaves & Neat Employment Reed Health Group 01353 667 005 01223 316554 http://www.neavesandneat.co.uk/index.htm http://www.reedhealth.com Work Permit None required as long as spouse has UK visa (the stamp located in passport). Inland Revenue National Insurance Number The Inland Revenue National Insurance Contributions Office issues National Insurance (NI) numbers to those who are working. This is similar to the US social security number. This number must be applied for before you begin work. You will need proof of your British address (such as a utility bill) and proof you are searching for employment (such as being registered with an employment agency). You will also need proof of your identity, such as a birth certificate and passport. For more information, call 0845 60 00643 or visit: http://www.dwp.gov.uk/lifeevent/benefits/ni_number.asp. You apply for a National Insurance Number through the Cambridge Job Centre Plus, and you need to have an appointment scheduled. Cambridge Job Centre Plus can be contacted by commercial phone at 011-44-1223 545000. UK Taxes For more information, contact the Inland Revenue Service at 0845 302 1453 or http://www.hmrc.gov.uk. Taxes are deducted on a sliding scale from 0% to 40%. This is based on income level, and you are given a personal allowance of just under 5,000 pounds a year (before you must pay taxes). You will initially be given an emergency tax code, which gets the taxes taken out immediately until you have a "tax code" based on your salary. You will have to change your tax code once it is issued, as this will lower your tax bracket. Starting Your Own Business Mid-Anglian Enterprise Agency (MENTA) Website: http://www.menta.org.uk/ Vision Way, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, IP32 7AB Phone: 01284-760206 FAX: 01284-767157 Menta is a government-sponsored agency similar to the Small Business Administration in the US. They assist those who wish to start their own business. Workshops such as market research, writing a business plan, and financing are available at no cost. Cambridge Enterprise Agency (CES) Web site: http://www.cambsenterprise.co.uk/index_cambs.htm Cambridge Enterprise Agency provides government-subsidized workshops for starting your own business. There is a free half-day seminar and a workshop series of 6 one-day workshops for 150 pounds. There are several offices in the local area. Call for workshop details: Cambridge: 01223 421775 and Ely: 01353 644144. Curriculum Vitae (CV) When applying for an off-base position you will need a Curriculum Vitae (CV). The CV is almost identical to a resume. To view sample CV's checkout: http://www.monster.co.uk When preparing a CV: Use A4 paper. This can be purchased at stores such as Tesco or W.H. Smith newsagents. Remember to use the appropriate spell-check, British-English, not American-English. Although not mandatory, you may choose to add personal details such as marital status, age, and hobbies. If you are an American citizen, it may be wise to add nationality and include the wording "No Work Permit Required." Web sites Web sites are not used as commonly used for a job search in the UK as they are in the US. It can be useful to start with a web search before starting to search in the local area. Job Search websites: http://jobs.cambridge-news.co.uk http://www.cooperlomaz.co.uk http://www.fish4.co.uk http://www.totaljobs.com/JobSearch/JobSearch.aspx http://www.uknetguide.co.uk CV (resume) websites: http://www.alec.co.uk/cvtips/ http://www.handsoncv.co.uk/ http://www.instantcv.co.uk