Living and working in the same place… your idea of fun or flawed design?

Live in jobs are the traditionally popular choice of backpackers, graduates and young people looking to fund their travels across the world. You’d be forgiven for thinking they were mainly opportunities for “getting to know the locals” and having a cheap bed to sleep in after a hard day’s partying, but that’s not what it’s all about in Scotland.

While this is definitely something that’s alive and well (look at any hotel in Loch Lomond in the summer), there are also unique instances of live in jobs that’re the province of older people and couples looking to live and work in some of the most idyllic areas of the country. They can be a stable source of income all year round, and provide gorgeous accommodation for a fraction of the usual price. If you hit it big it could even be rent free.

Especially popular in the Highlands and Islands, you’ll find these jobs fall into the same broad category as the usual live in jobs (in that they’ll largely be part of the hospitality industry) with loads of them involving cooking, cleaning and working behind a bar. Perhaps uniquely in Scotland, they can be for a longer term than elsewhere in the world – often permanent and full time rather than for the peak season or at weekends. Think you could survive a year-long party?

Who are live in jobs suited for?

So we’ve said that the live in jobs in Scotland aren’t the usual; but who are they suited for? If you’re looking for a seasonal position, or something part time and with limited responsibilities, then you’ll likely find that live in jobs in hotels and visitor centres are a perfect if usually short term solution to your needs.

If it’s a change of scenery, high standard of living and a more senior position that you’re aiming towards, then seeking work in stately homes, traditional inns or guesthouses will be more what you’re looking for. These can be highly paid but you’ll need to have extensive experience and prove yourself capable of the responsibility, meaning they’re unlikely to look at students or younger people for these positions.

You can usually find ads for these types of jobs appearing around March or April: they may be permanent positions but they’ll still like you to start before the peak season! Keep an eye out over the next couple of weeks and you should hopefully see things appearing. Bear in mind they’ll likely be more focused around the Highland area so refine your search for there if you’re dead set on (and why wouldn’t you be!) living in some of the more rural areas of Scotland.

For a more general search, keep an eye out on our Hospitality, Catering & Tourism jobs page to see the latest live in jobs being posted throughout the year.