How I Got My First Job in the UK with a Spouse/Dependent Visa

When I got the news that I would be moving to the UK, I felt a variety of emotions – Ecstatic about the fact that I was moving to a better country, Enthusiastic about the future and Slightly worried about getting a job in the UK. Already, I knew I would not be licensed to practice as a Pharmacist in the UK without undergoing my OSPAP conversion program which will require some time and money. The first thing I needed to do was to get a job while working on getting my license.

Several apps such as Indeed, Reed, total jobs, and Linkedin were helpful in my search for healthcare and pharmaceutical jobs. I was on the lookout for jobs that would not require the GPhC registration number. The United Kingdom has so many job opportunities for citizens and non-citizens I had to stop doubting myself and keep applying for as many jobs as possible. I started getting responses to my application within two to three weeks of submitting my applications. I got some positive responses and some negative ones. 

For the positive ones, I was asked to provide some documents before proceeding to the interview stage while some requested the documents during the interview stage. Fortunately, I had some of them and I was given some time to get the remaining documents.

This post will explain tips on getting these documents. I’ll make it as simple as possible.

First, I needed to prove my right to work in the UK. Several documents can work for this. However, if you are new in the UK, you will need the following:

• An International Passport which you already have

• A Biometric Immigration Document – Shows the holder’s name, date of birth, biometric information, condition of stay and entitlement to public funds such as benefits and health services. It is given as a Biometric Residence Permit (BRP). You’ll usually get a BRP if you apply to come to the UK for more than 6 months. You will collect your BRP from the allocated post office within 10 days of your arrival in the UK. It sometimes takes longer. You will take along your decision letter. 

• National Insurance Number: You may have a National Insurance Number printed on the back of your BRP but if you don’t, you’ll need to apply for an NI number. You can only apply when you are in the UK. You will need to apply only and prove your identity on the www.gov.Uk website.

Next, employers want to ensure their candidates do not have previous criminal convictions. This is why companies check for the candidate’s criminal history. Industries such as healthcare and education take this seriously. Here, A DBS is required. Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks can be done by your employer or an agency. Some companies will ask you to pay for it while some cover the cost.

Another important thing is the Proof of Address which is sometimes difficult, especially for new residents. Proof of address can be any council tax, utility bill, bank statements, or letters from HMRC. All must be within 3 months or less. Utility bill and council tax is still the fastest option. In my case, I had to request the electricity and water bill within two weeks of getting the apartment. In some cases, tenancy agreements and bank statements from online banks such as Monzo Bank and Revolut might be acceptable. 

Vaccinations and immunization reports or certificates such as Hepatitis B vaccination, BCG vaccination for tuberculosis, or MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccination are needed to get a job in the healthcare industry.

Bear in mind that it might take a while to get some of these documents which is why it is important to get them early. Most people already have some vaccination or immunization reports saving them the cost of getting a new one. Another thing is to open an online bank account as soon as you get to the UK. 

Some of these documents might not be important in some industries. Some industries ask for them after you have started working with them.

The question remains: Is it easy to get a job in the UK?

While the British economy is indeed still strong and there are plenty of job offers available in the UK, the competition is quite strong. 

Apply, don’t lose hope! There is a range of jobs to choose from. The only exception is working as a sportsperson. An individual with a dependent visa cannot work as a professional sportsperson or a sports coach. 

Good luck!