After 7 years abroad, returning to the UK job market can feel very different to how you left — especially in real estate, where trends, players, and the market isn’t the same as it is in the gulf and the salaries differ massively.
Here’s our advice:
📄 Update your CV and LinkedIn — Highlight your overseas experience clearly and show how it translates into value for UK employers (e.g., exposure to large-scale masterplans or fast-paced delivery models). Add the details of your projects and achievements.
🤝 Reconnect with your network — Reach out to former colleagues, industry contacts, and recruiters who understand both UK and international markets.
🧠 Be open minded – Salaries are marked lower, you will likely take a hit on your first role back in the UK. Best to save some pennies before you repatriate.
🔍 Research the current market — Sector hotspots, hiring trends, and salary bands. For example, UK real estate hiring is currently strongest in logistics, regeneration, and mixed-use development.
📍 Be ready for cultural re-onboarding — The pace, decision-making style, the size of the projets and regulatory environment in the UK will differ from what you’ve become used to.
Coming back with international experience is a huge asset — but you’ll need to position it right.
