Before we go into details about the best search sites on jobs for Permanent Residents (PR) in the UK, we need to first know about the current job market in the UK. Is it still as bad as when the Covid-19 pandemic first started? Or has it slowly improved? What are the chances of you getting a job as a PR since you will be fighting for positions with the citizens there? These are just some questions you will need to consider and ask yourself before diving right into it. Lucky for you, we’ve done our research and found some information that might help you understand the current situation.
The estimated figures from June to August 2021 reported by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) on the Labour Force Survey (LFS) showed continuing signs of recovery in the labour market, with a 0.5 percent quarterly increase (from March to May 2021) in the employment rate, while the unemployment and economic inactivity rates decreased to 4.5 percent and 21.1 percent respectively.
This data provided is a good sign. It means that businesses are picking up and more workers are being recruited. But so is the competition for job hunters, including PRs like yourself. These days, your chances of getting an interview no longer depends on the number of pages your resume has or sitting at the lobby all day in hopes of meeting the higher ups or human resource department. With all the available resources online, finding, applying and scoring for an interview has become much of a less complicated dilemma compared to the lengthy and exhausting process in the past.
We’ve provided a rundown of the 5 best search sites on jobs for Permanent Residents in the UK.
*This list is not placed in any particular ranking order.
1. CV-Library
As the UK’s largest independent job board, CV-Library currently provides more than 200,000 live vacancies from all types of industries nationwide that are available for search. So whether you’re an engineer, an experienced consultant in the financial sector or a senior educator in a school, CV-Library has got all kinds of jobs, industries, and professions catering to your needs and preferences.
Using this job search site is free, straightforward and does not require much time. All you need to do is simply register an online account for yourself, upload your resume and you’re good to go! You can either start searching for relevant jobs by using the search tools provided, or wait to be headhunted by the UK’s top recruiters and direct employers.
And while you’re waiting for job opportunities to arrive, CV-Library also provides a wide variety of online courses across all kinds of industries for those who want to upgrade their skills and improve themselves. These include admin, beauty, business, health and safety, project management, sales/marketing and even vocational courses. While most courses require a payment fee, there are some which are free and others which are offered in bundles.
CV-Library allows you, as users of the platform, to create job alerts and notifications so you don’t miss out on opportunities as they come, especially if they are a perfect match with your skill sets, qualifications, area of expertise or experience level. And if you have a particular company or job industry in mind that you’re looking out for, finding it is easy as the platform allows you to key in the specific location, job industry, company name and even rank by popularity!
The benefits of this platform doesn’t just stop here. CV-Library is mobile-friendly with full features similar to the website included so you can find jobs or receive notifications on the go, even without your computer. Besides this, it also provides you with useful career advice that includes helpful application tips and how-to guides.
View more information about CV-Library here.
2. Adzuna
Unlike CV-Library, Adzuna operates as a job search engine instead of a job board. This means that it uses algorithms to pull relevant jobs from thousands of listings available, bringing you only what you’re looking for based on your search results, or what best suits your profile based on your uploaded resume. This makes job hunting a less time-consuming process as it helps to cut the time spent in searching. It has to be one of the best job search sites for understanding your market value and helping you to discover jobs that match your skills, qualifications and experience.
Adzuna offers a wide variety of job listings including areas in finance, healthcare, sales, engineering, teaching and social work. You can easily search for the kind of jobs you prefer by filtering out the location, category, salary range, company, contract type, and working hours. There are even options for remote work as well, with the new normal being widely practiced by many across countries. You can also choose to create job alerts and notifications so you don’t miss out on opportunities as they come.
Apart from job listings, Adzuna also provides you with the latest data and insights on the labour market such as comparing salaries and vacancies across job titles and locations as well as hiring trends. This keeps you updated with what’s happening in the market and ensures that you are not underpaid even though you’re an expat.
Adzuna is free of charge for use. All you have to do is simply register an online account for yourself, upload your resume and you’re good to go! A free resume checker is provided to identify spelling, grammar, length and formatting issues just before uploading it to ensure consistency.
Just like CV-Library, Adzuna is mobile-friendly with full features similar to the website included so you can find jobs or receive notifications on the go, even without your computer. In addition, Adzuna offers blog post articles which provide you with a comprehensive selection of advice on topics relating to career tips and advice, recruitment, Covid-19 support and general Adzuna news.
Adzuna does not only serve the UK. It also offers its services to 19 other countries, including Australia, USA, South Africa, Singapore and Russia. So wherever you’re from, job hunting can be made easy and convenient with the presence of Adzuna.
View more information about Adzuna here.
3. LinkedIn
LinkedIn is basically an all-in-one platform for social networking, online profiling and job databases. It is one of the best job hunting platforms for professionals looking to network, showcase their skills and find new opportunities in their area of expertise.
There are many perks for using LinkedIn. However, before going into that, you will first need to set up an account, or you won’t be able to access most of the features it has to offer. Not sure how to start an account? Fret not. LinkedIn does provide an easy step-by-step guide for you to follow, though a high standard profiling might take you some time to achieve.
Since LinkedIn will essentially be your personal professional social media profile which acts like a resume, setting up an account will require a fair bit of your time to ensure professionalism. Even after doing up your account, you will need to update your profile from time to time to ensure the information is still relevant – This is going to affect your job search or chances of being headhunted by recruiters since your profile will be matched based on factors like level of experience and suitability.
LinkedIn offers a wide variety of job listings including areas in engineering, finance, operations, marketing, real estate and Information and Technology. You can easily search for the kind of jobs you prefer by filtering out the location, industry, company, job type and experience level. You can also choose if you want to opt for remote work, on-site or a hybrid of both.
LinkedIn is free for anyone to use and is one of the most interactive job sites available. One of the best perks about LinkedIn is allowing job hunters like yourself to join groups. This allows you to connect with others who share similar interests and professionals whom you look up to.
LinkedIn offers a wide variety of courses which allows you to learn additional skills that will be beneficial for you. These include graphic design, marketing, photography, customer service, Leadership and Management and Professional Development.
View more information about LinkedIn here.
4. Indeed
Most of us probably heard of Indeed, even if we have not used it before. Indeed is one of the most popular job search sites across countries and is well-known for its impressive update frequency – You can expect to receive the latest job openings almost as soon as it is listed. If you’re not on Indeed regularly, I’d suggest you start browsing through the web daily or create email job alerts to make sure you don’t miss any opportunities that might actually be the one you’re looking for.
Indeed’s website and interface is simple and straightforward, making it easy to search for jobs. It offers a wide variety of job listings including areas in engineering, finance, operations, sales and marketing, real estate and Information and Technology. You can easily search for the kind of jobs you prefer by filtering out the location, company, job type, job category, education level, salary range, date posted and whether you prefer remote work.
Another reason why Indeed is popular among job hunters is because you don’t actually need to create an account to apply for jobs. Creating an account will be useful and convenient only if you want your resume to be saved into the database. So the next time you want to apply for a job on Indeed, you can directly click ‘apply’ without having to upload your resume once again. Essentially, it makes job applications a whole lot easier and quicker without having to go through a bunch of questions or processes time and again.
Besides all these perks, Indeed allows you to compare salaries to ensure you’re getting the market rate and not being underpaid. Company reviews are also integrated into job listings so you know which are the best companies to work for and which to avoid. Indeed does provide career tips and advice as well as its very own ideas, datas and insights of the global labour market.
View more information about Indeed here.
5. Reed
Its large database of jobs makes Reed one of the best UK job search sites for job hunters like you. It has an average of over 8,000 new job listings every day, providing you with endless new job opportunities that might just be the one which suits you best.
Reed is free for anyone to use. Whilst creating email alerts is optional, you will need to create an account to apply for jobs on Reed. It is also recommended that you upload your resume to your profile so recruiters can access it easily.
Reed offers a wide variety of job listings including areas in sales, technology, retail, banking and healthcare. You can search for jobs by sector or by location and then use the filter option (that allows you to filter out the location, date posted, posted by, salary range, job type and category) to find jobs based on your preferences.
Apart from job listings, Reed also equips you with courses to upskill yourself. You’re sure to be spoilt for choices with 81,593 courses available in 941 subjects. Some courses are offered free, while others require payment. Almost all courses are self-paced, giving you the freedom of planning your schedule according to the time that fits you best. It even provides you courses that come with endorsed certifications!
Besides all these, Reed also provides free career tips and advice on interview techniques, personal statements and career guides. It even has free resume and cover letter templates for you to use if you have no idea where or how to start writing.
View more information about Reed here.
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