Tips for finding study programs, work and long-term accomodation.
Living semi-permanently in Scotland studying
or working is often a good way to really
experience local culture. However we do
encourage all travellers to consider whether
the job they require would be of more benefit
to a local person particularly in areas
of high unemployment. If you have advice
or a job placement, please e-mail us with
your information at scotland@backpackglobe.com
For Australians, New Zealanders, Canadians
and South Africans working in the UK is
not only a great idea because of the ease
and availability of working holiday visas
and a common language, but it is a great
place to locate while having the opportunity
to travel a bit in Europe.
Citizens of the European Union, the Channel
Islands and Gibraltar do not require a work
permit. If you are a Commonwealth citizen
(Australia, Canada, New Zealand etc) and
aged 17 to 27 are eligible for a working
holiday visa valid for up to two years.
You must apply for a working holiday visa
from a British embassy or consulate outside
the UK. For Japanese passport holders a
limited number are issued working holiday
visas each year. You should be aged between
18 and 25 at the time of applying, although
in some cases it may be possible for the
limit to be increased to 30. Student visas
are also available but these can restrict
the hours of work each week.
If you have a parent or grandparent who
was born in the UK try and claim residency
as this allows you to work for up to four
years and to start a business. After this
term is completed you may even be able to
take out permanent residency or citizenship.
Just because you are starting out in a new
country does not mean you can only get work
in a restaurant, bar, backpackers or warehouse.
If you are an accountant, lawyer or in medical
or banking fields try those first. Check
what fields your work permit may prohibit
you in as sometimes you can only take temporary
assignments through employment agencies.
Make sure you bring an up-to-date CV or
resume with you and relevant documents to
show your experience.
The Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO)
provide information on British visa requirements
for people wanting to take a working holiday
at the UK
Visas site
Finding work
You may consider first arriving in London
before going to Scotland to look for work
as it is a good epicentre where many jobs
are advertised. Here are some places they
are advertised:
TNT
Magazine - Comes out weekly at inner-city
London tube stations with many listings.
Make sure you get the magazine early on
the day of issue for best results. They
do have an online section. Daily
Telegraph - English paper. Check out
the printed edition and the Appointments
Plus web site. The
Evening Standard - English paper. The
mid-week edition is a good source of job
ads Financial Times
- English paper. Jobs for banking and
accountancy positions. The
Guardian - English paper. Jobs for
the education and media industries. Check
their JobsUnlimited
web site for listings. Loot
- this popular free English ads paper is
also a good way to find a place to live,
a car and even secondhand jousting sticks.
The
Times - English newspaper
These employment agencies can help you find
a job: Gisajob
lists over 1000 different employment
agencies Fusion
People For Australians and New Zealander's
looking for engineering jobs throughout
the UK Sugarman
- Medical and social work recruiter.
Aardvark Staff Agency - Unskilled and semi-skilled
work like waiting, bar and kitchen staff,
drivers and warehouse work. Tel: 020 7357
0666, Fax: 020 7357 0662. 13A Borough High
Street, London SE1 9SE. Tube: London Bridge.
Cook Dennehy - Temporary secretarial work.
Tel: 020 7681 8600.
Elite Medical Services - For social workers,
physiotherapists, pharmacists and doctors.
Tel: 020 7839 5000, Fax: 020 7925 2610.
4-6 Bury Street, St James's, London SW1Y
6AB. Tube: Green Park. EM
Recruitment - For teaching, nursing,
medical, physiotherapy, pharmacy, speech
therapy, social work, occupational therapy,
cardiology, medical secretarial, dietetics
& audiology. Fruitful
Jobs - Fruit picking work.
Inter-Country Nursing Services - Tel: 020
8780 1530. 166 Upper Richmond Road, Putney
SW15 2SH.
Jobs 4 Kent - This online site is only for
jobs in Kent, 30 mins outside London
Lorrimer Jones - Temporary accountancy and
banking assignments. Tel: 020 7681 0399,
Fax: 020 7681 0397. 88 Kingsway, London
WC2B 6AA. Tube: Holborn.
Shepherd Little Resourcing Ltd - Tel: 020
7283 7007, Fax: 020 7283 7008. Cleary Court,
21/23 St Swithin's Lane, London EC4N 8AD.
Tube: Bank.
Smile Agency - Dental and medical. Tel:
020 7403 4191.
Teachers Today - For fully qualified teachers.
Tel: 020 7242 1144.
UK & Overseas Nanny Bureau - Nanny or
au pair work. Tel: 020 7494 2929, Fax: 020
7494 2922. 1st Floor, 89 Regent Street,
London W1R 7HF. Tube: Oxford Circus.
LONG-TERM ACCOMODATION
Here are some hints:
- budget enough money to stay in a hostel
for 1-2 weeks if you don't find anything
more permanent sooner.
- add to your budget that you may need bond
money once you find a place.
- check university bulletin boards and newsletters
that may feature cheap student accommodation,
shared housing etc
- see advertisements in local newspapers
- walk the streets and talk to people. Let
it be known what you are looking for.
- some boarding schools offer accommodation
in return or a few hours helping out at
the school either in the dorm or elsewhere.
This may limit your night hours however.
- look into exchanging housing. There are
web sites and agencies that help organise
this. Search our bulletin boards or leaving
your own posting.
- some hostels may discount your lodging
for long term stays or you may be able to
work for your accommodation. Other hostels
refuse stays of longer than several days.
Check our discussion boards and job pages
for listings.
- some cities have cheap workers dorms
- go to the local housing agency
- join a house sitting organisation or check
our bulletin boards for house sitting opportunities.
There are usually requirements to fill,
age is a big one.
