How long did it take you to find your feet in London?

So, I'm still feeling unsettled in NZ. I'll definately (well almost certainly) finish of another year working in NZ though.

But, thinking pretty seriously about doing my working holiday next year in the UK before I turn 30 in March 2008.


How long did it take you to get set up in the UK?

Any advise for me if I come over?

If I got into some sort in insurance work assessing claims or providing support to distribution / agents, what kind of money could I expect to earn?

I'm sure I'll post this again in 6 months, but would love to hear your thoughts ...

The first time was hard, a good 6 months to a year. The 2nd time was easy as basically had a job to go to before I got there and stuff. The third time was a bit harder but slipped straight back into it eventually a couple of months on that one.

What was hard?

Gidday Itchy,

I dont know anyone that has found the first 6 months a walk in the park, but certinaly some find it more difficult that others.

It depends on your own circumstances.

ie. Have you travelled before? are you leaving a girlfriend or boyfriend at home? What time of year are you arriving? Will you be arriving here alone or with mates?

I found it hard for my first 6 months, but thats really all part of the experience and I wouldn't take it back for the world.

Open up a bank account before you arrive, get some funds saved up before you leave.

Do you home work mate, email some recruitment agents who place people in your line of work and find out what you could expect to recieve.

Thats of course if you cant find it here on the Nexus forums which has a great pool of knowledge.

Cheers. Yeah, lived in Tokyo for 3 years - first 3 months with my then NZ g/f twinkle .... after we broke up fended for myself and loved living there. Never had too many problems with work/visa/money etc etc etc

If I came to London I'd probably come end of this year/begining of next so I'd be arriving mid summer I guess. I was thinking about travelling a bit in Asia first, and visiting a friend in Spain.

Did a big trip through Europe/Asia 2005 .... nearly ready to do it again. But, be nice to live in London for a year and work as well first.

Can't believe that was nearly 2 years ago. Times sure flies.

Na mate, theres this thing called seasons. Northen Hemisphere season would be the opposite of a Southern Hemisphere season. So it would be a NZ summer to a UK winter, and you would be arriving smack bang into a cold, dark winter.

However, first attempt in London hated it. Second attempt loved it as soon I was off the plane.

You will be fine Itchy. Not as if you dont know anyone there. Do it!

Aha - second thoughts about the UK thing huh Itchy? Pleased to hear! We've had a few of the London biggie massive leave (or about to ) so it's refreshing to hear a few more peeps are thinking of comming over.

A wise person told me just before I left NZ that if there's two things you're gonna need in London it's plenty of money and friends. Those two things are key in determining how long it takes you to find your feet. As for work, my first job in UK was to specifically get Kiwis, Aussies and Saffas to come in and register with the agency. Employers love Kiwi's over here, they continue to have a good reputation as far as work ethics are concerned. I don't know anything about the insurance industry but you would no doubt have a lot of transferable skills to take into a similar role here. However, one thing to keep in mind though is if you're in a job that requires a lot of knowledge which is country specific (eg. NZ legal knowledge) it could be more difficult to get the same job without UK experience.

Yeah, I meant I'd arrive after the worst of the winter (say March) ... I'd be spending 2-3 months in Melbourne and Asia first visiting friends/family and just laxing out before I need to start work.

TS: Yeah, it's still just an idea at the moment, but I'm thinking I'll be leaving NZ for a year in 2008. Might even just go back to Japan, as I can't earn that much in the UK

yep... as everyone else says, 6 months to a year... the main problem is probably money... even if you find a job, and even if you have a good career, you tend to get paid shit to start with... after a while, you get a pay rise or two and you start to pay off your debts... (london *really* sucks if you don't have a decent amount of money)

the other thing really is the culture shock... UK is a lot different to NZ (even tho you might think it's quite similar)... but seeing as you've lived in Tokyo, that probably wouldn't be a big deal for you...

one of the reasons it takes a while to feel settled in the that everything seems to take so long.....

setting up a bank account, national insurance,

it's all a long winded process & there level of customer service is zero

$$$

How much should I arrive with?

Realistically if I start on a shite wage how much would I need in reserves to live for the first 3 months?

I think I'll be OK in London. Tokyo didn't phase me at all, so I'm sure I'll get by OK.

Did most of you start looking for work before you came? Best way? Gumtree? Recruiters?

Will I really really love it? I've heard stories about London but I can't really imagine actually living there?

Will I develop a drug problem? Ha ha .... OK, I am serious there

I came over with about £4k and that saw me through the first 3 months (including deposit on flat etc etc) and I was getting paid absolute shit, so if you were on a decent wage (say £20k up) that would last you longer.

What industry you in Itch?

Drugs - well some people have problems with them. I went a bit heavy with them when I first got here like most, but you soon realise that they're full of all kinds of crap here and not worth any kind of money.

Took me about 3 months, I had a hell of a time but that was mostly due to a break-up. But coming in at the start of Winter didn’t help either, arrive in March/April or something; it’s the best time, and you get a couple of months to find your feet until Summer hits and you need the dosh to part-ay.

In a city where £2 pills a readily availble? Na mate, not at all.

Insurance Relationship Management. Also have exprience in claims assessment, customer services, teaching English and social work ... jack of all trades etc etc

Baynesy: I have an addictive personality. Thanks god my crew in Japan weren't every weeekend munters cause the drugs over there would of destroyed me!!

How much money can I expect to save working inthe UK? Enough to pay for travelling ... or would I actually bring anything worthwhile home?

You'll be fine mate. You'll know whether or not you want to spend every single weekend looking like a possom in headlights.

Make the most of your time and use it wisely.

In answer to your 2nd question, it all depends on how much time you have here and what you want to do?

Ideally, I'd like to work for 6-12 months and save enough to travel. I'd be coming over on a round teh world ticket so would only really need to be earning enough to live and save for spending money to travel with. If I could get home not in debt and with a bit of $$$ in the bank I'd be wrapped, but I haven't talked to many people who've gone to the UK and actually saved any decent ammount of money

A few of my mates did the possum in the headlights gig for the beter poart of a year ... I'm fairly burnt out at the moment though ... can't go hard for too long I guess.

Just looking for something to do next year really ...

Eeeek, I'm over New Zealand

I loved it as soon as I moved here. I had a few stresses over finding somewhere to live and getting a job but I got both of those within my first 2 weeks. I had about £3K when I arrived which definately helped. London is not a city to come to with not much money.

I'd say it was a couple of months before I got more into the swing of things and became more settled. I was lucky that I made a lot of friends and started going out a lot.

Now.... it's almost time for me to leave London. As I don't really want to go I know I will find leaving harder than arriving.

I love it the moment I got off the plane! Still love it.

The girl I came over here with hated it and left after 5months! I've found the same situation with a lot of my friends, some loved it, some hated it, some loved it after hating it for months.

Everyone is different. I personally dont see how anyone can not love it here. There is so much to do in the UK, especially London, that if you get bored or down, its your own fault!

x

I love it the moment I got off the plane! Still love it.

The girl I came over here with hated it and left after 5months! I've found the same situation with a lot of my friends, some loved it, some hated it, some loved it after hating it for months.

Everyone is different. I personally dont see how anyone can not love it here. There is so much to do in the UK, especially London, that if you get bored or down, its your own fault!

x

Find my feet?

They're at the end of my legs, on the ground.

Just because it's the opposite hemisphere don't mean we all walk upside down over here.

I see that comedy course is paying itself off already Tony!