Finding work in London: UK CVs, right-to-work checks and notice periods

London rewards Australians who show up with a sharp two-page CV, a share code ready to go and a clear idea of when they can start. Get those three right and you're ahead of half the queue.

The short version

• UK CVs are usually two pages, with no photo, no date of birth and no referee phone numbers. References come after the offer.
• Employers must check your right to work before you start. On a visa you'll normally give them a share code from your UKVI account [1][2].
• The legal minimum notice you give after a month in a job is one week, but most London office contracts say one month or more [4].
• Full-time workers get at least 5.6 weeks of paid holiday a year, capped at 28 days, and bank holidays can be counted in it [3].
• From 1 January 2027, unfair dismissal protection is planned to start after six months instead of two years [6].

How a UK CV differs from an Australian resume

Your Australian resume probably works fine at home. In London, a few changes help it get past the first scan.

A few more tips that matter in London:

• Translate the context. A London recruiter may not know Woolworths Group, a state health department or a Big Four office in Parramatta. Add a line explaining the size and type of organisation.
• Lead with results. Numbers, budgets and team sizes travel well across borders.
• Put your visa status near the top. One line such as "Youth Mobility Scheme visa, full right to work in the UK until 2028" removes a recruiter's biggest doubt.
• Use a UK phone number as soon as you have one.
• Write a short cover letter when applying direct. Recruiters often skip it, but hiring managers still read them.

Recruiters and where London jobs are found

London's job market leans heavily on recruitment agencies, especially in finance, tech, law, marketing, admin and temp work. Agencies are paid by the employer. They shouldn't charge you a fee for finding you work.

Ways Australians commonly find work:

1. Specialist recruiters in your field. Register with two or three, not ten, and keep in touch weekly.
2. LinkedIn, with your location set to London and your headline showing your right to work.
3. Company career pages, especially for the NHS, councils, universities and big employers.
4. Temp and contract work to start earning while you look for something permanent. Temping is common in London offices and can turn into a permanent role.
5. Your network. Australian alumni groups, ex-colleagues already in London and the Cooee community.

Expect a quicker process than in Australia for temp and contract roles, sometimes days. Permanent roles in big firms can take several weeks and two or three interview rounds.

Right-to-work checks and your share code

Every UK employer must check that you're allowed to work here before your job starts [2]. If they don't, they face a civil penalty, so they take it seriously.

As an Australian, you'll usually prove your right to work with a share code generated through your UKVI account. The employer checks it online with your date of birth [1][2]. You can choose to show eligible immigration documents instead, and an employer can't turn you down because you used documents rather than a share code [1].

If you have British or Irish citizenship through a parent, you'll use your British or Irish passport instead. British and Irish citizens can't get a share code [2].

Our guide on UK eVisa and share codes explains how to set up the account and what to do when it plays up. If you're still choosing a visa, read about the Youth Mobility and Ancestry visas. Youth Mobility visa holders don't need an employer sponsor, which makes them much easier to hire.

References, probation and notice periods

References

In the UK, references usually come after the job offer, and the offer is often "subject to references". Many big employers only confirm your job title and dates. Warn your Australian referees that an email may arrive at an odd hour, and give them the UK time difference.

Probation

Most London jobs start with a probation period, commonly three to six months. Notice during probation is often shorter, sometimes a week.

Right now, employees generally need two years' service before they can claim unfair dismissal. Under the Employment Rights Act 2025, that qualifying period is due to drop to six months for dismissals from 1 January 2027 [6]. The government notes future dates are still subject to parliamentary processes [6].

Notice periods

UK notice periods are longer in practice than many Australians expect, and they affect how fast you can start.

Your contract can give more than the minimum but not less [5]. Give notice in writing if your contract says so [4]. Some employers put you on garden leave, where you're paid but kept away from work, or pay you in lieu of notice if the contract allows it [5].

When a recruiter asks your notice period, be precise. "One month from Friday" is better than "flexible".

Pay, holidays and pension: what's different from home

Holidays

Almost all workers get 5.6 weeks of paid holiday, which is 28 days for someone working five days a week [3]. The catch: employers can count England's bank holidays inside that 28 [3]. In Australia, the NES gives full-time employees four weeks of annual leave, with public holidays on top. Read your contract to see whether yours is "25 days plus bank holidays" or "28 days including bank holidays". It makes a real difference.

Minimum pay

The National Living Wage for workers aged 21 and over is £12.71 an hour from 1 April 2026 [7]. In London, many employers pay more, and salaries for office jobs are usually quoted per year before tax.

Pension instead of super

There's no compulsory super at Australian levels. UK workplace pensions use auto-enrolment, with a minimum of 8% of qualifying earnings in total, of which at least 3% comes from your employer and the rest from you [8]. Compare that with the 12% super guarantee at home, paid entirely by the employer. Many London employers pay more than the minimum, so ask about pension contributions when you negotiate.

Your take-home pay also loses income tax and National Insurance through PAYE. See our guide to UK tax and PAYE for Australians.

Newer rights from April 2026

Since 6 April 2026, Statutory Sick Pay no longer has a waiting period, and paternity leave and unpaid parental leave are available from day one of a job [6].

Getting your Australian qualifications recognised

For most office jobs, employers simply read your degree as a degree. Australian universities are well known in London.

When an employer or university wants formal proof, UK ENIC issues a Statement of Comparability. It's a paid certificate that shows how your overseas qualification compares to the UK system [9]. It's most useful for less familiar qualifications, TAFE awards and public sector applications.

Regulated professions are different. You need to register with the UK body before you can practise:

• Nurses and midwives: Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC)
• Doctors: General Medical Council (GMC)
• Allied health professions such as physiotherapy: Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)
• Teachers in state schools: Qualified Teacher Status through the Department for Education's teacher services
• Solicitors: Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA)

Start these applications before you fly. They can take months, and fees and requirements change.

For job leads and honest feedback on CVs, join Cooee UK, our Facebook group for Australians in the UK.

Sources

1. Prove your right to work to an employer – GOV.UK
2. Check a job applicant's right to work – GOV.UK
3. Holiday entitlement – GOV.UK
4. Handing in your notice: giving notice – GOV.UK
5. Redundancy: your rights – notice periods – GOV.UK
6. Plan to Make Work Pay and Employment Rights Act: timeline update – GOV.UK
7. National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage rates – GOV.UK
8. Workplace pensions: what you, your employer and the government pay – GOV.UK
9. Statement of Comparability – UK ENIC

Keep reading

• UK Youth Mobility and Ancestry visas for Australians
• UK tax for Australians in London: PAYE, tax codes and the treaty
• Opening a UK bank account in London: beating the address catch-22
• Super while living overseas