Finding A Job in the UK.

[pHARMER.]

Hi guys, I'm relatively new to posting on here but I've been a member for awhile now. I am Canadian but I studied pharmacy in the UK and have registered with the GPhC already. I did my pre-reg in a hospital for a year and after that year my visa expired so I had to return home. I thought I could go home and that it would be quite easy to find a job in the UK again given that I am already registered as a pharmacist with the GPhC. Nothing could be further from the truth. I have been having the most difficult time finding anything! I know I am not alone as there seems to be not many opportunities appearing anywhere for anyone, local or not. But I find it especially difficult because I am not allowed even allowed to work in the UK without a work permit, which makes it difficult for any employer to want to interview me. I was just wondering if anyone had any tips to help me out cause I have encountered a lot of roadblocks in my job search:

1) Large multiples like Boots, Sainsbury's, Morrisons, Tesco, Asda are not hiring foreign candidates, regardless of whether or not they are qualified in the UK. Boots, Asda and Sainsbury's will not even let you go further in their application process immediately after you answer "no" to the "do you have right to work in the UK?" question. Tesco and Morrisons accept your application still but the very next day they will reject you. Also, I have had friends rejected after an interview with Tesco on the basis of them not wanting to sponsor them for a Tier 2 work visa. If I can't even apply for these jobs, there goes 95% of the pharmacy job opportunities in the UK.

2) I have been in contact with an agency who say they can help me find a job as a foreign-but-locally-trained-pharmacist, but they are offering me locations further north than Aberdeen or less desirable places. I know I am looking for a job and I am flexible with locations and so not expecting to be placed in London or a big city, but I would like to be able to actually commute to the cities as a compromise. However, the locations being offered are 6-8 hours away from any major city and I couldn't possibly see myself living and working in such remote places long term.

3) Many of the jobs that are being offered at the moment are pharmacy manager, senior pharmacist or pharmacy branch manager positions which as a newly-qualified pharmacist, I am not qualified for because they require years of experience.

4) I cannot apply for locum jobs because I can't get a visa that way. In order to get a visa I would need a definite permanent job offer and sponsor, which is very limiting because apparently not all employers can apply for sponsorship. I think the employer has to be licensed to be able to apply for work visas.

5) I have heard that pharmacists have been recently taken off the job shortage list in the UK again!

Does anyone have any advice on what I can do to actually find a job in the UK in light of all these barriers? Are there any agencies or employers that you would recommend? Suggestions on what I can do to make myself look more attractive to employers? I have been looking to do my MUR accreditation but am holding back because I don't think it would make a difference given that they are rejecting me flat out for not being local?

I feel so defeated and hopeless, like I've wasted 5 years of my life studying for an MPharm and doing my pre-reg only to end up unemployed and being told I'm not even allowed work in the UK even though I'm qualified to. The employment rate for graduates from my school of pharmacy is around 99%, am I really that 1% who doesn't find a job?!

[johnep]

As an empire loyalist, I am appalled at the treatment you have received. Canadians fought and died to save us from European tyranny and have been rewarded by our politicians abandoning the Commonwealth for the continentals who have been our enemies for 2,000 years.
Now the policy is resulting in our being dragged down by the sinking ship.
Hiram Maxim was told that he could make a fortune by finding a means to allow Europeans to kill each other. He did.
We went to war to save Europe and now they expect us to save them again.
If you had come from Quebec and General De Gaulle achieved his aim, you would be French and have no problem in working in the UK.
When I wanted to emigrate to Australia, I was told they did not want Pharmacists, but I could go as a teacher. I made the wrong decision.
Come to UK as a science teacher for which pharmacy is ideal, and then locum at Weekends and holidays as I did.
I know the same situation is in the US where international students cannot get sponsors for their intern year.
Gates are slamming shut across the world as population soars. H G Wells predictions are rapidly becoming true.
johnep

[galateaphrodite]

Saturated.

[imaginegenerous]

I can't really offer any help or advice other than regarding your third point. If you want to go into community rather than hospital I think most people do tend to go straight in as managers, with possibly a short stint as a relief manager first so you may not need too much experience behind you. The locuming at weekends would help with this.

Best of luck.

[Gordon Mackenzie]

I think that your best bet at the moment is to try and work in the UK in a job outside pharmacy. Things are dire at the moment and there are virtually no jobs in Scotland at any rate and I believe it is the same in England and NI. I don't know about Wales.

[sparkybw]

I'm afraid that I can't be too sympathetic as I believe that people born in this country should have first chance at any jobs going. Having spent three years training as a physio only to find that jobs are as rare as hens teeth, the only real option is to trot off to Australia/New Zealand/Canada etc. Does it really make sense for this country to spend millions of pounds to train thousands of keen, eager and competent native-born people only to hand out jobs to immigrants? It's wrong and completely indefensible as a policy especially in the current financial climate.

Why can't you work in Canada as a pharmacist?