Languages:

English (Welsh, Gaelic dialects). For clarity’s sake, the UK consists of what were once four separate countries: England, Scotland, Whales, and northern Ireland. It is important to remember the cultural divide between the original four countries. Many Welsh and Scotts will take offense to being labeled as English. There is a proud sense of local identities, particularly in rural areas of the country.

Cost of living:

Although located in the European Union, the national currency of the UK is the British pound. Cost of living is rather high in the United Kingdom, with London being the fourth most expensive city in the world. The average cost for a shared flat in London is 400 pounds, or more than $700. Northern England is typically less expensive.        

Visa and Work Permits:

If you are staying in the UK for less than six months, you do not need a visa. One of best way to get the paperwork taken care of in the UK is to use the British Universities North America Club (BUNAC). For a fee, they will secure your work permit, and then all you have to do is find a job.

            There are six main visa programs. The ones that you would most likely be using if you were considering long-term employment in the UK are the HSMP (Highly Skilled Migrant Program) or the Sponsorship by a UK Employer. Visit the British Embassy website for more information: www.britainusa.com.  You can also visit http://www.workingintheuk.gov.uk for more information.

Job Searching:

The bad news is that it is hard to get a job in the UK because you must prove that you have skills that NO one else has, plus the labor market is tight right now. The good news is that currently the UK has a shortage of highly skilled labor and recent research shows that up to 48% of UK firms employ foreign staff.

            If you obtain a work permit through BUNAC, you can then apply for any type of job you wish. For example, many people find work in hotels, restaurants, pubs, and shops. BUNAC can help you with your job search and the majority of students using this service have a job within a week of arriving in the UK. 

            Some great search website for the UK are
http://www.workgateways.com and http://www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk.

            Organizations in the UK also like to administer tests. Common types of tests can be on skills, aptitudes, and personality.

Cultural Differences in the Workplace:

Punctuality and general formalities, such as proper greetings, are more important in the UK than they are here. 

            Conservative dress is the norm for both men and women where darker colors and heavy fabrics are used.

            Britons prefer to avoid animated discussion and on the most part are reserved by nature and do not like small talk with total strangers. Likewise, in keeping with this, business people in the UK tend to approach their work in a detached way that regards objective facts and solid evidence as the only legitimate forms of persuasion; feelings and personal relationships are irrelevant.

Money, Banking & Insurance:

The four largest banks in the UK are Lloyds TSB, Barclays, NatWest, and HSBC. The post office also offers banking services. To open an account, be prepared to show your passport, employment details, and proof of UK address.

Security/Safety:  

Due to the cultural/religious identity problems that exist in Northern Ireland, it is recommended to any visitor to tread very carefully when it comes to these subjects. Likewise, exercise similar caution in Glasgow where soccer symbolically divides the city of Scotland between supporters of Celtic (Catholic) and Rangers (Protestant) along ancient tribal lines and can lead to VERY aggressive confrontations.

The website http://www.worldworx.tv/safety/europe/uk/index.htm has a comprehensive listing of safety information for the UK.