To not understand how low income people become high earners?

[KissesAX]

Okay so hear me out, I'm not bashing anyone who earns a lot of money. Nor am I saying you didn't get there through hard work. But here's my story:

Was severely depressed in sixth form causing me to drop out and do an apprenticeship instead of A levels. Years on, I'm 21 and I'm unemployed. The only jobs I can apply for are entry level jobs but even these such as retail jobs all prefer people with retail experience, same with waiting and cleaning jobs. Plus they're all £7.50 ph minimum wage.

I can't go to uni as I wouldn't be able to afford it. My parents don't fund me and I have too many bills to pay that are behind from being unemployed as it is.

So here's my question. How on earth do people who are poor like myself ever get to a high paying job because I can't even seem to get an entry level job. I feel so defeated at so young but I can not find work.

[Msqueen33]

Apply for anything and everything. Could you maybe do some unpaid work experience?

[SolemnlySwear2010]

My DH started at a low paying job straight from high school. He worked in a factory doing the same job for years until we decided to get married and have a child.

He then started going on every course offered to him and working early/staying late. Within a 5 year period he has been promoted 4 times and now is a Manager and supervises a team of 10 others.

He needed to really put in the work and study/ work every spare moment but he is in line for another promotion. He is now able to move into different types of work due to the qualifications he has received.

His wage is considerably higher than the starting wage, and he can earn even more if he continues progressing

[SandBlue]

Take a job, prove you are worth more, get a promotion, keep going, and with a fair wind behind you, go far and fast.

[NetballHoop]

To get to a well paid job you generally need to start off in a lower paid one and do it well enough to get promoted.

[KissesAX]

@SandBlue No ones offering that's my problem.

[KissesAX]

Not even the minimum wage ones are taking me on.

[Commuterface]

I don’t really understand your post. if you did an apprenticeship surely you would have qualifications and experience from that?

[donners312]

I think i read the woman who has just taken over as ITV boss (was easy jet boss i think) started out in telesales at the guardian.

What dd you do your apprenticeship in?

I do think you can start at the bottom and work your way up in any industry but not if you don't think you can.

[DunkMeInTomatoSoup]

Some people are just business geniuses though.

I was reading about the owner of Monsoon, he started on a market stall selling coat, now he's worth 600 Million.

I guess you've just got to be hungry enough to want to do it.

[Abra1d]

You would qualify for a tuition fees loan and possibly a grant for maintenance or at least a loan. You would work during your course, a most students do. You would only pay back the loan when and if you earned £25k.

[Desperad0]

I left home at 16, couldn't afford to stay at college never mind uni!

After a couple of years bar work I got a job in sales, and have moved up the ladder, done (paid for by work) professional qualifications , and now have an amazing career (and great salary).

It takes hard work and resilience but you can do it- good luck

[pitterpatterrain]

Target a specific industry or area that has a defined career path, it's fine to be direct - I have people randomly message me on LinkedIn and if they are starting out if they schedule time I am happy to speak with them about what the industry and roles are all about

Aged 21 you are younger than many people entering our firm in the "entry level" jobs - some people will finish a PhD and not know what they are going to next - so don't be disheartened

[Sonders]

A combination of luck, drive and ceasing the right opportunities. I didn't start my career profession until 23 - before then I was in retail which was incredibly useful for roles in marketing.

Then there's the old cliché of choosing something you love, and finding a way to make that lucrative. For example, my close friend loves developing little apps and widgets - they chose a specific software to specialise in, and within 4 years went from entry level developer to senior contractor earning over 100k pa.

I wouldn't stress now whilst you're so young, but do take advantage of different opportunities. Work with the job centre and take loads of free classes just to learn and meet people.

Start networking by attending business and creative meets in your area, I run a few in my city and it's always 'the more, the merrier' so I'm sure you'd be more than welcome.

I got my big break by emailing a company that I wanted to work for, and sending an example that demonstrated I knew their industry. So don't be afraid to show off!

[Kokapetl]

The first step might be to do some volunteer work for example in charity shops (as MsQueen said) That gives you the retail experience (and a reference) and then you can do all the stuff that others have said about moving up pay scales etc.

[CycleHire]

What is your apprenticeship in and what level is it? If the apprenticeship you have hasn’t hit you anywhere would you consider doing another? There’s a big focus on apprenticeships at the moment so if you could find an apprenticeship in a significantly different discipline or higher level you should be eligible.

Good luck.

[Sonders]

Seizing! Not ceasing. Proves you can get a great career with terrible spelling

[velvetcandy]

I left school and went straight into working at a cafe at 16. Couple of years later I watched all my friends go off to uni. I decided that I didn't want to be the one left behind so to speak and took an apprenticeship at a media company in London 3 days a week. They didn't pay me at all but I literally learnt so much and it was so valuable to learn the skills I learnt there. I also worked in a different cafe the other days of the week. I was then offered a junior role in the media company that I took then year later applied for jobs in other company's that paid more etc so that's basically how I did it. When my mates left uni I was in hirer roles and zero debt then they were so it worked for me anyway. I would say maybe have an idea of what industry you want to work in the apply for junior entry level roles in that industry and just work your way up.

[BeBeatrix]

Three options:

As a PP said, start in a low paid job and it so well that you get promoted.

Alternatively, work in a low paid job, scrimping and saving and working all possible hours, e.g. with a second job. Use that to pay off your debts. Then go to uni. Live off loans and a part-time wage. Go into a graduate job after university, do it well and keep getting promoted.

Third option is to work in a low paid job, keep your spending low enough to pay for internet access, and use your spare time to improve your skills. You can learn languages and computing coding etc. online for free. Improve your CV, apply for better paid jobs, do them well and keep getting promoted.

[LilaoftheGreenwood]

Applying for jobs is awful and it's totally normal to feel shit about it. What was your apprenticeship in? Did you enjoy it and are there entry level positions in that sector?

[MrsEileithyia]

I got a job working in a pharmacy when I was 16 and left school. College and uni wasn’t an option for me as my mum and Dad divorced and me, Mum and lil sis had to move out so we needed money.

I worked in pharmacy for 10 years climbing the ladder and doing up to an NVQ4. That put me on 23k a year. I then was extremely lucky in finding a job in a different industry but with my transferable skills (exporting medication) where my starting salary was 30k.

It can be done!

[DaisyLand]

Have you tried applying to Mcdonalds and these kind of fast food chains? They are always in the need of people and they barely require any experience.
I've got a friend that started in one of these chains and slowly as SolemnlySwear2010 husband she started to every management related course she was offered by the companies she was working for. In a matter of 3 years time she's gone from around 11k to 25k and is going to courses for being a Team Manager

[verystressedmum]

My dh left school without a single exam but now at 45 he earns about 200K it's taken 20 years of hard graft and surviving on peanuts for a lot of years working his way up doing part time courses with a bit of being in the right place at the right time.

If I was you I would figure out what I wanted to be doing and work towards it. You could do an open university course? Is that an option?

[velvetcandy]

Also I did find myself competing with 5 other people so putting in that extra work will pay off! In my case it was stuff like stay late and filing or photocopying or just really boring things that give you brownie points

[LBOCS2]

DH left education with 4 GCSEs. He went into an apprenticeship and attended college on a day release, to do his AAT qualification. He started as an accounts assistant and is now director of specialist client finance at a large company. He's 33. I went to school, did my A levels, went to a good university, got a degree level job, did a professional qualification, and I'm much more junior and much less well paid than DH is.

So. I would suggest, from looking at DH's career - don't be afraid of starting at the bottom but be good at it. Do your best, don't think it's beneath you - we all pay our dues. Move companies, but not too frequently - every 3-5 years is reasonable. If you can, specialise in a niche area, it makes you more desirable even though it looks like there are fewer jobs available. Hustle - if your role changes or you have more responsibility, ask for more money. The worst they can do is say no. Women are generally terrible at this.

[PoppyFleur]

Kisses the lack of opportunity for young people these days is a disgrace. I left university in 1995 and pretty much walked into a job at entry level but with opportunities. Now it's almost impossible for young people to get that first break.

I agree with the advice of voluntary work, this will give you experience that you can add to your CV. What areas are you interested in?