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AIBU?

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To think salary is very low for this job ad

209 replies

Jobseeker0 · 24/01/2026 07:43

FTC job ad I just came across has a salary of £25,063 based in Kings Cross

I get that it’s a junior role but is it just me who thinks 25k is very low for this London based role? It’s really getting me down as I have a degree and a few years experience including placement year but most jobs I see pay very little and are still extremely competitive to land. I’m fighting for jobs that will barely cover my essential bills, and will require me to get a second job.

“We’re seeking a coordinator to support the successful delivery of multidisciplinary projects at the (x), working closely with project, delivery, finance, and discipline leads in a fast-paced, agile, and collaborative environment. Ideal for an early-career professional or graduate eager to develop new skills, this role focuses on overseeing project-level requirements, aligning processes, managing delivery tools, and coordinating resourcing and financial aspects of successful project delivery.

Key responsibilities

Manage and coordinate project delivery with cross-functional teams across various disciplines.
Ensure projects are delivered on time, within budget, and meet established goals.
Working with the project team to ensure focus on the quality of outputs and how the work we do best reflects the values of the (x).
Actively engage in continuous improvement initiatives, including retrospectives and delivery team meetings.
Coordinate meetings and manage project resources.
Develop and maintain collaborative and positive relationships with internal and external stakeholders through effective communication and engagement.
Provide clear monitoring and reporting to clients when required, covering project-level deliverables and key performance indicators.
Monitor effectiveness across project work-streams and provide administrative support as needed.
Perform financial tracking, budgeting, and reforecasting activities.
Encourage agile ways of working and efficiencies across the (x).
Other ad hoc duties as required.
Provide backup support for Business Support when they are on leave, such as handling receptionist duties.”

Seems to be quite a long list of responsibilities too…
(I’m a struggling job seeker so appreciate I’m no expert)

OP posts:
Hotdoughnut · 24/01/2026 08:19

I think they've run the role through AI and it reads better than it actually is. It's essentially a team admin.

bryceQ · 24/01/2026 08:17

Yes it's crazy. My entry role in London in 2011 was £25k, rose to £30k after a year. But I would say rent and costs are 3x what they were at this time, and wages the same. Shocking

Tigerbalmshark · 24/01/2026 08:14

SalmonOnFinnCrisp · 24/01/2026 07:59

Yanbu.
This was a problem 20 years ago and its more of a problem now. I'd actually describe it as critical mass.

It 2008 I earned 24k doing this.
National minimum wage was
40 hours/week: ~£11,920

And I was fucked off as my useless boss was earning the same when he graduated and started work in 1998. I had a Russell group 2.1 and intrrviewing was highly competitive, when he entered the industry it was for also rans and he walked in (his words). He had a 2.2 from reading in something useless.
And I was fucked off at my 10k grad debt that paid off at a snails pace.

National minimum wage is now
£25,397 annually for a 40-hour week

I said to my husband the other day I used to be disgusted at people didnt have a good work ethic.
but I look at grad ls with 65kndebt working minimum wage and think while we were a bit screwed and our siblings were more screwed... the system is now just broken for your generation.

I honestly think if I was 22 i'd work hard... to find a nice guy have my kids with early and get on benefits.... " live apart" hit up all those baby and kids charitelies and claim the equivalent of a 70k gross salary while on benefits and actually s0ent time with my kids and live to see GC.
As it is i work a 50 hr week with a 3 and 1 I had at 38 and 40...

People in their 50s were earning this as a grad salary 30 YEARS ago.
Yanbu.

Edited

Yep this is why the UK economy is fucked, and people feel badly off. Wages haven’t risen in 30 years. I earned a similar wage in my student jobs in 1997 (£12.50ph, for factory work and nhs medical secretary jobs).

LavenderBlue19 · 24/01/2026 08:09

Yes, it's ridiculous. I started on 24k in London doing a probably fairly similar job (reading between the lines it's basically admin made to sound more important) and that was 20 years ago. I've no idea how young people manage now.

Where are the decent paying jobs nowadays? Where you could actually afford to move out and set up a home.

Jobseeker0 · 24/01/2026 08:03

Overthebow · 24/01/2026 07:50

Yes that looks low. Could you go for graduate schemes? They’re often better paid. The one for my company starts at £34k in London with decent pay rises each year. It’s closed for September start now though but start looking end of summer for next years grad schemes if you want to try that route.

Thanks, I think I’d be ruled out from many as I’m much older, and it’s now been 4 years since I graduated.

I was under the impression that graduate schemes are the most competitive and desirable due to the training and prestige. (That’s what my university careers advisor had said)
Technically all graduate / junior jobs are competitive but grad schemes much more so.

Not just in terms of numbers but the stakes are high, there’s plenty of extremely smart and fresh faced graduates. I remember going to a few assessment centres in final year of uni, and was so intimidated by how much smarter and more impressive the other candidates seemed.

If I’m struggling to land junior jobs even with some experience, I think I need to bee a bit more realistic

OP posts:
SalmonOnFinnCrisp · 24/01/2026 07:59

Yanbu.
This was a problem 20 years ago and its more of a problem now. I'd actually describe it as critical mass.

It 2008 I earned 24k doing this.
National minimum wage was
40 hours/week: ~£11,920

And I was fucked off as my useless boss was earning the same when he graduated and started work in 1998. I had a Russell group 2.1 and intrrviewing was highly competitive, when he entered the industry it was for also rans and he walked in (his words). He had a 2.2 from reading in something useless.
And I was fucked off at my 10k grad debt that paid off at a snails pace.

National minimum wage is now
£25,397 annually for a 40-hour week

I said to my husband the other day I used to be disgusted at people didnt have a good work ethic.
but I look at grad ls with 65kndebt working minimum wage and think while we were a bit screwed and our siblings were more screwed... the system is now just broken for your generation.

I honestly think if I was 22 i'd work hard... to find a nice guy have my kids with early and get on benefits.... " live apart" hit up all those baby and kids charitelies and claim the equivalent of a 70k gross salary while on benefits and actually s0ent time with my kids and live to see GC.
As it is i work a 50 hr week with a 3 and 1 I had at 38 and 40...

People in their 50s were earning this as a grad salary 30 YEARS ago.
Yanbu.

Overthebow · 24/01/2026 07:50

Yes that looks low. Could you go for graduate schemes? They’re often better paid. The one for my company starts at £34k in London with decent pay rises each year. It’s closed for September start now though but start looking end of summer for next years grad schemes if you want to try that route.

Middletoleft · 24/01/2026 07:47

It's a glorified admin job. I'd expect a salary of at least £30k for London.

Catsandcwtches · 24/01/2026 07:47

My work has posted some jobs too recently starting at 25k, central London. I think its awful, under the recommended London living wage.