Working in London

London houses most of the world's biggest financial, creative, and technical companies. However, landing a decent paying job can be a challenge. EU expats can find a job in the UK despite the tumultuous job market following the Brexit, though their positions might be threatened due to the Brexit negotiation results. Expats from outside the EU will have an even harder time to get a job in London, as getting a work visa in the UK isn't very simple.

Jobs in London can open doors to better things as work experience in premiere companies in the city holds great value anywhere in the world. However, the quality of life for professionals in London may not be as ideal as you may think. The cost of living in the city is incredibly high that even a relatively high salary can provide a comfortable lifestyle within the city centre. Most of London's working class and middle-class workers try to live on the outskirts of the city or in small apartments or house shares to get by. To live the ideal movie lifestyle in London, you have to earn a 5 figure monthly salary.

General Outlook   

In recent years, the UK has tightened their immigration policy especially with regards to employment of non-UK or EU citizens. In fact, even the employment of EU citizens within the UK has been one of the major issues that came up during the Brexit campaign. As the current status of the UK job market remains uncertain because of the Brexit situation, it is not advisable to just fly to the UK to find jobs. The best chance of being a professional expat in London is to get a job before arriving in London, or if you were assigned to the city by your current company. Recruitment agencies available online include:

• LocalRecruit
• Justlondonjobs
• Monster
• 1st4jobsinLondon
• Fish4

Business etiquette  

British business culture remains hierarchical. Although the consensus of the team is valued, final decisions rely on the senior executives.  

Use of first names is common, but it is still proper to get approval in using first names to address colleagues. Remember to also make use of proper titles. In London, knights are called "Sir" followed by the first name. Accordingly, the wives are addressed as "Lady" followed by the first name.    

During a business meeting, make an effort to initiate a conversation with open-ended questions. Asking or talking about the weather is considered a safe way to break the ice and start a chat.

British business colleagues are not accustomed to receiving gifts, but commemorative items or tokens can be an exception to the rule for special occasions. 

Working Hours  

The normal working hours run from 9 am to 5 pm unless mandated differently by the company's policy. Based on the Working Time Directive, the average working hours per week is 48 hours. Despite the standard working hours, offices in London usually stay open, and workers stay to work overtime due to high job demands, especially in the financial industry.

Wages   

As of 2014, the median annual salary for a personal assistant in London is approximately £48,023, a software engineer or developer can get approximately £41,700, IT consultants can earn around GBP£39,515.00, and an IT project manager can get an annual salary of GBP£45,000.    

London has always been a favourite working destination of expats. It is an amazing place to work, and its diverse career opportunities are unmatched elsewhere.