Job hunting
In this section, you can find out more about how to find jobs in the UK. First, watch our video to hear a few quick tips.
Applying for jobs and working in the UK
There are many part-time opportunities on campus, from Student Ambassadors and Library Shelvers, to residential, café, and bar staff. To find opportunities on campus see:
- QM Careers Hub to explore different opportunities to develop experience
- The Students Union website for jobs in the SU
- QTemps - Offering part-time jobs on / off campus.
- Micro Internships - A short 40 hour placement with an employer
Queen Mary is surrounded by great areas full of shops, bars and restaurants. By looking at lists of shops in each area, you can think of who to contact about vacancies.
- Westfield Stratford City is only one underground stop away from Queen Mary. Visit their website for a list of shops and restaurants which may have vacancies.
- Spitalfields market is close by and has a number of bars, shops and restaurants.
- Oxford Circus is just 15 minutes away on the tube and many different shops and restaurants.
Many independent local businesses still advertise vacancies in their windows. This is where handing in CVs in person can work.
While we recommend that you try to get some form of work experience, voluntary work, insight day or alike, if you are looking to build your skills in other ways we encourage you to look at the QM Skills Award and Forage.
While recruitment agencies are an option, we would recommend our international students apply directly to the companies they are interested in, rather than going through an agency who may not fully understand the visa restrictions.
TargetJobs has a fantastic resource on how you should move through the process.
We highly recommend you use our CV checker, practice interview platform and cover letter enhancer in the first instance.
We will equip you with the skills required to network with employers to find out what they are looking for and showcase yourself. You can use your own research to help you decide which employers you might want to apply for and check to see if they are attending any upcoming careers fairs, events or presentations on campus. Please note that networking will not result in you being offered a job on the spot, but rather you can ask the employer the questions you may need to strengthen your application.
It is important to start your job search by identifying companies that have worked with international students or graduates before.
Click this link to see a list of licensed sponsors in the UK
This is an extensive list and just because an employer has a sponsorship license doesn’t necessarily mean they will hire for all roles at all times using this. If you are open to exploring your career options, this Skilled Worker visa: shortage occupations may provide some inspiration.
Universities and large corporations have experience recruiting international graduates. Some other companies are still working to understand the changes in visa regulations, so it is important to be patient and understand your own situation if they ask. We are continuously working with new employers to broaden the opportunities available to you. Here is a useful link about UK visas and sponsorships for employers.
There are many ways in which you can search for work outside of the UK. To discover what it’s like to work in different countries, check out this Prospects link here. You will need to find out if there are any visa restrictions in place as part of the decision-making process. You can also use our GoinGlobal navigator.
If you are interested by where other Queen Mary students have worked overseas during or after their studies, the LinkedIn Alumni Tool will be perfect for you! Simply type in and follow ‘Queen Mary University of London’, click on to the main page, select ‘Alumni’ and browse by sector or country of interest.
In order to work in the UK, you will need a National Insurance (NI) Number for tax reasons. Please go to the government website to apply online - you can do this as soon as you arrive in the UK. Please note you will not need the NI number before you get the job, but you can obtain a temporary NI number in the interim.