getting to london

Here's a question from a correspondent in the US. If you can help with thoughts etc please put your ideas in the comments.

"Greetings from NY, A New Yorker born and bred, I have decided to leave my nest, and spread my wings into wonderful London. The reason for this is that I want to gain a different perspective and also see how advertising/planning happens on the otherside of the Atlantic. The one problem that I have is that my contacts overseas are few and far between and I would much prefer not to send my c.v. into the blackholes that are corporate HR email addresses. My other problem is that I am also generally unfamiliar with the hiring practices over in England (student placements,etc.). So if anyone can help me out and give an American longing for London some advice it would be greatly appreciated."

Comments

[Will]

I can help here:

"I am also generally unfamiliar with the hiring practices over in England (student placements,etc.)".

If it's planning/account mgt you are after, for student placements, I recommend phoning the agency's HR department at 9.30 or 5.15, when they are most likely to be in.

Going along to a coffee morning and just chatting to people/starting a blog helps as well, I've found - I've met a lot of interesting people this way; just don't overpush it in your quest for a job - but I'm sure you'll be fine, consdering your experience.

I got placements by a combination of this/scatter gunning my cv.

Shoot me an email if you'd like -it's [email protected]. You are probably a lot more senior than I am, but if I can help, I'd like to.

[Fink]

hey, i agree with the chatting to relevant ppl and coffee mornings seem to be a great idea. plus blog + look out on Russell's site and John Griffith has a section for vacancies - so you could drop him an email.

Rather than emailing HR, it might help to get in touch with planning directors in an interesting way. they prolly get zillions of emails so try sthg different that may help?! good luck

[Aitchaitch]

My advice would be to check your legal position before you spend any time looking for a job or contacting people at agencies in London. There is a reciprocal "working holiday visa" arrangement for people under 24 between the UK and a few other countries but I don't know if the US is part of the scheme. Even if it is, travellers are not supposed to take a full-time job when they arrive (that doesn't stop them from doing so but they are, technically, working illegally).

Without that sort of arrangement, you face some tough challenges because you will probably need to find an agency willing to sponsor a working visa application (I'm not absolutely certain about this, which is why I strongly advise you to do the research: the British Consulate in New York is the best place to start). The issue here is that the sponsoring agency will almost certainly have to show that they have advertised the position in the UK and were unable to find anyone suitable.

The other way to achieve your aim may be to apply to a network agency in New York on the explicit understanding that you are seeking an immediate internal transfer from the New York office to the London office; however, this route may be very tricky unless you go to a micro netwrok agency like Naked or BBH.

Lastly, depending on your age you could always apply for a position on the WPP Fellowship Scheme. I'd post details but WPP's website appears to be down at the moment.

Of course, all of this advice is void if you are a digital (online as Americans usually call it) strategist, SEOer, planner, creative or account handler, in which case you'll be welcomed like a long-lost son, provided with a complimentary business class flight and a limo from the airport, and given a cosy office (with fridge) before you can say "Mark Cuban frequently turns to me for advice".

I hope this is helpful. Good luck!