Is it possible for me to arrange a job before I actually reach my destination?

I am planning to travel to the UK, work for seven months then backpack around Europe for two months. I am currently 17, but will be eighteen when I leave for the UK. I was wondering how I could arrange a job, before arriving to the UK. Is this even possible? If so, how could I do this? Will I need to go through an agency to secure employment? I would prefer not to since it is quite a bit of money, I understand, for their services and I am on a rather tight budget. Any advice would be much appreciated, thank you.

Answer:

You say leave 'for' the UK so I'll assume you're not a European citizen, which may make it more difficult to work because of visa issues, unless you're Australian or from New Zealand...

A seven-month stint is long enough to organize a job ahead of time. A traditional employment agency probably won't be able to help you much, as you're not experienced and probably don't have any specialized skills. However, there are plenty of sites that allow you to post your CV or profile and contact recruiters. You don't have to pay - the people who hire do.

Before looking for a job, make sure you have a visa and that you are actually allowed to work in the UK. If you have any doubt, the British consulate or high commission nearest to you should be able to provide quick information on whether you can legally work in the UK.

Some suitable work might be involve working as an au pair (just search for 'au pair jobs'), in a bar or restaurant or some kind of hospitality work, working with children or helping in day care, tutoring... If your papers are in order, all you have to do is Search for 'UK jobs' and you'll be on your way.

Some UK-based sites that provide job leads for students and young people include Gapyear.com, Just Jobs For Students, and Gap Year Jobs.

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