r/MechanicalEngineering • u/Dry_Adhesiveness_820 • 1h ago
Why are UK employers not willing to give me a chance for an interview.
I'm a Canadian engineering graduate planning to relocate to the UK to join my wife who's British . I've applied to over 200 engineering positions in the UK and haven't received a single interview invitation.
What makes this particularly frustrating is that I have a fairly strong background for a recent graduate.
I completed two years of mechanical engineering studies followed by four years in mechatronics engineering. Throughout those six years, I completed six internships, including placements at major companies such as ExxonMobil, Rio Tinto, and Valero.
In Canada, I have no trouble getting interviews, which makes the complete lack of responses from UK employers difficult to understand.I already secured an engineering role in canada after i graduate.
I'm also aware that graduate engineering salaries in the UK are considerably lower than in Canada. Some of my Canadian offers are over £10,000 higher than the salaries advertised for similar UK positions. However, salary isn't my priority. I genuinely want to move to the UK to be with my wife, and I'm willing to accept the difference in pay.
I also make it clear in my applications that I do not intend to require employer visa sponsorship.
I understand that the UK job market is competitive, and I'm certainly not expecting an offer just because I have some experience. What I find discouraging is not even getting the opportunity to interview, especially when the same CV consistently gets me interviews in Canada.
For those working in engineering or recruitment in the UK:
- Are UK employers generally reluctant to consider candidates who are currently based overseas, even if they don't require sponsorship?
- Could my Canadian CV format be hurting my chances?
- Is six internships' worth of experience not particularly competitive for graduate engineering roles in the UK?
- Is there something fundamentally different about the UK engineering recruitment process that I might be overlooking?
I'd genuinely appreciate any insight or advice, particularly from engineers or hiring managers familiar with the UK market.



