r/Scotland • u/Zestyclose-Dream828 • 1d ago

Advice

Hi!! I’ve been doing research for studying abroad and hopefully getting a job after. I know this page is mainly Scotland but can anyone sincerely advise if Ireland or Scotland is a better pick for someone in their mid thirties? If you are an immigrant yourself please share openly and honestly your experience adjusting, cost prices, rent, grocery, life and culture. Is it isolating over there? Are people all money centered like in the U.S and stressed over bills and barely surviving? At a stage in my life where I really just want more of a peace of mind surrounded by nature, good hearted people, a slower pace of life and obviously to be financially stable.

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u/MiddleAgedDread123 1d ago

you chances of getting a job in Scotland if you need a work visa are currently extremely slim

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u/weebsauceoishii 1d ago

Not necessarily, not sure where you got that info from.

If someone outside gets a job offer, that can be used to apply for a working visa, the person has to show if they have the funds to get there, cover their first few months being able to pay for rent, services and food.

The only negative part is non-degree jobs are no longer easily acceptable, that is it. Others have to show they hold a degree before being pretty much automatically accepted as said pending the above information is provided.

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u/Spaceraider22 1d ago

Sure this is objectively true.

But very few if any employers are going to go through the hassle of sponsorship when there’s 100 UK nationals applied for the same job.

Only chance is if they’re in a niche higher demand field and a literally flawless candidate. Or nepotism.

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u/weebsauceoishii 1d ago edited 1d ago

Bear in mind these jobs that are accepting outside workers are advertising them outside the UK to be applied to and often well in advance. Their offers will be locked behind the immigration wall until they prove the visa is accepted.

I mean nobody in another country like say the US isn't going on myjobscotland and applying for a cleaning job you know. :)

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u/MiddleAgedDread123 1d ago

I got it from the number of international students you see posting about having graduated and aren't able to get a job! We recruited over 200 graduates this year and every job ad says must be eligible to work in the UK. The only overseas staff we have are those with dual citizenship.

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u/weebsauceoishii 1d ago

Being on a Student Visa and then getting work, is different from applying for a Working Visa from the start. The Student Visa > Working Student Visa is an easier path 100%.

As said they (home office) have removed non-degree job opportunities from their list, so even the menial of jobs requires the person to have a degree to be even considered. It kinda mirrors how Japan does it, where a degree is needed to have a Japanese sponsor to even be considered.

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u/ReplacementMundane58 1d ago

The people there are great. Very open and friendly if you are, too. Much more relaxed environment than in the States. We strongly considered living there instead of in US.

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u/Zestyclose-Dream828 1d ago

Thank you are the only person who really answered my question. Everyone is jumping ahead about visa, work permit etc. My question was pretty direct so thank you for some insight.

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u/weebsauceoishii 1d ago

I think us Scots can't tell you how others really feel, so you will obviously rely on immigrants in Scotland with visas to give you that info.

But it doesn't mean us Scots giving you a reality check on how to proceed isn't valuable information or answering your question slightly.

My 2 cents, you need to show if you are coming to learn for 3 years+ that you can cover that time financially - meaning course fees, amenities, rent, travel etc. If you do get a Student Visa usually getting a part time job with one is easy to get as you can then turn your Student Visa to a Working Student Visa.

But as long as you have the finances to cover that course period, you should be fine getting in.

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u/Zestyclose-Dream828 1d ago

Thank you for your feedback!! I really appreciate it. 😊 I have a BA in Linguistics and currently looking for schools to apply to for a Masters program. I am also trying to be strategic about my next step. In your experience as a Scot, do you think a background in linguistics would be helpful or make me stand out in a job market? Would pursuing a masters in another field strengthen my prospects or would I be better off transitioning into a more specialized field such as cybersecurity or law where skills may be in greater demand?

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u/weebsauceoishii 1d ago

A degree is a big win, could be in finger painting as a degree is a degree to the Home Office and you will find the path from Student > Worker a lot easier path for immigrants, than say applying for Working Visas right away. But even if you did apply for a job right away instead of doing your Masters, you probably would be ok with that Degree you have.

As for the job market, Linguistics here... unless you are aiming to be a Teacher/Professor yourself, then your other jobs will be limited to your degree being a benefit per se, but that doesn't mean any other employment non-linguistical wouldn't benefit for having that degree, that would show an employer you put the hard work in to get it and are reliable.

100% a good avenue to look at is Cybersecurity - lots of digital resilience, network security and risk management people are needed in IT over here, even more so with those data centers being built.

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u/Zestyclose-Dream828 1d ago

Do you have any schools you will suggest for a masters? I am thinking cybersecurity although it will be totally different from what I studied. But I’m at the stage where I am craving for the financial stability and I’m not sure if a teacher job fits that nor do I think it will stand out much for Scots.

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u/LePetitCantaloup 1d ago edited 1d ago

The UK has unemployment nudging 2 million, which is the highest in decades. Securing a job is hard. Securing a job as a fresh graduate that requires visa sponsorship, is nigh on impossible. Despite what universities, who are desperate for foreigners to pay inflated tuition fees, may tell you.

If you don't believe me, or think I'm dodging your question by mentioning visas, come and visit London. Every pub, hotel, McDonalds and Starbucks is now staffed by Indians who have just finished a Masters degree desperately trying to find high paying white collar work before their 18 months grace period where they can work any job before they need to find a job paying over 43k, runs out.

And London has a relatively large amount of jobs paying 43k or more. Scotland, comparatively at least, has hardly any.

Good luck.

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u/DecentTry8640 1d ago

No, you're missing the point.

All your questions are moot if you don't have a legal right to work in a country. No point in setting your heart on one or the other only to realise it isn't possible.