Advice on getting a job and accommodation in London. This is commonly the subject of questions in London newsgroups.

Job

This should be your first priority. Unless you have enough money to survive for a while without work, and don't mind picking up temporary work such as office admin (which doesn't pay enough to go far), you should arrange a job before you arrive.

Temporary work
If you have bar experience, office skills, or don't mind sheer hard work, you should be able to pick up either temporary or semi-permanent roles quite quickly. You may also be able to get advice from student websites such as Miss Your Mum? which has advice on jobhunting, tax and deductions - as well as living on a tight budget.

Permanent work
From my own experience, the IT market is quite flat at present. You can no longer bank on picking up a job within a few weeks. Other professional markets are unknown - comments are welcome!

Job Websites

• Big Blue Dog
  
• Fish 4 Jobs
  
• Go JobSite
  
• Jobserve
  
• Monster
  
• Totaljobs
  
• Workthing
  

The minimum wage is £3.50/hr for 18-21 year olds (from 1/10/01) and £4.10/hr for those 22 and over (from 1/10/01), but you will need to earn more than this to survive comfortably.

Information on work permits can be found here. If you are not a resident of a European Economic Area, your employer must apply for a permit in order for you to work.

Accommodation

It is relatively easy to find accommodation in London - it is quite possible to turn up with a backpack, find a room or bedsit in Loot newspaper, and move in the same day. Of course you cannot afford to be picky if you take this option! From this room you can look for somewhere more suitable at your leisure. A room in cheaper areas costs around £60 per week.

Alternatively you can visit London for a day and find somewhere to rent, but it can take another week or so to organise paperwork before you can move in.

If you need short term accommodation, there is a cheap hostel in Central London aimed at backpackers, called The Generator. Prices start at ten pounds per night, with locker and free breakfast. It also has internet facilities, a games room, bar, and the vibe is good!

If you are renting a flat or house, you will probably have to provide bank guarantee and/or guarantor's name or details of your employer , as well as a deposit and a month's rent in advance - which is why it makes sense to secure a job before coming. The cost starts at £100 per week for a small flat, and rises as high as you are prepared to pay!


Good luck!