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For anyone heading to London, the question must arise as to whether there really is work and what the rewards are. Even if your main in-tention is to travel, your money may well run out … and when you find yourself, it could be time to roll up the sleeves and get stuck in as part of London’s workforce.

The fact that there are an enormous number of employment agencies in London which specifically hunt down South Africans must be an indication that there is work available and that you are bound to find a job, whether it is packing videos in a factory, looking after old people or doing highly skilled work. Obviously it will depend on your qualifications, but in general there is a huge demand for temp positions in London. And what counts in our favour is that they are always on the look-out for South Africans. You might find, however, that the job you are looking for is not looking for you! It can take time to get what you really want, but if you just want a job, London certainly will have it for you.

About Agencies

There are a great number of employment agencies in London that will help you find a suitable job. You basically register with an agency, supply them with your CV and tell them what you are looking for. They don't charge you anything, since they get their money (and a lot of it too) out of the company to whom they supply a worker. So don't be afraid to register with as many agencies as possible, since that will give you the choice at the end of the day. It is, however, important to go to a good, reputable agency, because the company that you work for will pay you via them. So be sure to work through a trustworthy and honest agency. Remember that all the agencies pay at least one week in arrears, so don't expect your first pay at the end of you first week.

It is always best to have an honest and flexible attitude with your agency, since that will ensure that they can negotiate the best contracts for you. This is especially important if you plan on touring regularly.

Apparently good advice: Contact the agency again and again: those who want attention will get it!

About CV's and Interviews

Your CV

Before you contact an agency, prepare a professional CV. Contact con-sultants at various agencies that are well known for good service, es-pecially to South Africans (ask around!). Remember the biggest are not always the best. Get to negotiate with specific consultants and develop a good relationship with them. Be honest and specific as to what you are looking for and what your current situation is. Send them your CV and covering letter. They will contact you if you need to go for an interview.

It is important to create sharp impressions with your CV. So whatever it takes, do it professionally and make sure it's very presentable. The company will see it as some kind of reflection of your character, and it could give you the edge over other applicants for that job.

In London CVs must be short, to the point and reflective of your ability to do the job. They don't care if you played for Bitterfontein's first team; all they want is relevant information about your qualifications and expe-rience.

Golden rules for CVs

•It must be professionally typed without any spelling or grammatical mistakes. Don't add anything to a CV without being asked to do so. Keep your CV on a disc and print it out on a laser printer every time you need a copy. It is also a good idea to email it to yourself. Then you know it is safe somewhere in cyberspace and always easily accessible.

•It must not be longer than 3 pages.

•Setting your CV up in bullet points ensures easier reading and highlights areas of importance.

•¡Everything in the CV must be relevant and to the point.

•Sell yourself as a comprehensive package, without being arrogant: never undersell yourself!

Your CV should contain the following

•Heading - Use large bold letters.

•Relevant personal details - Full real name (no nicknames - Poon!), address, date of birth, age, nationality, marital status, driver's licence/s, telephone numbers.

•Educational background and qualifications - Secondary school, tertiary, academic and professional. Put more emphasis on post-school qualifications, and obviously those more applicable to the position you're applying for. Be specific about qualifications, names of institutions and dates. NB: Remember that a South African matric qualification (Grade 12) is equal to a UK A-level, and a Standard 8 (Grade 10) qualification is equal to GCSE.

•Employment history and experience - Start with the most recent and go back in time, and be very specific about the role you played in the company and the specific positions held in the company. Give short details about the companies you worked for and the specific fields on which they focus.

•Key skills – Any mention of any good computer skills and good knowledge of software will always be to your advantage. Statistical qualifications, communication skills, good typing skills and shorthand are also worth mentioning. Also mention it if you can speak a European language. Leadership skills are always sought after. Diplomas and certificates could be mentioned and referred to, but don't attach them to the CV (unless asked to do so).

•Interests - This should not be longer than one short paragraph, and should only contain relevant and outstanding information. Activities that reflect on you as a good team person, a creative person or as someone with artistic characteristics could be mentioned. However, keep it short.

•Other - At this stage there is usually no need to attach referees (unless asked to do so). This information could be asked for during the interview, so have it ready.

•The covering letter - Should only be a few short lines, which must briefly highlight why you are applying, and why you think you are suitable for the job, as well as where you saw the advertisement (and date of publication). Agencies are not impressed by long personal statements, which are seen as all the same and equally meaningless.

In short - give details and information that reflect your ability to do the work to the benefit of your employer, and which are at the same time a good reflection of your character.

Interviews

•You will not always be interviewed by both the agency and the prospective employer. In most cases the agency is the only link between you and the company. After your interview with the agency, they will let you know about further developments. Be ready, however, for an interview with the prospective employer and make sure by whom the interview will be conducted, as well as the exact location and at what time.

•Make sure that you are very contactable after you’ve been to the agency interview. You can be sure that the agency will try their best to place you, since this is how they make their money. Without making a nuisance of yourself, contact them regularly to keep them on their toes and to show them that you are keen on working.

•Whole books could be written on correct interview manners. Here are some very important tips to follow even before the interview starts:

If you want a million dollar job - be a million dollar person!

•Always memorise the relevant contact persons and refer to them in a professional way.

•Take a copy of your CV with you.

•Never be late for an interview; try be there at least 15 minutes before the interview starts. It's very easy to be late in London. There could be delays in the transport system, you could get lost, etc. Take this into account and make sure of the directions.

•Be friendly and create a good professional impression – greet with a firm handshake and make eye contact. First impressions are made in the first 10 seconds and are in most cases invaluable.

•Men should be dressed in their best suit, preferably a dark suit and polished black shoes, with dark socks.

•Men should be shaven and with a good haircut, without earrings, etc. Keep the Camden look for another time.

•Women should also dress smartly, in a dark and more conservative outfit. Polished court shoes are a plus factor.

•Be sure that your hair, nails and make-up create a good impression.

•If you need to fill out forms and other documentation, write neatly and have your own black pen.

•Be confident, honest (use your discretion) and enthusiastic.

•Sit upright and keep eye contact (it shows confidence).

•Don't smoke, eat, drink, play with your fingers, bite your nails, or look around during the interview.

•Be relevant and specific, and avoid clichés.

•Be specific about what you want to do, and also why you want to do it.

•Have a firm but flexible attitude. They might also ask you why you left your previous job. Be ready with a good answer. Don't be afraid to ask why the previous employee left the current vacancy that you are applying for. It could shed some light on the company's working environment.

•Your knowledge and/or abilities could be tested during the interview.

•This may include aptitude tests, computer skills and typing tests.

•The important thing to remember is that you should first secure the job, before you finalise the pay rate. Once you have secured the job, you are the one with the negotiating power (especially if you are highly qualified).

•Make sure about the type of rate you will be paid and intervals of payment, as well as deductions.

•Make sure you understand the questions asked - and think before you answer them.

•If you ask questions, make sure they are good, appropriate questions.

•Don't be afraid to ask questions – after all: questions create clarity!

•If you plan to form a limited company, ask the consultant how your pay-rate will be affected, in relation to the usual PAYE rate.

•Seem interested in what the interviewer is saying. An occasional nod of the head will show that you are. Also show interest in the company as a whole. They could ask you what in the company interests you and what you know about the company. It helps to inform yourself to the best of your ability about the company beforehand. The agency should have some information about the company. Ask as many questions as pos-sible; it will also show the agency that you are enthusiastic about work-ing prospects and that could count in your favour for future contracts.

•It is important for both the agency and prospective employer to know for how long you will be available to work for the company. They know that most Working Holiday Makers travel at some stage. Be prepared for this question and play your cards right.

•They will also ask you about your interests. Answer questions in a way that will reflect on you as a holistic person with good values and qualities. They will try and discover how you as a person will fit into the company's working environment – are you an individualistic worker, or are you better working in a team context?

•Don't discuss the salary if you are being interviewed by the prospective employer – that is a matter between you and the agency. The prospective employer might, however, ask you what salary you are expecting.

•During the interview the interviewer will try and discover as much as possible about you as a person, your working history and your working capabilities. Be prepared to be asked a wide array of questions.

Remember again: never undersell yourself!

Other General Advice

To get the most out of your working experience in London, you will need to play it fairly by the book, although you should not allow the industry to take unfair advantage of you.

Low Pay Unit Helpline

If you at any stage feel that you are not being paid fairly, you can contact this Helpline at Tel: 020 7713 7583 for help. If you have trouble with an employer who does not want to pay up at all, then you can contact Tel: 0845 6000 678, where government compliance officers will assist you.

Access to Personal Information

The Data Protection Act now allows you to have complete access to all personal information held by your employer, including aptitude and psychometric test results, interview comments and evaluations.

When Resigning

Whether you are working through an agent or directly for a company and you feel you've had enough (for whatever reason), there are certain things to keep in mind before quitting. Firstly, never resign in a hurry, and secondly, never resign without considering the reason/s and future options carefully. The reason/s for resigning may not even be as important as the way in which you resign. You should never leave a company under a cloud and with tasks left unfinished. Building up bad references like this might haunt you for years to come. Threatening to leave a company unless they meet certain of your demands is also a dangerous game to play in a city where you are a small fish in a very big bowl.

Asking for a Pay Rise

At some stage you could find yourself in a situation where you feel your service to your employer is not valued enough in terms of financial remuneration and/or benefits. Remember that you should always be able to back your request or claim by showing that your increasing performance is adding more responsibility to your job. Be valued by what you bring to the party.

Dress Code at Work

Something has been said about dressing for an interview. Dressing for your job, whatever that may be, is equally important. The professional dress in London is more conservative, with darker colours more prominent. Although this is the general dress code, you don't have to follow it slavishly. It is more important that you wear what you feel physically and emotionally comfortable in, thus giving you confidence to do the task at hand. Clarify with your employer what the general guidelines on dress code are and stick to them with discretion.

Honesty

London is a big place - you can run but you can’t quite hide. Employment agents actually make enough money out of you to overlook one or two white lies, but if they feel that you are messing them around regarding availability and so on, they might well just burn down a bridge or two for you - and in a specific industry there could be only be so many bridges. This said, it is also important to realise that giving your word and sticking to it (because you were raised that way) is one thing, but that this outlook can push you into in a rut, which might not always be easy to get out of. In London you must always look after yourself, BUT it is important to take decisions about working commitments very seriously and to always consider all options and implications carefully.

Minimum wage

As from 1 May 2004 the minimum wag has been increased from £4.50 to a still measly £4.85. At some times desperation might lead you to work for this kind of money, but after deductions and other costs such as travelling, you will be left with zilch. From about £5-£6 per hour working becomes more viable, but then you will have to put in many hours. Remember that when you complain about wages and working conditions, you only have a leg to stand on if you are legally entitled to work. Minister Blunkett might be blind, but this is not say that he can’t see you!

Bullied at Work?

If you feel that your employer or colleagues are treating you poorly, you can call the UK National Bullying Advice line for advice, Tel: 01235 834548. (What will people think of next??)

Department of Employment, Tel: 028 9025 7777