Interview/Applying from a foriegn location

[jtnkathuria]

Hello Everyone,

Reading the insights here from quite a time but registered today as I still had some queries in my mind and couldn't find much of the cases like me.

A bit about me :

I have been working for past 5 years as Oracle developer mainly in integration of Oracle E-business suites and Master Data Management suite by Oracle. Currently working a functional specialist for gap analysis. I have had extensive experiences in writing interfaces in PL/SQL as well. Been working in Agile projects mostly.
Recently had a training in Hadoop framework for Big Data and NoSQL databases such as HBase and MongoDB.

I have now made up my mind to take a plunge in the contracting world but the problem is i am not in UK. Also, i have had worked in UK for an year last year. I have had chat with couple of Umbrella companies and they are ready to sponsor my Tier 2 General work permit in case i am able to find a job. Visa process will take one month, which means it will take easily month before i could start my contract. Does it seem practical?

Also, the biggest roadblock i am facing is the shortlisting of my CV in spite of being from a foreign location. Will my CV go to bin if they do not see a UK phone number? Should i buy a UK Skype number and route it to my personal phone number? Would that help?

In case they do shortlist my CV, will clients be open to interviewing a person outside UK through Skype or phone.

Thanks for advise.

Regards,
JK

[TheFaQQer]

Visa process will take one month, which means it will take easily month before i could start my contract. Does it seem practical?

Generally, I'd think not. Clients want someone who can start quickly, and to turn around and tell them that you are available in a month subject to getting a visa will immediately put you way down the pecking order. I don't really see anything on your skills list that is so in demand that a client will wait for that long, unless you are going to be exceptionally cheap (remembering the minimum income to get a Tier-2 visa, of course).

Also, the biggest roadblock i am facing is the shortlisting of my CV in spite of being from a foreign location. Will my CV go to bin if they do not see a UK phone number? Should i buy a UK Skype number and route it to my personal phone number? Would that help?

If you aren't eligible to work in the UK, that is what is going to put your CV in the bin, not the phone number you use. By all means try it, but if you are trying to get contract work when you aren't legally allowed to work in the country, then that is always going to be a stumbling block.

In case they do shortlist my CV, will clients be open to interviewing a person outside UK through Skype or phone.

You'd have to ask the agency and the client - some will be OK with a phone interview, and some will expect to see you face-to-face for an interview. It depends on the type of role and the client, so there is no absolute rule.

[Eirikur]

Hello Everyone,

Visa process will take one month, which means it will take easily month before i could start my contract. Does it seem practical?

I don't know how wanted your skills are in the UK, but for most agencies this will be a no
I've tried applying from abroad to the Uk myself and I had an EU passport, so no visa required, I had a few phone interviews but no success, I had to move to the UK first to land interviews and contracts.

[northernladuk]

I have had chat with couple of Umbrella companies and they are ready to sponsor my Tier 2 General work permit in case i am able to find a job.

Is that so? I was under the impression many of these are breaking the law and if not pushing a very fine line with their offers of Visa sponsorship.....

[stek]

Is that so? I was under the impression many of these are breaking the law and if not pushing a very fine line with their offers of Visa sponsorship.....

From my favourite board, Tier 2 sub-forum....

Legal - You find a job and the contract is signed between the client and your sponsor

Illegal - You find a job and the contract is signed between your sponsor and the employment agency (9 out of 10 contract jobs are handled via employment agency). In this scenario, the end client will not be in picture, this is against the UKBA tier2 guidance, as they expect your sponsor to manage the roles & responsibilities etc directly with the end client.

[raphal]

WHS.

Try getting sponsorship directly from an employer. But that's difficult, depends on shortage for your skills. Oracle PL/SQL? I believe there are many here.

[jtnkathuria]

Thanks guys of the insights. Generally speaking is 5 years respectable enough experience among clients?

Generally, I'd think not. Clients want someone who can start quickly, and to turn around and tell them that you are available in a month subject to getting a visa will immediately put you way down the pecking order. I don't really see anything on your skills list that is so in demand that a client will wait for that long, unless you are going to be exceptionally cheap (remembering the minimum income to get a Tier-2 visa, of course).


If you aren't eligible to work in the UK, that is what is going to put your CV in the bin, not the phone number you use. By all means try it, but if you are trying to get contract work when you aren't legally allowed to work in the country, then that is always going to be a stumbling block.


You'd have to ask the agency and the client - some will be OK with a phone interview, and some will expect to see you face-to-face for an interview. It depends on the type of role and the client, so there is no absolute rule.

Just out of curiosity, Is Big Data still not among hot jobs in UK because currently i am working in Hadoop and it will be around 1 year i will be applying for jobs.

Is that so? I was under the impression many of these are breaking the law and if not pushing a very fine line with their offers of Visa sponsorship.....

Well, that scares me. but the firm that I'm in talks with is A-rated sponsor so I am not really sure if it is breaking the law. I have personally checked that in Register of Sponsors.

I don't know how wanted your skills are in the UK, but for most agencies this will be a no
I've tried applying from abroad to the Uk myself and I had an EU passport, so no visa required, I had a few phone interviews but no success, I had to move to the UK first to land interviews and contracts.

After moving to UK How long did it take you to land up in a gig? are you IT contractor?
If not can IT contractors comment on the same?

[kal]

You have 2 chances without a sponsor, one being slim the other none. Umbrellas sponsoring foreign nationals?... is that even legal as they are employers only in the literal sense... Here's an idea work in your home country and improve it, the streets in the UK are not paved with gold!

[jtnkathuria]

You have 2 chances without a sponsor, one being slim the other none. Umbrellas sponsoring foreign nationals?... is that even legal as they are employers only in the literal sense... Here's an idea work in your home country and improve it, the streets in the UK are not paved with gold!

Well, I am researching on that. But on technology front US and UK roads are actually paved with gold not just in terms of money but the quality of work you get. I have worked there for an year, i can safely say that I will be more than happy to work in UK or US(possibly San Francisco in few years).

[jtnkathuria]

Generally, I'd think not. Clients want someone who can start quickly, and to turn around and tell them that you are available in a month subject to getting a visa will immediately put you way down the pecking order. I don't really see anything on your skills list that is so in demand that a client will wait for that long, unless you are going to be exceptionally cheap (remembering the minimum income to get a Tier-2 visa, of course).


If you aren't eligible to work in the UK, that is what is going to put your CV in the bin, not the phone number you use. By all means try it, but if you are trying to get contract work when you aren't legally allowed to work in the country, then that is always going to be a stumbling block.


You'd have to ask the agency and the client - some will be OK with a phone interview, and some will expect to see you face-to-face for an interview. It depends on the type of role and the client, so there is no absolute rule.

Is Big Data still not hot in UK? Well, that is strange.

I don't know how wanted your skills are in the UK, but for most agencies this will be a no
I've tried applying from abroad to the Uk myself and I had an EU passport, so no visa required, I had a few phone interviews but no success, I had to move to the UK first to land interviews and contracts.

How long did it take you after you landed in the UK? Are you from IT? Can anybody from IT comment on the same? is 5 years experience respectable enough experience to land up a good contractor job, putting other things aside?

Is that so? I was under the impression many of these are breaking the law and if not pushing a very fine line with their offers of Visa sponsorship.....

Well, that scares me. What i have check in the resgiter of sponsors is that the company that i am in talks with is a A-rated sponsor.