Carrie Ann Anderson

Fresh Talent: Working in Scotland Scheme

Name: Carrie Ann Anderson
Age: 27
Born: Pennsylvania
Lived in Scotland: 4 years

Some people are born academics and Carrie Ann Anderson from North West Pennsylvania is one of them.  The beginnings of Carrie's long-term relationship with Scotland – and an academic career – were several holidays when she quite simply fell in love with the country.

Before coming to Scotland in 2002, Carrie was already a graduate of Savannah College of Art and Design in Georgia where she took an art and design degree in Historic Preservation. This gave her a foothold in the area of architectural preservation and the conservation of the built environment which was later to play a significant part in her academic career.

"When I was looking into doing post graduate work in America, it was a cheaper option, from the prestige and grade of the university, to take the Museum and Gallery Studies at the University of St Andrews than at a comparable university in the United States", she said.

"It also meant coming to Scotland which I had fallen in love with when visiting on holiday several times. So I had the opportunity of coming over here for a year and taking the course of my choice."

Carrie so much enjoyed her time at St Andrews that she took another post graduate degree the following year, in 2003, studying vocational information technology. The next year found her at the University of Edinburgh where she took a third post graduate certification in educational technology.

Now Carrie has two jobs – as a lecturer in technological education at the University of Edinburgh and as a house mistress at St Margaret's School in the city.

"While my job as a lecturer is temporary, I am keeping my options open, possibly for another academic position," she added. 

Carrie Anne is planning to take a further undergraduate degree to qualify her for teaching in architectural drawing and 3-D modelling.

On the subject of work, Carrie says people in Scotland tend to be a bit more relaxed about it. 

"They do have the work ethic but it's a very relaxed atmosphere," she said. "The people are also socially more accepting of other people’s cultures – much more so than in some areas of the United States.

"That's not to say I don't have my moment of thinking they do some things better in the States. Banking, for example. I can't get used to having to wait for a cheque to clear. I was a teller in a bank part time when I went to college back home and you could cash a cheque from your employers the same day, if they used the same bank.

"Job opportunities are at times quite limited, I have found, but I think the Fresh Talent initiative has helped to level off the job situation for people coming from abroad. Some employers don't want to be involved in obtaining a work permit and you can understand it if they take on someone else who is equally well qualified.

"I have been lucky however because mine is a shortage subject so there are more work opportunities and people are more likely to accept me.

"Meantime, I love Scotland and want to stay here on a permanent basis."

Information correct at March 2007

Related links

• Fresh Talent: Working in Scotland Scheme
• Edinburgh University