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Looking for a job in Scotland
If you're ready to find a new job in Scotland, now is a great time to start. We’re growing in several exciting industries. This means we have some incredible career opportunities.
There are websites dedicated to job listings - making your search for the perfect career even easier.
You can search for jobs in different ways, for example:
- On job websites
- Using recruitment agencies
The Scottish Development International (SDI) guide has information to help you:
- Start your search for a new career in Scotland
- Apply for a job
- Check your qualifications
Check SDI’s guide to finding a job in Scotland (sdi.co.uk)
Find out more about Scotland’s job sectors (sdi.co.uk)
Resumes, interviews and applications
In Scotland - like many other countries in the world - having a good CV (also called a resume) is an important part of getting a job. A CV is a detailed record of your job history and achievements. Most companies will ask to see this alongside any other application form you might have to complete.
You can find information about careers, courses, apprenticeships and CV advice on My World of Work (myworldofwork.co.uk)
Skilled Worker visa
If you want to come to Scotland on a Skilled Worker visa, you must have a job offer that’s on the list of eligible jobs. The job offer must also be from an organisation licensed to sponsor workers.
Check if:
- Your offer is on the eligible jobs list for a Skilled Worker visa (gov.uk)
- Your employer is on the list of organisations who can sponsor workers (gov.uk)
Find more information about Skilled Worker visas (gov.uk)
Health and Care worker visa
If you want to come to Scotland on a Health and Care Worker visa, you must have a job offer from an approved UK health and care sector employer. Approved employers are also known as sponsors.
Approved employers are:
- The NHS
- Organisations providing medical services to the NHS
- Organisations providing adult social care
You can find a full list of approved employers in the Health and Care visa guidance (gov.uk)
The job offered must also be eligible for a Health and Care worker visa. Your job will have a 4-digit occupation code. You can use the code to check if your job is eligible. If you already have a job offer, ask your employer for your occupation code.
You can find the list of occupation codes for a Care Worker visa (gov.uk)
Find out if you can apply for a Health and Care Worker visa (gov.uk)
You can see healthcare job adverts (apply.jobs.scot.nhs.uk)
Find more information about working in adult social care in Scotland (learn.nes.nhs.scot)
If you have a problem with your job, you can get help. Read the guide on problems with your employer if you have a Health and Care Worker visa (citizensadvice.org.uk)
Working if you have a student visa
If you have a student visa you might be able to work. Whether you can work and what hours you can work depends on the type of student sponsor you have.
You can check what your work conditions are on your visa. It’s important to know your work conditions before you start working.
Find out about working if you have a Student visa (ukcisa.org.uk)
Find out more about Student visas (gov.uk)
Finding a job after you graduate
If you're about to graduate or have just graduated, you can contact your university or college careers service to help you find a job. Some universities and colleges offer careers support even after you’ve graduated. You can find more information about the careers service by looking on your university or college website.
Find information on working after studies (ukcisa.org.uk)
You can also get careers advice and search for graduate jobs (prospects.ac.uk)
You can find more information about university career support services (agcas.org.uk)
Right to work documents
You need to prove your right to work in the UK before you start a new job.
You can prove your right to work by showing your employer either:
- Your valid passport
- Your online share code
Your passport must have a stamp from the Home Office that says:
- You can live in the UK
- You can do the type of work that you’re applying to do
You can apply for a share code online. When you get it, you can send it to your employer. You can use the share code for 90 days.
National Insurance number
Your employer will ask you for your National Insurance (NI) number if you’re starting a job in Scotland.
You can get a NI number if you have the right to work in the UK and one of the following applies:
- You’re looking for work
- You have a job offer to start work
- You’ve already started work
You can apply for a National Insurance number (gov.uk)
It can take 16 weeks to get your NI number. If you don’t have it yet, you can give your employer an email or letter showing you’ve applied for it.
National Insurance contributions are automatically taken from your salary. These may qualify you for certain benefits such as a State Pension and Jobseeker's Allowance.
Working for yourself or starting a business
Your visa will have rules about what you can and cannot do. For example, if you have a Skilled Worker visa you must work for the employer who has sponsored you. This means you cannot normally work for yourself or start your own business.
If you want to work for yourself or start your own business you must check the rules for your visa type. You can only work for yourself or start a business if your visa allows it. If you breach your visa rules, your immigration status can be affected.
If your visa lets you work for yourself or start your own business, there might be certain rules you must follow.
Check the rules for a Skilled Worker visa (gov.uk)
Check the rules for a Graduate visa (gov.uk)
Find out about working if you have a Student visa (ukcisa.org.uk)
You might be able to switch visa if your visa does not let you work for yourself or start your own business. This depends on your situation. Check what visas might be available to you (gov.uk)
If your visa lets you start a business or work for yourself, find information on:
The content on this page is provided by Citizens Advice Scotland.
Header image photo credit: Scottish Enterprise