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[wet_blanket]

My nephew asked me, the token academic in the family, how easy it is to come by research assistant work in the UK.  Not being in his field (I think it's something to do with bio-science, but he does desk based rather than lab-based work) and never having worked in the UK, I can't comment. 

He has a couple years work experience and an honors degree from Australia and will be in the UK for 4-6 months (following his gf).  He'd prefer London, but would go elsewhere if he had to find work.  There is some kind of working holiday visa he's eligible for, so that's not a problem.

My instinct is that the short time period means that he'll be looking for unadvertised/casual work. Not knowing the culture, how would sending his C.V. to research groups unsolicited be received?  And is there a particularly good time, in terms of funding cycles?  He'll be there in the first half of 2010.

So, is he likely to be able to find research work, or shall I tell him to practice making coffee?

[babbinacara]

Neither. Tell him to practice in a loud clear voice:
"Big Issue? Big Issue, sir? Ma'am, you're looking good today, would you like a Big Issue?"

Seriously, he might try sending his cv round, but if his honours degree is a BA and not a graduate degree, his chances aren't great, unless his work experience is very strong and well matched to the objectives of some research group or lab. Most such groups will have named researchers signed up from the moment they get grants, but younger researchers do move around, and your nephew might be lucky enough to intersect with an unforeseen gap in someone's coverage.

[pinkmouse]

An Australian degree of BA (hons) is just a 4 year undergrad degree. I'd say his chances are slim to none. His best chance I would guess would be if his previous professors (or current employers) have some professional colleagues in the UK that they could contact on his behalf. Just cold-calling and sending a CV mailshot I don't think he will get anywhere.

[wegie]

Research Assistant is extremely unlikely, but if he's prepared to do technical or clerical work (at one of my previous jobs we had a BA from Melbourne doing temp/seccy work for us) he should be able to pick up something.

[august_leo]

He should look at jobs.ac.uk and try to find ads that say the qualifications are a first degree in biology or related field.

[wet_blanket]

Thanks everyone.  I'll have to find a way to gently give him the reality check.

Thanks for the link, august_leo.  I'll tell my nephew to look for sure, but I might have to start keeping an eye on it myself.

Again, thanks all.

[qrypt]

As if more reality check is needed: keep in mind that we're at something like 9% unemployment here.

Is he musical?  I used to make a lot of money busking in the tube.  Now they even give you a permit -- you don't even get hassled by the police any more.

[wegie]

Is he musical?  I used to make a lot of money busking in the tube.  Now they even give you a permit -- you don't even get hassled by the police any more.

Yeah, but it's competitive auditions for the permits and they're not issuing any new permits for the forseeable.

[frogfactory]

Research technician, maybe.  If he has contacts.  And references.

[wet_blanket]

Update/further question: Nephew saw a job advertised he likes, a research technician or somesuch.  The application form asks whether he needs or wants visa sponsorship.  Is he better to do the working holiday visa as he originally planned, or to tick the "yes, please sponsor me" box?  I wouldn't imagine a uni would sponsor someone for that level of work, but my bro reports nephew is full of stress and angst at the possibility of making the wrong decision and subsequent irreparable ruination of his life, etc, so I'm dutifully checking.

Why he thinks I know how to find work in the UK I'll never know.  I better get moved into "coolest Aunt" position, at the least...

[lorelei]

Do not ask employer to sponsor. Go with the working holiday visa. If he gets the job, and they really like him and wanted him to stay longer-term, they could sponsor a visa at a later stage.
(There is a strong likelihood that anyone who says they cannot legally work in the UK and need an employer visa just won't be considered for that level of job. There's too much competition).

[wet_blanket]

Do not ask employer to sponsor. Go with the working holiday visa. If he gets the job, and they really like him and wanted him to stay longer-term, they could sponsor a visa at a later stage.
(There is a strong likelihood that anyone who says they cannot legally work in the UK and need an employer visa just won't be considered for that level of job. There's too much competition).

Thanks.  That was my instinct too.  I suspect the turnaround time on the visa is probably quicker for the working holiday as well.

Now to pass on that info, and claim my rightful place in the hierarchy of cool aunts from SIL's sister.  She snuck him into a concert his folks wouldn't let him go to when he was 15.  It was years ago; surely my time has come.

[scotia]

Just to concur with what lorelei said: if there are qualified applicants who do not require us to sponsor a visa - and at that level there are likely to be - we would not even consider someone who does require a visa. He should realize though, that even with a work visa he is not guaranteed an interview. I was chatting to one of our science guys at graduation on Friday: he had 40+ applicants for a technician post in his lab. Graduate unemployment is high here, so he now has the pick of some very capable applicants.

[sir_lancelot]

Does he need the money of a "proper" position or is it more about the experience? In his case I would look for a kind of internship in a research group and then ask if they can pay a little. The best approach would be if somone can recommend him and place him in a colaborator's group, but cold e-mailing would be okay. As a PI I would not hire someone unknown for a short period if they are just looking for a paycheck, but I would consider letting someone learn in my lab and cover some of their expenses.

[wet_blanket]

sir_lancelot - He has some decent work experience already.  I think he's looking for "proper" work of the type he has been doing in Oz because he doesn't want to go backwards in his career, from skilled to unskilled work.  But he's not nearly as spoiled as that makes him sound; he has done plenty of factory/labour work and isn't afraid to get his hands dirty.

Interesting that you wouldn't hire someone for a short period.  It has been my experience that the nature of research work makes finding short term positions easier than long term/permanent ones. 

Scotia - thanks.  He has been really fortunate with getting work through word of mouth in the past and this may be the first position he has formally applied for.  The realities of finding work in another country in this economy may be a shock to him.