How I Got a Skilled Worker Visa in London from the Phillippines

When people think about moving to the UK for work, they often assume they need a UK degree, local experience, or years of connections before landing a job with visa sponsorship.

Chyn had none of those.

Yet, in 2022, she moved from the Philippines to London - without ever studying or working in the UK before - on a Skilled Worker visa in audit.

Her story isn’t about luck. It’s about determination, resourcefulness, and having the right mindset.

🌍 She didn’t have a clear plan, but she had a clear goal: to work abroad.

🔍 She searched for opportunities everywhere, even in unexpected places like Reddit, where she found the job post that led to her breakthrough.

📢 She didn’t wait for the perfect opportunity, she created it by reaching out, getting referrals, and positioning herself for success.

In Episode 10 of Landed, Chyn shares:

• How she landed a UK job from the Philippines without local experience or a UK degree.

• Why mindset matters more than background, and how believing in yourself can make all the difference.

• Her unconventional job search strategy - how a Reddit post turned into a real, career-changing opportunity.

• What international applicants need to know about securing a UK work visa, and why it’s more possible than you think.

• Why you don’t need to be the “perfect candidate”, you just need to own your strengths and keep pushing forward.

For six months, Chyn applied to jobs abroad and got nothing: no interviews, no leads.

She explored different countries:

❌ U.S. - No sponsorship for direct hires.

❌ Canada & Australia - Student visa route was too expensive.

❌ UK? - Not even on her radar.

But instead of giving up, she kept going. She reached out to recruiters on LinkedIn, messaged friends for referrals, and reworked her CV with the help of a friend.

Then, a turning point: A friend sent her a Reddit post looking for Filipino accountants for UK roles.

💡 She took a chance, reached out, and got a referral.

💡 That referral led to her first interview.

💡 And that first interview? She landed the job.

🏡 Six months later, she was in London on a Skilled Worker visa—without ever studying or working in the UK before.

Here’s how she made it happen:

🔍 She focused on action, not obstacles. Instead of saying, "I don’t have the right qualifications," she asked, "Where can I apply with what I have?" That mindset shift changed everything.

🌍 She found an opportunity in an unexpected place. A friend sent her a Reddit post about UK audit jobs for Filipino accountants. She followed up, got a referral, and secured an interview.

💼 She owned the interview process. With just 7 hours to prep, she locked herself in a room, studied, and nailed it.

🏡 She adapted fast. When her initial UK housing fell through, she reached out to colleagues she had just met, and secured a place to stay.

🚀 The biggest lesson? Just keep going.

👉 Your career abroad is more possible than you think. Start where you are, work with what you have, and take that first step.