Despite its high level of organization, IT recruitment UK has a number of peculiarities and differences. These differences primarily relate to the British mentality and historical traditions in business and the labor market.
- The UK is home to a vast number of recruitment agencies, many of which have developed networks and branches worldwide. This enables them to fill complex vacancies and fulfill orders for international companies.
- As a result of the first point, there is a narrow specialization inherent in most IT recruitment agencies in the UK. This specialization may concern not only the field of work but also the service format. Some agencies, for example, specialize in executing specific stages of the workforce search process.
- Due to historical reasons, recruitment in the UK is primarily focused on finding middle and senior-level managers and highly skilled specialists. This is because Britain had many colonies where the production process was transferred. In the country itself, managerial and supervisory companies remained.
- The recruitment process is rather slow. Recruiters try not to overwork, strictly adhering to work schedules, weekends, etc. Correspondence and feedback happen leisurely. In many technological sectors, including IT, the overall number of selection stages is much higher than in Ukraine and other countries. A candidate may go through 6-7 stages before being hired.
- As a result, the employment process takes a lot of time. Each stage requires processing information, coordinating it, and providing feedback. As we’ve noted, this process unfolds quite slowly.
- Recruitment in the UK is closely linked to the government. Some agencies have government capital. The benefits of this situation include support for job seekers at various stages of employment. This includes consultations, internship opportunities, and training courses. And, of course, financial support programs.
Guide to Patience, Preparation, and Strategy for IT Professionals
The labor market in the UK, despite its sophistication, still remains an employer’s market. Companies pay a lot of attention to processes that are not considered key in our usual recruitment practices. Candidates are given a large number of technical tasks and tests. Additionally, a lot of emphasis is placed on resumes, their content, and presentation.
From all of the above, the following conclusions can be drawn:
- If you plan to work in the UK, be patient. And create a financial cushion for yourself for 3-6 months to avoid being in a difficult situation while job hunting.
- Approach the search for a recruitment agency for IT jobs wisely, gather information, and do your research.
- Learn more about the labor market and its peculiarities in the country you have chosen. This applies not only to the UK but also to all foreign countries.
As a tip, many large companies post job vacancies on their websites. If you regularly monitor their pages, there is a good chance of finding a job directly and saving time.
