Job Opportunities for Spouse

[Poppinslp]

Hi all,
I am new to this forum and am excited to have found it! I am a UK ciziten and my husband is a US citizen. Next April we plan to move to the UK, preferrably Bath and I am hoping you will share your experiences with me.

As my husband is from the US and the economy isn't the greatest, are people finding it extra difficult to get a job as a foreigner? Or is it just as difficult regardless?

My husband and I will be moving back without any jobs so obviously we are both very weary about our prospects so any feedback would be great.

[Suenneil]

Originally Posted by Poppinslp

Hi all,
I am new to this forum and am excited to have found it! I am a UK ciziten and my husband is a US citizen. Next April we plan to move to the UK, preferrably Bath and I am hoping you will share your experiences with me.

As my husband is from the US and the economy isn't the greatest, are people finding it extra difficult to get a job as a foreigner? Or is it just as difficult regardless?

My husband and I will be moving back without any jobs so obviously we are both very weary about our prospects so any feedback would be great.

Hi Poppinslp

I live in Spain now and not the UK, but I still have family and friends there. I dont think this is a simple question to answer. Finding a job will be hard Im sure, as you know unemployment is around 8 or 9% I believe in the UK at the moment, and is set to rise despite the feeling that the economy is on the up. In addition it will depend on what type of work you are both looking for, what experience and qualifications you have, and how much you need to earn. Bath is a pretty expensive area to live in so no doubt you will be looking for relatively highly paid work ..... and I dont know that that is going to be easy to find.

I would start by getting the online newspapers in the area you are considering living, and looking at some recruitment sites in the same areas to see what jobs are currently being advertised and what the salaries are looking like.

Presumably you have some funds put by to get you through any potential lean months ?

Sue

[Poppinslp]

Originally Posted by Suenneil

Hi Poppinslp

I live in Spain now and not the UK, but I still have family and friends there. I dont think this is a simple question to answer. Finding a job will be hard Im sure, as you know unemployment is around 8 or 9% I believe in the UK at the moment, and is set to rise despite the feeling that the economy is on the up. In addition it will depend on what type of work you are both looking for, what experience and qualifications you have, and how much you need to earn. Bath is a pretty expensive area to live in so no doubt you will be looking for relatively highly paid work ..... and I dont know that that is going to be easy to find.

I would start by getting the online newspapers in the area you are considering living, and looking at some recruitment sites in the same areas to see what jobs are currently being advertised and what the salaries are looking like.

Presumably you have some funds put by to get you through any potential lean months ?

Sue

Hi Suenneil,
Thanks for your message. Yes we have put some money aside for at least 3 months. I am in the hospitality industry and my husband is in the art and antiques business.
I guess its one of those things that you have to be there to know what your up against.
Things are pretty bad here in the US in regards to unemployment, the same as many other places I suppose.

[Joppa]

We can only talk in very general terms as we don't know the specific details about your experience, qualifications, salary expectation etc, and matching them with possible vacancies in the Bath area.
Biggest problem is a number of people have been and are being made redundant, and hospitality and retail are the two of the sectors worst hit. There just isn't money available for people to spend on non-essentials, and demands have fallen steeply. While there are pockets of industry that seem to be doing better than others, the general picture is pretty grim. For you both, but perhaps more so for your husband, the lack of UK experience will be a big drawback when competing for jobs, except in rare instances where they are looking specifically for someone with US experience. Why train someone when there's an abundant supply of trained and experienced workers? Can he network with existing trade and customer contacts in UK, and specially in the West Country?
I do hope you are successful in your relocation.