Fraser McIlwraith, 23, is the general manager of Vodka Wodka, a party bar in Glasgow's West End. He's gearing up to take on the responsibility of a second bar, Bloody Mary's, about 200m away, which opens this summer. He has recently bought a £160,000 two-bedroom flat very close to work and earns between £20,000 and £25,000 a year.
How does your average day pan out?
I'm in at 9am doing the ordering, tidying the bar and checking staff rotas. We open at 12 and, if I'm not working nights, I could finish at 5pm. But I'm usually here for the night shift from Thursday to Sunday, which means I rarely get home before 1.30am.
What's the bar like at night?
There are the nights when a crowd comes in and really clicks with the staff and has a great time - then the atmosphere is just buzzing.
Surely it doesn't always go so smoothly?
No. On St Patrick's Day last year it was our first year and we didn't know what to expect. It was a Sunday and the Irish bar next door had a queue outside by 11.30am. By 1pm we were full to capacity, too, and it stayed that way till we shut at midnight.
We weren't properly prepared, didn't have enough staff on and got caught out.
What turns you on about Glasgow?
I'm from here and I spent four years at university at Edinburgh. It was great, but it's quite small, and at the end I couldn't walk down Princess Street without seeing the same people. Glasgow's bigger and it's got a much better club scene - I had to come back.
It's cheaper here than Edinburgh to drink and go out - a pint there is £3.20 compared with £2.40 here in Glasgow.
How do you unwind?
I go to the Shack, a student-orientated club, or Babaza, which is more upmarket and is where the footballers, models and bar staff all go. There's so many clubs it would take all day to name them.
Alison Kelly, 29, is a sales co-ordinator at Greens hotel in Haymarket, Edinburgh, part of British Trust Hotels, a privately owned company with hotels across Scotland. She has just bought a flat outside the city centre and earns between £10,000 and £15,000 a year.
What does your job involve?
I'm in charge of selling the hotel's 55 bedrooms and three conference rooms, which can hold up to 50 delegates. However, I also lend a hand in reception when someone's away on holiday.
Describe your worst day
The worst kind of day is when I start at 7am and am providing holiday cover for one of the girls in reception, dealing with a disgruntled guest, answering the telephone, booking a conference - and, before I know it, it's 4pm and I haven't even started on my own work.
Why is Edinburgh the place to be?
It's friendly, lively, attractive, with lots to see and do. I think when you live here you get complacent about seeing the castle every day, but it is a good place to be. I confess that I do get a wee bit homesick when I'm away from the city for too long.
What's the social scene like?
I like going to play pool with friends, and there are plenty of leisure venues in the city. Warner Village has just opened with loads of movie screens; Ocean Terminal, where the former Royal Yacht Britannia is docked, has pubs and bars; and Fountain Park has nightclubs, pubs, restaurants, bowling alley, amusement arcade and a 12-screen cinema - so there's plenty to do.