To my British friends

[budafist]

To my British friends,

Was talking to my dear bf over the weekend and we've decided that during our year long travels next year, we'd like to work in Japan and London.

How feasible would it be to get a job in our industry over there? Most of our kiwi friends do bar work over there and while I realise that is part of the Kiwi/London experience, it would be super cool to be able to do what we are doing here over there and avoid bar work where possible.

This is still in the very embryonic stages right now of course, just wanted to get your lovely opinions on this.

I can market myself as a graphic designer with a Bachelor of Graphic Design and 3 years pre-press experience.
or
a pre-press bitch with a design degree.

He doesn't have a design qualification so it may be harder for him though his illustration skills are awesome so I guess that would be we might have to lug around portfolios or have them send to London at that stage of our travels.

Even if we are paid a pretty miserable wage, pounds converted to kiwi dollars look very handsome indeed so I'm not worried about being paid junior rates.

So my question is, do you think we would be able to find jobs in London? We're looking at about 1 year so I guess we could market ourselves as such - contract work etc.

[frankster]

It would be very cool for you indeed, but I'm afraid I have never lived in London and all I have heard is that it is very very very competetive and has a hugely high cost of living (they have to subsadise housing for nurses and teachers). It might be worth your while looking at other big cities in the UK with lower costs of living but still a creative vibe. I know Manchester has some great options and is located such that you can visit Scotland, southern England or Wales for weekends easily enough. You will probably find that a lot of places in London are throwing cvs out of the window so as not to be burried by them at the rate they are coming in. Liverpool is striving to get back in the creative groove after they realised in the 1990's that no one cared that the beatles were from there anymore. Birmingham I personally find to be a large armpit, but maybe that's just me. Edinburgh is way cool, but very very up north and frickin Baltic in the winter. There's a lot of choices other than London. If you can get a foot in the door through someone you know though then I'd say go for it, because London is the name that will score major points on your New Zealand CV.

[budafist]

Thanks Frankster, will definately consider other cities, London has always been the place people flock to - so our natural starting point.

My current flatmates used to live in London and their London stories make me realise how expensive accommodation can be! One flatmate use to share a 3 bedroom flat with 10 other people (who also sometimes had boyfriends or girlfriends stay the night). His bed was shared with a couple - they slept at night and he was a chef so slept during the day. There were others that shared that room obviously. I find that totally gross personally - unless I had a sleeping bag and slept on top of their bedding, I would so not do it. But I guess your standards change when you see what the "norm" is.

Where is Brighton? I hear that is full of Kiwi's. Not sure if I want to see Kiwis overseas but should be helpful when getting set up. I can't seem to find anything online about the NZ ex pats in Brighton though.

[JPnyc]

If you go to Edinburgh you had better like hills and bad overpriced food . Good beer though. London would be my preference by far

[captain spanky]

london is very expensive, grey and busy...
i do know that manchester is crying out for creatives at the moment... it's changed a lot in recent years, had a lot of money spent on it and actually has a great nightlife :) (i'm off there on thursday ;))
Leeds is often overlooked however, it's a great place (my fave) but design jobs are a little sporadic at the moment (long term jobs that is.. theres always more chance of freelance short term work).
As far as portfolios go, i'm sure if you can put a comprehensive set of examples online and/or on a few cds, that would suffice in interviews?

[fredrich]

Going to London sometime early next year, but only for a little vacation. Is the high cost of living reflected in the hotel pricing?

[captain spanky]

depends where you're going! :)
I stayed in a very reasonably priced hotel in Russell Square a few months back. it said it was 5* (and it was) but had 3* prices. very nice. :)

[Jam]

London is expensive. Most of those who work here have to commute in and out of the city. It really depends on what your looking for interms of experience and standard of life. If you want to live in the centre then you'll be looking at £600 - £1000 or more a WEEK in rent!!
If you move further out you'll save money but will be restricted by tube and train timetables. Work wise, it will depend how good you are and your work visa. Agency work is always a good bet, alternatively start contacting now and see whats about - look at companies other then design agencies as well. Quite a few large companies will have in house teams. In a previous job I highered a NewZealander, interviewed her over the phone and viewed her CV and Portfolio online.

[Jam]

If your looking for printing and prepress roles, you may have to look outside of London, high rent prices means many printers have moved to the outskirts