TRAVELLER TOOLKIT
TIP #1 - preparation is essential - DO SOME RESEARCH!
Adequate planning & preparation is integral to a successful stay and will inevitably be the difference between a stressful or stress-free first month. Knowing about where you are going and ensuring as much as possible is arranged before you get there is not rocket science, it is simply just taking the time to look at what you need to do before you get here.
Understanding more about your destination country and city is perhaps the most logical starting point to any research and preparation, ideally carry this out before anything else. It really is common sense and courtesy to learn a little about the country and city that is going to be your home for the foreseeable future. After all, what is the point of choosing blindly if a city such as London with a population of 8 million and a cold winter fills you with absolute dread?
Having a knowledge base about the country and its people not only helps you to manage your expectations of what living there may be like, but it will also ensure you don't look like an ignorant traveller by thinking that Scotland is in England. In fact it could even save your life - just you try calling a Scot 'English' - ouch!! Think Canadian = American or Kiwi = Australian - not a good way of making friends!
TIP #2 - VISAS & ENTRY CLEARANCE
Possibly one of the least enjoyable tasks of going to work overseas is wading through websites and long winded leaflets for visa information. Many companies will guide you through the process - if you are anti-form filling, then the fee you pay them may well be worth the stress you save doing it yourself. The good news is that many consulates, embassies and high commissions have revamped their websites and tried to make them more people friendly - you can even download the forms you are required to submit. Most forms still have to be printed off and sent but it won't be long and you'll be able to submit and pay online.
Along with other countries, Britain has legislation which controls the admission and stay of overseas nationals. You will require permission to enter and remain in Britain, which are given in accordance with Immigration rules that set out the necessary requirements for those seeking entry. You can obtain information from your nearest British Embassy, Consulate or High Commission, they should be able to advise you on what the immigration procedure will be for you.
Their websitse can provide you with information about the different types of visas for those coming to the UK. You will also need to check whether you need an Entry Clearance Visa, which came into force at the end of last year. Remember though that visas can only be granted outside the UK, do not even consider coming to the UK without the correct visa.
TIP #3 - booking your flight & travel insurance
So the time has come - you can't put it off any longer - you need to book your flight. Booking your flight is the first real 'Yes I'm going' step of your journey - it is the proof you have that you have committed yourself - daunting yes, exciting - very!
Booking early is also advisable - firstly because you are likely to get the flight for cheaper - most airlines offer early booking discounts - and secondly as it will give you a date to aim for, this will help with all your planning and give you some structure to your preparation. Start your research on this as soon as possible and find out how the time of year could work to your advantage - most people arrive in spring (April) at the start of the UK summer - so consequently this is often a more expensive time to leave.
Don't even think about leaving without travel insurance - it's not a lot of money and going without it is not an option. Look into the different ones on the market and find out how much you are covered for in all eventualities - delayed flights, lost luggage, thefts, and if you claim what the excess is. Find out where you are covered - you may need to consider a multi-trip policy and if you are thinking about doing more risky activities, skiing, bungee jumping, then make sure that you will be covered.
TIP #4 - PREPARE A GAMEPLAN
A good way of looking at this is to consider the opportunity to work and travel overseas akin to winning a prize - in other words it's really like winning a competition, because firstly it is not something everyone can do and secondly it's unlikely that you get a second shot at it. You need to define what you hope to achieve (seen and done) whilst you are here. If you don't have a list of things you want to do and see, then you run the risk of drifting through the months you spend here and returning home without truly feeling you made the most of your time.
Many travellers agree that once you are here you do forget many of the things you originally wanted to see and do. This exercise will also be good for getting you excited about coming over and hopefully make you feel like you are getting closer to it actually happening. Remember to keep it somewhere handy like a travel journal or diary.
You can download the 'What I want to achieve whilst in the U.K' guide to print off and complete.
TIP #5 - MONEY & BANK ACCOUNTS
Unfortunately travel doesn't come cheap - especially a working holiday in the UK. Plan your budget wisely and use your head Make use of what you have as you can always purchase things once you are over here earning pounds. Any money unspent will go into your survival fund pot, which should be as much as possible!
If you are going to be looking for a job when you arrive, then you do not yet know how long you are going to be without an income. If you have already arranged employment then you will need to remember that you will probably not be paid until you have worked for a month. Then the other thing to remember is that the money you save in your own currency is going to be substantially less once you convert it into pounds.
If you are coming over to work for a London borough or for a government establishment - school, hospital, etc on a Work Permit scheme then you only need your passport. However, everyone else will need to provide a bank reference - we will be asking you for you bank's address so that the bank can contact them for a reference, but if you can get a physical reference from them then that will help speed up the process. If you are going to be working over here then you are going to have to have a bank account - BritBound will be able to help and as long as you don't have any credit problems then you will receive all your account information about one week after applying for the account. The account we open for you in the UK (with Barclays) does not cost you, requires no opening up funds and is a UK account.
TIP #6 - EMPLOYMENT
Employment for the majority begins after arriving in the UK and after a period spent settling in. For the luckier few, employment offers are given before getting onto the plane - what a luxury - and what a weight off your shoulders. Whichever category you fall into, the following gives you some questions to consider and some advice as to getting it right.
Look at the sector of your employment and carry out some research - e-mail some consultants in the UK or associations that represent the sector. Find out the current situation regarding your field of experince and find out how your qualifications and experience compare.
Don't expect to walk into the position of your choice - unless you are in a specialist area the agency will be able to exercise the greater powers. Don't demand an unrealistic salary, do your research find out what to expect. When you arrive here remember that you may not be a favourable candidate if you are on a one or two years visa. Spend some time updating your CV and research what UK employers are after - i.e. whether the design and format is different for here.
TIP #7 - ACCOMMODATION
Finding a place to stay is probably one of the most difficult tasks when coming to live and work in the UK. The most important thing at this stage is to make sure you have somewhere to stay when you first arrive. If you haven't worked overseas before then remember that you are going to have a lot to do when you first get here. Getting everything together before you start takes time and energy so the last thing you need is additional stress from worrying about accommodation.
Lastly, make sure you budget accordingly as we would suggest that you organize somewhere for a minimum of a week but preferably two weeks to a month. When you enter the UK the Immigration Rules state that you must be able to show you have sufficient funds to meet the cost of your accommodation. This means that you have a whole lot of saving to do, as the cost of living is one of the highest in the worlds second only to Tokyo apparently!
BritBound says - There are many different forms of accommodation - it is a good idea to familiarise yourself with the various options and which one will be most suitable so you can narrow down what you are looking for.
TIP #8 - FIRST ARRIVAL
An organised arrival not only removes a large part of the stress associated with this stage of your journey, but it will also set the precedent for the rest of your stay. How? Well because your confidence will be high, you won't have experienced the usual nightmares that others often complain about, which means you'll have a much more positive attitude and outlook to take you through the rest of your stay.
If you can afford it then book a taxi transfer - it's the least stressful and you'll appreciate it if you have had a long journey or have heavy bags. Another option is Hotelink. This is an airport transfer company that run a shuttle service to and from the airports. Your bus may have to drop other passengers off first but it is a good way of getting to your hotel for less cost than a taxi.
Taking the tube for the first time is quite an adventure - taking it when you are laden with bags and tired is both exhausting and stressful. Unless you carry little more than a backpack and have plenty of energy even after a long flight, then save this quintessential London experience for another time. There is also Heathrow and Gatwick Express - regular trains that will take you into Paddington & Victoria respectively.
TIP #9 - GETTING AROUND
The first thing you need to do after you have recovered from your journey here is to have a walk around the area where you are living. There is no better way to orientate yourself than by actually taking yourself on a tour and familiarising yourself with the surrounding area, shops, banks, bus stops, tube & train stations. Take along your A-Z as this will ensure that you don't get lost on your walkabout! See the next section for an explanation of how to use one if you haven't before - every one in London has an A-Z because London is so huge it is the fastest way of finding somewhere or finding where you are if you are lost.
In London the majority of us rely on Public Transport to get from A-B, the transport system in London is very good and you will often have two or three ways of reaching your destination. Public Transport in London is made up of The London Underground (The London Metro system also called the Tube), Buses, The National Rail Network (Overground trains), and the DLR ( Docklands Light Railway), a monorail that operates in the East and south east, and riverboats.
TIP #10 -SETTLING IN & FINDING YOUR FEET
Leaving home and travelling to live and work in a new country is quite an upheaval on many levels. Hopefully by now we have well and truly driven home the message about carrying out substantial research and planning before you leave, however you will still have many unknowns such as what will it be like, will I like it, how will I adjust etc. Inevitably at some stage you will experience something that is referred to as 'culture shock' - everyone is affected by it to some degree - it is quite normal and the best way to manage it is to understand what it is and how to recognise that you are experiencing it.
As you begin to adjust and settle into the UK you are likely to find yourself adapting to different customs and find yourself changing in many ways. You'll need to prepare yourself for these changes, and the best way is to find out as much about the UK before you arrive here so that you understand what differences you are going to encounter.
As you begin to adjust and settle into the UK you are likely to find yourself adapting to different customs and find yourself changing in many ways. You'll need to prepare yourself for these changes, and the best way is to find out as much about the UK before you arrive here so that you understand what differences you are going to encounter.
