Career Clinic: After 10 years in Asia, what jobs should I target in the UK?

Hmm...

I would have thought your best bet would be an in-house company secretarial position at a large company, although unless at a really big FTSE company you will be taking a cut in real terms salary and lifestyle. I may be wrong but I doubt that either private practice or in-house legal will be attracted by your CV - after all you have never actually practised as a lawyer here and certainly not at 8pqe level - nor probably you by them, given your cushy number where you've been for the last few years. The UK employment market is tough at the moment, including for lawyers.

Associate -03 Mar 2011 | 17:02

Be realistic

If your move is driven by personal rather than professional motives and has to happen come what may then you’ll need to settle for the best you can get – especially if you are tied to a particular region of the UK other than the south east of England. In-house roles, as senior as you can get, sound the most likely routes back. In this market you will do well to avoid earning considerably less and working considerably harder than you sound like you’re used to. If you know any companies with growth plans in Asia who might value any contacts or market awareness you have I’d pick up the phone - that’s probably not going to involve a legal role though.

Don’t be surprised if your experience isn’t very highly-rated by UK employers as it won't be relevant to many of them. Your post suggests you have had an easy gig for the last few years and you seem quite pleased with yourself. You might struggle to convey the same enthusiasm, drive and market awareness of other candidates who have been stretched in their current jobs.

Also if I were you I would not disclose your reasons for moving back in more detail than a personal desire to move home.

Young Fogey -07 Mar 2011 | 12:08

Look before you leap

How does your family feel about the move? From what you say about your standard of living now and what you can expect when you come back, they'll be in for a shock. Education in England is not necessarily cheap either - generally in areas where a good education is free, houses are expensive. Would you be able to negotiate an extended leave of absence or possibly a "foreign posting" through your existing job? Your present employer may well be sympathetic to your need to be there for your parents.

Aquilegia -07 Mar 2011 | 16:32

agreed

Agreed, an in-house role in a PLC would be great, but there is little in common with that and my current role in a factory in the developing world with less than £3,000,000 turnover operating under a different corporate law structure. Any other suggestions?

original -12 Mar 2011 | 14:11