Getting a Job

[Mr_Kiwi]

Hi guys, I'm looking at getting a job very soon in Colchester but I dont know how the pay system works here. What is a good wage to be on? And is there anything I should be aware of before starting a job in the UK?

I'm looking at getting a job at Route bar/club in town as they are looking for staff and it seems like it'll suit me well as they are only open 3/4 days a week. Long hours dont bother me as I was doing them for the last 6 months to save up.

So my basic question is, what is the pay rate (I'm 21 with quite a bit of work experience) I should be looking at?

I would ask someone my age who works part time, but oh wait thats right, I only know 1 person in the country whos my age and hes serving in FPG...

Cheers
Alan

P.S. If anyone has a job going or knows of someone who is looking for a worker in or around colchester let me know!

[_chris]

£4.45 is minimum until your 22, then its £5.05 you may have a nice employer (like I do ) who'll pay more, but usually for the type of work they could get anyone off the street to do like bar work etc. shouldn't expect much above the minimum. I would say check your getting your NI paid, but don't know how that works with you from NZ .

I don't think theres anything else really that isn't I would imagine is universal. Don't try any security work though, need to be licensed for that. Not done any bar work myself so there may be something special you should know, looked into it myself (mainly for when off to uni) and was not informed of anything.

[Mr_Kiwi]

I count as a british citizen (british passport) so I would assume NI is sorted??

[_chris]

Do you have a national insurance number? If so then yeah just check they put the right number on your pay slips and are making the deductions (if you earn more than £100 a week)

[Mr_Kiwi]

i dont have a national insurance number, i phoned up to get one and they said i needed to show either 3 rejection letters or be employed. They told me I didnt need a NIN to get a job.

Please tell me this is true or I am seriously going to be pissed off. since I landed I've been told one thing by one person and then something completely different from another when trying to get everything sorted.

The armed forces seem no different, i talked to 6 people, 3 said I count as an international applicant, 3 said i dont. so i said i dont

So at the moment it stands that 1 person said i do need a NIN when i first got here, and then I rang them and 1 person there says i dont... I'll ring them tomorrow and see what happens.

Cheers

[Alfa]

Don't take this as red, but *I believe* you can get a job without an NI number but you will have to produce one for your employer within the first couple of months.

So you should be able to get a job then apply for your NI number as you were told, but you will need one as if you can't produce one for your employer they can sack you.

Best thing to do is go to your local Citizens Advice Bureau, they will be able to give you the best advice on what you need to do and should even be able to give you the propper forms etc... that you will need to fill out.

[_chris]

You should apply for one when you start work, as long as you let your employer know it should be fine. I like Alfa think you have a couple of months before its needed.

From the HMRC website:

If you do not already have a National Insurance number you must apply for one as soon as you start work or you (or in some cases, your partner) claims benefit.

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/faqs/ynino.htm

[Mr_Kiwi]

ah, excellent. Thanks guys that out my mind at reast.

Cheers

[kiwilad]

Hiya Mate,

I just landed in the UK a couple of weeks ago, so am pretty much in the same boat as you.

I'm in London and sending out my CV 25 times a day through various job agencies. I phoned up Job centre as soon as I could to get a National Insurance number. You can start a job without one but you will be taxed at a higher rate. My interview with Job centre is still a month away. Quite a back log. So make a call to job centre on 0845 600 0643. That way you'll have an interview by the time you find a job. Or at least a couple of rejection letters. When applying to join the armed forces, you can only get so far in the application process without one.

I too have a British passport and am being treated as a British Citizen. If you are joining the Royal Marines then you need to have lived in the country for 'X' amount of years (X = either 3 or 5, I forget). I talked to the AFCO and they said since I was the son of an expat that this requirement can be waived. Your situation may very well be different, so take it with a grain of salt.

All the best mate.

Kiwilad.

[Mr_Kiwi]

no worries mate, my dad was born here and then moved away so i think i count as a full british citizen, no 3 years bollocks hopefully.

yea i just got to get my ass into gear for sending out CVs, no where in colly seems to appeal to me tho. there was a hot young thing working at the noodle bar tho so i might try there haha!