Please i need an honest advise from experienced Nairalanders especially those residing in united kingdom. First i need to briefly introduce myself. I have a B.tech in Mechanical Engineering but has been working as a Maths and physics teacher in a private school in lagos. I also have a certificate of proficiency in computer repair and maintenance and autocad. My proficiency in autocad aided by my background in Engineering has also helped me to work occasionally as a site supervisor on building construction. I have a wife who is a matron in a public hospital. She has just got a job in U.K. and we all need to migrate but she has to be there first and work for 3-4 months so as to prepare the ground for us to join her. My questions now are:
1. What is the job prospect for me in uk based on my own qualification and experience?
2. Is there anything i need to do here before leaving in order to enhance my chance of getting a better job there?
3. What are the mistakes peculiar to new comers that we need avoid making.

Thanks.

@2 & 3 I don't know
But @1, sure ur prospect is hugh assuming ur docs are legit. My advice, tidy ur home properly as u plan your migration and don't sell any of your property for the unseen. That's one mistake people are quick to make.

adeyinka:
@2 & 3 I don't know
But @1, sure ur prospect is hugh assuming ur docs are legit. My advice, tidy ur home properly as u plan your migration and don't sell any of your property for the unseen. That's one mistake people are quick to make.

Thanks for your words of advise

I have no experience but one thing I know is that life in UK, London especially is very expensive. Their currency is stronger than the US $ and even the € so make sure you take enough money to avoid getting stranded. I think the mod Justwise may be able to help you with information. Good luck.

bitbybit123:
Please i need an honest advise from experienced Nairalanders especially those residing in united kingdom. First i need to briefly introduce myself. I have a B.tech in Mechanical Engineering but has been working as a Maths and physics teacher in a private school in lagos. I also have a certificate of proficiency in computer repair and maintenance and autocad. My proficiency in autocad aided by my background in Engineering has also helped me to work occasionally as a site supervisor on building construction. I have a wife who is a matron in a public hospital. She has just got a job in U.K. and we all need to migrate but she has to be there first and work for 3-4 months so as to prepare the ground for us to join her. My questions now are:
1. What is the job prospect for me in uk based on my own qualification and experience?
2. Is there anything i need to do here before leaving in order to enhance my chance of getting a better job there?
3. What are the mistakes peculiar to new comers that we need avoid making.

Thanks.

Based on your certification, just keep an open mind as to what industry you might find yourself..... You might need to further enhance your certification, retrain in an entirely different field or simply swim as the tide carries you...

Regarding your second question, no point adding certifications. Keep an open mind....

Your last question....... Avoid credit cards, don't spend what you don't have, take your journey one step at a time, United Kingdom is a leveller (you would understand what that means)........

i think when you arrive there you will understand how to run things better, your qualification and experience shows you are a smart person.

But which Kain Advice u want abi u just want to announce your Exit from this Poohole...,We know your life will be better we know u will be reborn a new standard human being and soon we will join u either as refugees or Otherwise

bitbybit123:
Please i need an honest advise from experienced Nairalanders especially those residing in united kingdom. First i need to briefly introduce myself. I have a B.tech in Mechanical Engineering but has been working as a Maths and physics teacher in a private school in lagos. I also have a certificate of proficiency in computer repair and maintenance and autocad. My proficiency in autocad aided by my background in Engineering has also helped me to work occasionally as a site supervisor on building construction. I have a wife who is a matron in a public hospital. She has just got a job in U.K. and we all need to migrate but she has to be there first and work for 3-4 months so as to prepare the ground for us to join her. My questions now are:
1. What is the job prospect for me in uk based on my own qualification and experience?
2. Is there anything i need to do here before leaving in order to enhance my chance of getting a better job there?
3. What are the mistakes peculiar to new comers that we need avoid making.

Thanks.

It depends on the ''job''. There are jobs, and there are jobs . The jobs you are qualified for in Nigeria i.e. teaching and engineering, will both require additional qualifications in order to practice in the UK. You might have to start from scratch. You need to also bear in mind that teachers are not paid astronomically well in the UK, the only people who do it are those who have a passion for it. Try to focus on upskilling your engineering qualifications when you get to the UK, it will be worthwhile in the end.

Go through the previous UK immigrant threads as your questions have already been answered therein. Good luck.

Stallion93:
But which Kain Advice u want abi u just want to announce your Exit from this Poohole...,We know your life will be better we know u will be reborn a new standard human being and soon we will join u either as refugees or Otherwise

Hmmm

claremont:


It depends on the ''job''. There are jobs, and there are jobs . The jobs you are qualified for in Nigeria i.e. teaching and engineering, will both require additional qualifications in order to practice in the UK. You might have to start from scratch. You need to also bear in mind that teachers are not paid astronomically well in the UK, the only people who do it are those who have a passion for it. Try to focus on upskilling your engineering qualifications when you get to the UK, it will be worthwhile in the end.

Go through the previous UK immigrant threads as your questions have already been answered therein. Good luck.

Does COREN or NSE has any influence on his getting engineering jobs?

justlikedat:

Does COREN or NSE has any influence on his getting engineering jobs?

Please i will like to know.

chukxy:
No. It doesn't. Experience in a reputable engineering firm in Nigeria would influence your getting engineering job. If you are keen to getting engineering job, you need to up your skill in engineering firm. A possible way to do it is doing internship in engineering firm in UK even if it is free. If you have finance, you can also go the route of doing your masters and doing internship during break. Just applying with current qualification and experience may prove difficult but not impossible.

Good to know

Lexusgs430:


Based on your certification, just keep an open mind as to what industry you might find yourself..... You might need to further enhance your certification, retrain in an entirely different field or simply swim as the tide carries you...

Regarding your second question, no point adding certifications. Keep an open mind....

Your last question....... Avoid credit cards, don't spend what you don't have, take your journey one step at a time, United Kingdom is a leveller (you would understand what that means)........

Did you have any issues with credit cards? You've really preached against it alot.

bitbybit123:
Please i need an honest advise from experienced Nairalanders especially those residing in united kingdom. First i need to briefly introduce myself. I have a B.tech in Mechanical Engineering but has been working as a Maths and physics teacher in a private school in lagos. I also have a certificate of proficiency in computer repair and maintenance and autocad. My proficiency in autocad aided by my background in Engineering has also helped me to work occasionally as a site supervisor on building construction. I have a wife who is a matron in a public hospital. She has just got a job in U.K. and we all need to migrate but she has to be there first and work for 3-4 months so as to prepare the ground for us to join her. My questions now are:
1. What is the job prospect for me in uk based on my own qualification and experience?
2. Is there anything i need to do here before leaving in order to enhance my chance of getting a better job there?
3. What are the mistakes peculiar to new comers that we need avoid making.

Thanks.

When you arrive, follow ur wife to her office and see if you can get a carer job for now.

After sometime, re-evaluate your options.

My two cents.

Inkredible:


Did you have any issues with credit cards? You've really preached against it alot.

Nope..... But know loads of people that have got their fingers burnt......

Lexusgs430:


Nope..... But know loads of people that have got their fingers burnt......

It's the devil's gift. One has to be careful.

Inkredible:


It's the devil's gift. One has to be careful.

Indeed...... They just issue a card with E - Money and the spender pays back REAL money........

Original Devil's gift......

Inkredible:


When you arrive, follow ur wife to her office and see if you can get a carer job for now.

After sometime, re-evaluate your options.

My two cents.

I dont understand. Did you mean i should follow her to hospital where she works and find out if i can get a job in medical line?
How possible when i studied Mechanical Engineering and she is a nurse?

Guess you are talking from experience but pls throw more light on it for me.

bitbybit123:

I dont understand. Did you mean i should follow her to hospital where she works and find out if i can get a job in medical line?
How possible when i studied Mechanical Engineering and she is a nurse?

Guess you are talking from experience but pls throw more light to it for me.

Ask your wife about your options in doing "Carer jobs."

If she's a nurse, she will set you up fast.

No, I'm not talking from experience and I don't have much information on that.

Inkredible:


Ask your wife about your options in doing "Carer jobs."

If she's a nurse, she will set you up fast.

No, I'm not talking from experience and I don't have much information on that.

ok thanks

bitbybit123:
Please i need an honest advise from experienced Nairalanders especially those residing in united kingdom. First i need to briefly introduce myself. I have a B.tech in Mechanical Engineering but has been working as a Maths and physics teacher in a private school in lagos. I also have a certificate of proficiency in computer repair and maintenance and autocad. My proficiency in autocad aided by my background in Engineering has also helped me to work occasionally as a site supervisor on building construction. I have a wife who is a matron in a public hospital. She has just got a job in U.K. and we all need to migrate but she has to be there first and work for 3-4 months so as to prepare the ground for us to join her. My questions now are:
1. What is the job prospect for me in uk based on my own qualification and experience?
2. Is there anything i need to do here before leaving in order to enhance my chance of getting a better job there?
3. What are the mistakes peculiar to new comers that we need avoid making.

Thanks.

Firstly, you need to learn to carefully and thoroughly swallow any African male pride you may be harbouring, because your wife is set to become your family's main breadwinner for a while, and that isn't always palatable.

Secondly you need to start to accept that neither your teaching experience nor your Nigerian engineering degree are likely to get you anywhere in the UK. As a previous poster said, had you worked for a reputable engineering undertaking here, then you would have a better chance, but lacking that experience, you are going to the back of the line when it comes to seeking employment in that field, so brace up for that and be ready to do anything legit you can get. The so-called "Have you any UK experience?" will come up a lot, so be prepared for that.

A period of internship would help, the length depending on whether its paid or not.

Thirdly, start tightening your belt now and keep it that way. For people like us coming from a country where we pay little or no tax, and so forth, the introduction to a high cost of living in the UK together with council tax and a 20% VAT can be frightening. However if you have children you will find that price stability works in your favour as the prices of children's essentials change not at all, and this makes planning easier.

Get ready to face petty, pervasive and often meaningless prejudice once you open your mouth and the African accent rolls out. But don't lose the accent, years down the line you'll rue that when you come to see how the Indians have preserved family life and values in the heart of a decadent West and you might want to do the same.

I look at the UK and my time in Europe as the period in my life when I was at my fittest. I walked almost everywhere possible when the weather's lovely, and not only does it save you cash, it keeps you fit. Learn to do likewise until you have started earning and conserve your precious naira which, once converted into sterling, will seem to be running quickly through your fingers. Living in obodo oyibo will teach you that pennies really do count, the joys of finding a 1 pound coin when one is down to one's "last card" and seeking which friend's house to go and perch in for a meal cannot be truly reproduced here.

Fourthly, our African women are lovely and usually behave well when they are translated to obodo oyibo, but we should also not tempt them. Your wife is the earner and you should seek as soon as possible to earn too. No matter what it is, once its legit, do it. No sexism intended here, but you shouldn't leave your madam paying all or the bulk of the bills for too long.

The cold: My brother, I learned the hard way that the best way to tackle the cold is to go out and face it head on. The fact is that once the cold sets in, we who are unused to it sometimes find it difficult to even go out in the morning and would rather sit home warming ourselves inside. That costs money in heating, and very soon someone starts to grumble about it. Layer up, and go out when you have to and don't allow the cold to sap your energy, which is what it does. In my case I had no option because the person I stayed with when I first came over had no sentiment and made it clear to me that contributions were expected from me towards energy costs and living expenses, so I had little or no acclimatisation time.

Fifthly, as someone else has suggested, be very careful with credit cards. Some like to say that its only weak minds who abuse them, but that's not true. They're easy to abuse, and you'll be given one without asking for it when you open an account, usually. Reject it, my brother, that will be the beginning of your salvation.

Lastly, forget home for a while when you cross. Focus on stabilising yourself before you begin to listen to the demands, and they will come, demands. Start small, in a one-bed or max 2 bed somewhere (whose size will amaze you, you can fit the average 2 bed in most parts of London where your budget might take you into my father's garage back in Nigeria then), keep your head down, work, work, work and gain and expand your foothold in obodo oyibo. Then start to talk to your people back home.

And keep your fingers away from that credit card.

Best of luck.

Please don't be afraid to relocate, you will surely get a job as a Mechanical Engineer if you put in your best. You can actually get jobs in buidling services industry or even as a Junior mechanical design engineer based on your qualification and experience. The pay might not be much intially but over time, it will get better.

You can start by looking for graduate Mechanical Engineer jobs. You will need to practice SHL tests and learn how to answer competency questions, if you are going for grad jobs. You will need to sell your experience as a teacher very well. Put all your achievements and all the soft skills you were able to acquire as a teacher in your CV and cover letter. Believe me, they can go a long way!!

While looking for jobs, you can start with customer service/admin roles. They are easy to find. With that, you won't be relying on your wife for money. The only issue with that might be accent as customers can be demanding and might shout on you if they don't understand your accent. Even if they do, there are lot of people with worse accents that are doing it. So, don't be fazed. After few days, you will likely get on well with it. You can use the experience to sell yourself as having good customer focus skills.

Things to do now is to start looking at vacancies, check all the requirements and find out if you can gain any qualifications before you relocate.

For new comers, I will advise you don't live beyond your means. Don't copy others. Most people that seem to be doing so well now started very small too. Talk to people that are doing well in your field, they will be able to put you through. Finally, learn to prioritise your needs.

bitbybit123:
Please i need an honest advise from experienced Nairalanders especially those residing in united kingdom. First i need to briefly introduce myself. I have a B.tech in Mechanical Engineering but has been working as a Maths and physics teacher in a private school in lagos. I also have a certificate of proficiency in computer repair and maintenance and autocad. My proficiency in autocad aided by my background in Engineering has also helped me to work occasionally as a site supervisor on building construction. I have a wife who is a matron in a public hospital. She has just got a job in U.K. and we all need to migrate but she has to be there first and work for 3-4 months so as to prepare the ground for us to join her. My questions now are:
1. What is the job prospect for me in uk based on my own qualification and experience?
2. Is there anything i need to do here before leaving in order to enhance my chance of getting a better job there?
3. What are the mistakes peculiar to new comers that we need avoid making.

Thanks.

@Cyberknight and dupyshoo. Thank you so much, i appreciate your words of advise.

dupyshoo:


You will need to sell your experience as a teacher very well. Put all your achievements and all the soft skills you were able to acquire as a teacher in your CV and cover letter. Believe me, they can go a long way!!

You are the only one who has told me this.

I don't live in the UK but my experience when i relocated to USA was
1) Be humble and prudent in your expenses. Start off with things simple and affordable like a cheaper phone instead of flashy expensive phones, Walk or get a monthly bus pass/ train pass until you can afford a car, insurance, gas and maintenance. look out for discount sales/ On sale items instead of buying stuff at expensive amount. Avoid breaking the Law...e.g. over-speeding, dumping garbage on roads etc. Be prayerful trust in GOD. don't let obodo life push u farther away from God.

Think i have got some advise here too

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Cyberknight:


Firstly, you need to learn to carefully and thoroughly swallow any African male pride you may be harbouring, because your wife is set to become your family's main breadwinner for a while, and that isn't always palatable.

Secondly you need to start to accept that neither your teaching experience nor your Nigerian engineering degree are likely to get you anywhere in the UK. As a previous poster said, had you worked for a reputable engineering undertaking here, then you would have a better chance, but lacking that experience, you are going to the back of the line when it comes to seeking employment in that field, so brace up for that and be ready to do anything legit you can get. The so-called "Have you any UK experience?" will come up a lot, so be prepared for that.

A period of internship would help, the length depending on whether its paid or not.

Thirdly, start tightening your belt now and keep it that way. For people like us coming from a country where we pay little or no tax, and so forth, the introduction to a high cost of living in the UK together with council tax and a 20% VAT can be frightening. However if you have children you will find that price stability works in your favour as the prices of children's essentials change not at all, and this makes planning easier.

Get ready to face [b]petty, pervasive and often meaningless prejudice [/b]once you open your mouth and the African accent rolls out. But don't lose the accent, years down the line you'll rue that when you come to see how the Indians have preserved family life and values in the heart of a decadent West and you might want to do the same.

I look at the UK and my time in Europe as the period in my life when I was at my fittest. I walked almost everywhere possible when the weather's lovely, and not only does it save you cash, it keeps you fit. Learn to do likewise until you have started earning and conserve your precious naira which, once converted into sterling, will seem to be running quickly through your fingers. Living in obodo oyibo will teach you that pennies really do count, the joys of finding a 1 pound coin when one is down to one's "last card" and seeking which friend's house to go and perch in for a meal cannot be truly reproduced here.

Fourthly, our African women are lovely and usually behave well when they are translated to obodo oyibo, but we should also not tempt them. Your wife is the earner and you should seek as soon as possible to earn too. No matter what it is, once its legit, do it. No sexism intended here, but you shouldn't leave your madam paying all or the bulk of the bills for too long.

The cold: My brother, I learned the hard way that the best way to tackle the cold is to go out and face it head on. The fact is that once the cold sets in, we who are unused to it sometimes find it difficult to even go out in the morning and would rather sit home warming ourselves inside. That costs money in heating, and very soon someone starts to grumble about it. Layer up, and go out when you have to and don't allow the cold to sap your energy, which is what it does. In my case I had no option because the person I stayed with when I first came over had no sentiment and made it clear to me that contributions were expected from me towards energy costs and living expenses, so I had little or no acclimatisation time.

Fifthly, as someone else has suggested, be very careful with credit cards. Some like to say that its only weak minds who abuse them, but that's not true. They're easy to abuse, and you'll be given one without asking for it when you open an account, usually. Reject it, my brother, that will be the beginning of your salvation.

Lastly, forget home for a while when you cross. Focus on stabilising yourself before you begin to listen to the demands, and they will come, demands. Start small, in a one-bed or max 2 bed somewhere (whose size will amaze you, you can fit the average 2 bed in most parts of London where your budget might take you into my father's garage back in Nigeria then), keep your head down, work, work, work and gain and expand your foothold in obodo oyibo. Then start to talk to your people back home.

And keep your fingers away from that credit card.

Best of luck.

what is the solution to this

Look into oil, gas, and mining. They'll take just about any engineer and pay well.

bitbybit123:
Please i need an honest advise from experienced Nairalanders especially those residing in united kingdom. First i need to briefly introduce myself. I have a B.tech in Mechanical Engineering but has been working as a Maths and physics teacher in a private school in lagos. I also have a certificate of proficiency in computer repair and maintenance and autocad. My proficiency in autocad aided by my background in Engineering has also helped me to work occasionally as a site supervisor on building construction. I have a wife who is a matron in a public hospital. She has just got a job in U.K. and we all need to migrate but she has to be there first and work for 3-4 months so as to prepare the ground for us to join her. My questions now are:
1. What is the job prospect for me in uk based on my own qualification and experience?
2. Is there anything i need to do here before leaving in order to enhance my chance of getting a better job there?
3. What are the mistakes peculiar to new comers that we need avoid making.

Thanks.

Well done bro.... so how well have you done now In your shoe right now o....saw your comments while searching for answers in here.... I'm equally a Mechanical Engineer I've supervised lot of Building constructions and Mechanical works relating to Oil&Gas servicing companies.... Going to UK through my wife but Scare of getting good jobs over there. Please enlighten me as you must have seen light already