OVER the past 12 months it’s been difficult to find a job, more so than usual due to the coronavirus pandemic.

People have become used to digital inductions and interviews, things that have gradually become the new normal. Some people haven’t even met their colleagues in person and many are now working from home.

Now imagine that while in the midst of applying for, interviewing for and hopefully starting a new job, you were also moving nearly 5,000 miles from your home country without your family.

That’s exactly what Deepa Joseph did when at the beginning of March she flew from her home in India to the UK to take on a new role as an audiologist at Boots Hearingcare in Harlow.

After completing 10 days of quarantine in her new single-bedroom flat she has since moved to a single-room house and spent the last month settling into her new role which, while similar to her previous job, she describes as ‘totally different’.

Deepa, 29, had never been outside of her home country before. She took a leap of faith, leaving behind her husband, family and friends in Mumbai, and took a massive step out of her comfort zone.

She had worked in a similar role within a hospital for four years after her graduation. Her husband, Arun, is expected to meet back up with her in the UK in four months’ time.

Explaining the reality of having to leave her husband behind for months, Deepa said: “It wasn’t too hard to leave him, to be honest. I’ve seen this as a holiday. 

“He’s comfortable with this situation too. My career is so important to me and he has been immensely supportive of my decision to come over here.”

Deepa has also spent time learning about her new home and culture.

She said: “It’s been great. I’d done a lot of the training from my flat and have had a different induction plan to work with since being in the Harlow store.

“I’ve shadowed a few of the other audiologists at different local stores. I’ve also got to grips with a totally different system to what we had in India. I’ve had a lot of personal training for that. It’s totally different.

“This is a big change, but it’s one that will allow me to learn so much more about audiology. My English at this point is okay, but I’m looking forward to learning that and about the culture here, too.”

Such a huge transition can be difficult and overwhelming – changing jobs, moving to a new country during one of the most difficult periods in recent history, and looking for a new home and visa, but Deepa says the process could not have been simpler thanks to the help of the team at Boots.

She said: “I don’t know how it happened! Everything happened all in one go.

“It’s the first time I’ve been to the UK – any country outside of India actually. I came without knowing anything and the team at Boots was just so helpful. I didn’t have to ask for anything. I’ve felt no difficulty from the moment that I landed.

“When I moved over, the team at Boots sorted everything and made the situation so much easier for me. They sorted the taxi that picked me up from the airport, they helped sort out all of my groceries and they’ve been great in inducting me online from there. I can’t thank them enough.”

One thing Deepa has been loving so far about living in the UK might be surprising to native residents – the weather. 

She says the temperature has been more comfortable after she found working in Mumbai far too hot.

Deepa said: “The cold! I know a lot of people living here would disagree with that, but working in Mumbai was far too hot – we’re talking between 35 and 40C over there. In the UK, it is far more comfortable. Another thing is how clean it is. I really like that.”

Sarah Rayner, a clinical audiological trainer at Boots Hearingcare, spoke of how well Deepa has been settling in.

“I’ve had the pleasure of supporting Deepa both through both her remote and face-to-face inductions,” Sarah said. “From my perspective, it’s incredible that Boots Hearingcare has ripped down barriers and is willing to appoint professionals from anywhere in the world, ensuring that we can employ the best people. 

“She has jumped into the role with a huge smile on her face and it’s been fun learning the differences which occur here to Deepa’s former role.

“Deepa has worked hard to adopt the UK guidelines and is a great ambassador to future professionals looking for a change of country, never mind just a change of company!”