American looking for a job in Scotland?

Question

(reposting from general careers, since locals might give me better advice then just general business folks)

I'm a U.S. citizen but my family has Scotish roots. Now that I've finished my college I'm wondering about taking some time to work abroad.

I've been considering looking for employment in Scotland, or more generally the rest of the U.K., and I'm curious how I might go about doing that. Obviously I'd need a work visa and the like, but I'm more concerned with

What exactly might I look for career wise over there? Something that's not too hard to get into, doesn't pay too terrible (I don't need a great standard of living but I wouldn't want poor), and would be something that would work for me for maybe 1 or 2 years abroad?

Answer 1

I can't give you specifics, I can just tell you that it is VERY difficult  to get any kind of job in ANY European Union Country if you aren't from an EU country and in the UK you will also have to get behind anyone from the British Commonwealth countries also.

I worked for a London based Company in New York and have been to the UK six times.  I  know a US few people who worked in the UK, and they were sent there from either US based companies or UK companies with offices in the US.

It's going  be very difficult for a US college grad with no experience.

Answer 2

because of mass immigration over the past few years, to obtain a working Visa for the UK you will have to go through a points system for highly skilled immigrants. Basically if you do not have a skill that we are in high demand of you will not be granted a Visa.

for only staying in the country for a short period, you could apply for a Holiday working visa, which will give you about 12 months to work here, but with that sort of visa the sort of work you will get will probably be minimum wage work in supermarkets or fast food restauraunts.

Also any UK, EU or British Commonwealth Citizen is ahead of you in terms of pecking order to get a job

Edit: after looking at the rules of a working Holidaymaker visa, as a US citizen, you are not eligible for this it appears, so that option seems closed now