It is well known that “an overseas experience provides a real competitive advantage and makes one vastly more marketable.” International work opportunities provide distinctive platforms for skill development and new experiences. It helps professionals acquire global management skills, a global mindset and develop a network of contacts around the world. Furthermore, multinational organisations that operate globally always give high preference to employees with international experience, as they perceive these employees are more valuable.
Studies also demonstrated that international experience is positively related to the pay level. However, a company assigned international work opportunity leaves no scope for flexibility. Lucky them who get selected for the international assignments whether by a coffee-machine selection system or as a result of a strong network with authority figures or solely technical ability and cross-cultural suitability.
Whatever may be the case, the company assigned overseas work opportunity simply takes away the freedom of career movement. For these reasons, many professionals self-initiate their international career that enables them to live a boundaryless career, that is self-directed and self-managed rather than having it managed by an employer. This allows them to take advantage of lucrative work opportunities abroad particularly in developed or mature economies like the UK which rely on foreigners to supplement a shortage of skilled workers (Please see the reference list for the shortage occupation list in the UK).
Nevertheless, professionals from the digital technology domain are currently in high demand as there isn’t enough local talent to fill available roles and to fill skills shortages. Therefore, the UK is encouraging technology professionals all around the world to join its labour market. According to ONS, 627,000 people are added to the UK population, where the most significant percentage of migrants are non-EU population. Besides, the most recent labour market statistics revealed that the number of EU citizens working in the UK had dramatically reduced. In contrast, the working non-EU citizens in the UK has substantially increased. An estimated 1.29 million non-EU nationals are working in the UK, 130,000 more than a year earlier (Refer to the graph below), and Indians remain the most significant non-EU migrants in the UK.
Long-Term International Migration, UK, year ending December 2008 to year ending September 2018
Furthermore, a recent study published by ONS in 2018 confirms that Indian professionals receive a higher median hourly pay than White British employees. Similarly, Indians are the most likely ethnic group to have quality works, which includes good hours, the desired contract type and earnings above two-thirds of the hourly median pay. Therefore, it can be said that the UK labour market seems more promising for Indian professionals.
UK and Technology
In a report published by Tech Nation, the UK employs 5% of all global high-growth tech workers, which places the UK ahead of countries like Japan, France and India, also in the fintech sector, it leads the rest of the world. That said, London, the capital of the UK, ranks as the second most connected place for tech in the world, after Silicon Valley. It is also evident that the digital tech sector is one of the best-performing sectors in the UK economy. It is thriving faster than any other industry and creating jobs more than ever. Immigration experts are of the opinion that this is the most favourable time for technology professionals (in any digital technology domain) to self-initiate their international career in the UK.
In light of this new evidence, we are inviting applications from technology professionals who are looking for international careers with global technology brands. They can consult one of our team members to explore possibilities for their international dream career. Our counselling service is free of charge and customised according to their field of expertise. It includes making you aware of all available options, profile assessment to check your fitment to one of the available options, one-to-one consultation, and familiarising you with the processes and systems. We aim to connect exceptionally talented professionals in the field of digital technology with the best available UK career options, which will ultimately encourage economic progression in both India as well as the UK and in the long term, professionals and businesses will benefit.
To consult with us, please drop us an email at info@themistl.co.uk along with your resume and specific queries if you have any.
Reference list:
- Immigration Rules
- Population and Immigration
- Ethnicity pay gaps in Great Britain: 2018
- Job quality indicators in the UK
- Employment by sector
Hamori, M. and Koyuncu, B., 2011. Career advancement in large organizations in Europe and the United States: Do international assignments add value?. The International Journal of Human Resource Management, 22(04), pp.843-862.
Tharenou, P. and Tharenou, P., 2009. SELF-INITIATED INTERNATIONAL CAREERS. Maintaining focus, energy, and options over the career, p.197.
Harris, H. and Brewster, C., 1999. The coffee-machine system: how international selection really works. International Journal of Human Resource Management, 10(3), pp.488-500.
