I am a non-EU citizen about to graduate from a master programme in a EU university. There is this job in UK I am very excited about but knowing the work restrictions for non-EU in UK discourages me.
On the company website, they say “Candidates must hold a valid UK work permit.”. Apparently, I don’t.
On the other hand, I believe I am one of the most suitable people for this position. I did my internship and masters project on the exact same topic they are working on, implementing one of their published algorithm and improving it. I also invented my own algorithm that they can make direct use of. I don’t want to sound arrogant but I wouldn’t miss me as a candidate just because of a work permit.
Do you think I should be bothered to apply when the company has that statement on the job opening? Would they sponsor me?
Typically, a company will clearly define all pieces of a hire, from salary to job duties to whether or not they are willing to sponser someone for a work visa. So, in the short run, they may be unwilling to sponser you and consequently you would be wasting your time applying (most likely). However, if they encounter difficulty filling the position, they may reassess their willingness to sponsor someone for a work visa, and may reconsider you for the position (less likely, but possible).
Short answer: Yes, probably a waste of time.
Slightly longer answer, Yes, probably a waste of time, but may be worth a shot anyhow.
Maybe it’s because I think being arrogant is much better than someone commenting on my character without getting to know me instead of providing constructive reply for a question I posed here.
Just like asking out a hot girl, as long as you can be a big boy, accept “no” for an answer, and move on with your life, I see very little downside to at least making the attempt.
Good luck to all your future co-workers and bosses!
There’s nothing to stop you applying provided (a) you are up front in your application about your lack of visa and (b) you can shrug your shoulders if your application ends up straight in the bin.
It’s a tough labour market in the UK so don’t assume you are the only good candidate.
I think if you apply through normal channels, your resume (or CV) is going to be rejected by an employee in HR very quickly. So if you are as well-suited as you think, you need to get your name in front of someone who matters. Ideally, the hiring manager. If they are enthusiastic about hiring or even considering you, they will push HR to process your application even though you aren’t an EU citizen. Perhaps you could work remotely from your home country?
The immigration policies in the UK are turning rather unfriendly these days. I was just reading an article in the Economist about it’s becoming harder for talented immigrants to stay and work in the UK after they finish their degrees.
In my experience, the larger the company is, the more equipped they are to handle sponsoring a visa. For smaller companies, it’s not worth the money and the general hassle.
The present government is certainly more ‘immigration sensitive’ than the previous one and we do get a lot of news chatter about clamp downs. Whether that is a reality on the ground or just political grandstanding, I couldn’t say.
