Talk

What was your salary before stopping work?

Just under £15000

NHS jobs are usually really clear about their banding and the salary associated with that, what sort of job is it?

Have you been studying or anything whilst not working?

Lots of people find it hard to even find a job when returning to work after a period of absence, you should feel proud that you've been able to get a job.

If you stick with it, you would get an annual increment - not much but better than nothing. And the benefits after a few years are good - holiday entitlement is quite pretty, the pension is OK and the sick pay also.

Well done on getting a job again.

Even band 5s have low starting pay. Don't be disheartened and work your way up the bands if you want, I think you can get to 4 without a degree in that profession (but I might be wrong, no expert, and supporting admin roles might be different).

Are you able to claim tax credits to top up your earnings? Well done on the new job.

Thankyou so much! I just separated from dh so was looking forward to freeing myself of him financially. I will work my way up. It's an admin role in patient services. Xx

The thing is, salaries haven't really gone up in the last 10 years. I was earning £30k and I'm struggling to find any jobs that are paying that now.

The NHS are generally a good employer. You will start at the bottom of the band but that should go up each year. Holiday allowance is above average (27 days rising to 33). Sickness and pension are also good. There are also lots of opportunities for part-time flexible hours.

Get your foot in the door and make a plan to move up. There are lots of opportunities.

£30k in 2008

It sounds like a Band 2 position.

The NHS is very clear about the pay bands.

It is also squeezing the admin side.

You need to look around for other jobs on higher pay scales as no one is going to pay Band 3, 4 or 5 money to someone in a Band 2 role.

You now have a minor advantage in that you can see internally advertised positions.

Public sector roles are extremely demanding. The amount of work expected of you, the qualifications and experience required tends to be exacting.

Thankyou @tammytheterminator for the positivity

Thanks @Gingernaut for the information. Xx

The thing is, most jobs are demanding. I've done some horrendous jobs in private sector. Admin jobs are being squeezed everywhere.

peas, get your foot in door and suss out the lie of the land. Try to make as many contacts as you can and see what areas really interest and make a plan to head onwards and upwards. You don't have to stay on £15k. You can move up.

I met a woman the other day who had been in the NHS for about 20 years. She started as a part-time carer and is now a Senior Business Manager. Lovely lady and clearly very good at her job. It is possible. Best of luck.

I started 5 years ago in a band 4 role - now half way up a band 6.

As a single mum, the flexibility, ability to develop and progress and benefits outweigh the low salary for me.

Well done on getting the job

Once in NHS other opportunities do come up if you show you're enthusiastic and hard working. I started pt as band 4 (which was under my experience but I'd had time out from management with dc). In a year I was a band 5 and am being put on the leadership course next year with potential to rise to manager and director level at some point when dc are older.

Thankyou so much ! So encouraging xx

Congratulations. It's difficult and daunting going back into the job market after a long time. See this as a stepping stone to getting where you would like to be. As others have said the NHS is a good employer and can be flexible and offer a good work life balance. Use the job to find out what other roles you would like that pay more and to build up your skills and experience.

I took a big step back when I changed career direction as I had to learn a completely new profession. It was disappointing to take a lower salary but I knew that I needed to build up my skills and experience again to get where I wanted to be in the longer terrm.

Good luck and well done!

Thankyou xx

Do you have children? Have you looked into tax credits? That will boost your income.

This is probably going to be your lowest point, both emotionally and financially. I know it's tough (been there, done that) but it will get better. Get yourself established in the job, then start climbing your way up the ladder. Slowly but surely does it.

Well done OP! You've taken a huge step in your new life by no longer being financially dependent on your ex. You can feel proud of yourself. The new job has excellent opportunities for progression and the starting salary is just that: a start.

I have one child who is 3 and lives with me. Wasn't on any sort of benefits so I'll look into them. Xx

It's heartbreaking. When I left work fast approaching 15 years ago my basic salary was £16,000 but I got bonuses that easily took it up to £20,000+. Now I'm trying to get back to work I haven't had a single interview for anything above £16,000.

I'm hoping once I'm back in the workplace I can quickly get back up to previous pay levels but I do have to accept I haven't been in paid employment for almost 15 years. To an employer that means I have lost all capabilities I ever had in the workplace .....except for GCSEs they are still a worthwhile gauge of my intelligence level apparently but absolutely everything I did after them is now magically lost into the midst of time and I need to start from scratch.

You will get there and the NHS does offer career progression and training. It's just crap that pay isn't better than it was before. Thats what having a NMW does though, freezes pay and reduces pay while expecting more from the employees.