When Is the Best Time to Apply for a Visa Sponsored Job in the UK?
The UK job market can be competitive for anyone, including students, fresh graduates and people who have work experience. Sometimes, timing can also play a crucial role in the success of your job application. There are months that are busy for both students, graduates, and experienced professionals, and there are months that are quieter. If you understand the timing, you can have a more planned approach to your job application. In this article, we explain the best time to apply for a job in the UK for students, graduates and experienced professionals.
For Students and Graduates
September to November is Key
Student and graduate recruitment often starts around September, and companies recruit one year in advance. For example, the majority of the big recruiters, who sponsor work visas for graduates, start recruiting in September 2023 for roles that commence in summer/autumn 2024. Recruiting one year in advance allows companies to have sufficient time to complete all interviews and assessment centres, deal with documents and visa applications and allocate resources in the company before the new hires arrive.
There is another reason for starting the hiring process around September. The majority of UK students finish their degrees and get their results by September. Even if you are doing a master's course, you are most likely to complete your course by September and can legally start full-time employment afterwards.
March to June is Competitive
Having a specific recruitment time frame means the number of vacancies available in the market often peaks around September to November each year for students and graduates. As the recruitment progresses, companies start closing their roles from November onwards and begin interviewing. Therefore, the number of vacancies available will be the lowest from March to June. It does not mean there will not be roles available during this time. There were more than 1,000 live student and graduate vacancies on UK Visa Jobs between April and June in 2024. However, due to the limited number of vacancies, securing a job offer from April to June can be challenging amid fierce competition. If a company started recruiting in September and is still recruiting for the same role in April or May, it may indicate they were unable to fill these vacancies. Applying for this type of vacancy often increases your chance of being shortlisted for an interview.
Start Dates
The start times for internships and graduate programmes are different. The majority of internships often commence around June and last for anywhere between four and eight weeks. However, graduate programmes usually start between July and September, though some may start in October. Graduate programmes often last for 18 - 36 months, depending on the role, and graduate jobs are also deemed permanent. 18 - 36 months is the duration of training. After the training period, you will often move into a permanent full-time role where training is less common.
If you are currently at school and have not graduated yet, or are only starting your master's degree this September, it is important to start your application as early as September. Being a final-year student or on a one-year master's programme does not impact your job application, and you should never wait until you graduate. However, if you have already graduated, you should be applying for roles now.
For Experienced Professionals
Companies hire staff year-round, especially people with work experience. Although there is no recruitment cycle like that of graduate and internship roles, some months are quieter than others.
January to May is Key
Usually, January to March is the best time to look for a job. During this time, many companies allocate their recruitment budgets, people return from their Christmas or New Year breaks, and hiring managers rush to fill vacancies that were paused due to the holidays. Many companies also pay bonuses during this period, and people change jobs after receiving them, creating more vacant positions.
There are still plenty of roles in the market in April and May, mostly due to the openings from January to March. However, during this time, the job market can get very competitive because more people are applying for jobs. It is essential to review your CV and prepare well for your interview.
Summer is Quieter
The summer months are usually quiet. There are fewer vacancies than in January or February, and fewer interviews will be held due to hiring managers being on holiday. You may need to try harder to find something suitable during this time. If you cannot find a job you like, you should not worry too much. The market will start picking up again in September, and there will be more jobs. Summer is also an excellent time to improve your interview skills, prepare for upcoming interviews, and increase your chances of success in the autumn.
The rest of the year returns to normal, except for December, which is a holiday period. In September, the market will recover, and there will be a decent number of jobs you can apply for.
Summary
Overall, you can apply for visa-sponsored jobs in the UK throughout the year, as vacancies are always available. However, there can be seasonalities in some industries and job levels, which applicants need to be aware of. If you want to increase your chances, it is important to start acting now and apply for as many suitable jobs as you can.
