For those on 6 (or almost 6 ) figure salaries - how old are you, what do you do, and how did you get into it?

[savebuckbeak]

Just the above. Curiosity is all!

Those of you in tech consultant type roles daft question but are you techy or is it a case of managing those who are? Looking for a career change and totally lost!

Can’t speak for others but I’m not techie at all. Never learned to code. I also don’t really know the business side that well either.

I manage project and portfolios of work so just need to know enough to understand if the techies/ business are lying to me. Much of it is common sense and having excellent coordination/ people skills. I basically fix problems.

I do marketing for tech companies. I'm not techy in a "I can code way" but I'm savvy with tech products and I can explain how they work (which is basically my job)

Of course. I left as a 3 year qualified city lawyer and it was about 80k

but senior associates in my law firm (so short of salaried partner) made about £120k - 150k

salaried partners about 150k - 200k

then equity is also about 600k

i was in a silver circle law firm in the city. The American law firms have starting salaries for qualified at 120k- but the hours are ruthless. I got a break from the all nighters and didn’t work too many weekends - but weekends, all nighters and lost holidays are the norm in an American law firm

Just a nuance of tax and a lot of tax lawyers make the same move

I was a tax lawyer where we reviewed tons of tax clauses and legal drafting

I now do tax consultancy in the big 4 - we provide actual advice still based on legislation - but no review of boring contracts (in my view)

so I do more of the work I want to do - for slightly better hours (albeit still quite stressful as large deals) - and slightly lower salaried until you get to salarief partner

then I’d say salaried partner level is similar to a salaried partner at a smaller law firm (ie not American or magic circle)

and equity partner average is about 600k to 800k depending on the firm which is more than comparable to a good law firm (again not magic circle though)- but that’s average and there is a scale of junior equity partners to senior equity partners still

im about 2 years off full equity if I were to push for that

so the accounting firm model is perhaps lower salaries than law firms unless you make equity partner - but unlike at my law firm, here I could maintain a relationship and have a life in the weekend so that was good for me

at my law firm If I made evening plans I would invariably need to cancel so didn’t bother after a while

@Namechanger355 thanks for your response. I'm a lawyer, starting a new job in the city in a few weeks and will be on £85k plus bonuses. I will be 2 PQE soon. Happy with that salary but now waiting to see if they will raise it as a couple of MC firms have raised to £125k!

I know the equities at my new firm make c. £600k. I would either want to stay at the new firm to try for partnership or move to silver circle. Never American as the hours would be too much for me!

How about this for balance? DH and I both earn 120k ish each, late forties.

He is IT consultant and set up his own firm, gets a salary and dividends from his own company so tax efficient. Private school, very confident.

I am comp background, parents didn't go to Uni, I got a 2:2 in economics but after a couple fo jobs ended up in investment banking. I am clever, and get on with people, and probably quite neurodiverse but didn't do any extra courses or learnings. I have worked hard for a few years but now am cruising on about 20 work hours a week as am in a v niche role. I am paid full time and mainly WFH.

We have kids and we both see a lot of them. We both could have earned a LOT more, if the other one was a sahp, but instead both put in 80% into our careers, with the result that we have a lovely life and two decent salaries. It has been a team effort. I have never worked late or worked a weekend.

IT is the way to earn a decent amount without too much stress. Also helps if you don't have a need to keep up with people and can work out what makes you happy, not what society tells you that you need.

@EddyReadyGo what kind of IT work allows for those salaries? Is it more managerial roles? I imagine that IT support in most companies won't get those salaries?

Another City lawyer here. I mainly worked in house in large banks but now have more of a consultant type of role.

I was first in my family to go to Uni and I also lost a parent as a teenager so it wasn’t an easy start. I studied Law but this isn’t necessary to become a lawyer, you can do a conversation course after graduating.

Banking and Financial Services regulation pays well. I did very long hours including all nighters and weekends in the early part of my career. A good chunk of my success was right place at the right time.

I gained relevant professional qualifications whilst working including a Masters.

My main advice for women wanting to further their careers in this field are:-

1. Resilience - sometimes it is shit, sometimes it goes wrong, sometimes the person you are dealing with is a bastard. You just have to pick yourself up and keep going - keep the corporate face on even if you are screaming inside.

2. You are as good as the people around you. They wouldn’t have hired you if they didn’t think you could do the job. Blokes often have more belief in their skills rather than more skills IYSWIM.

3. Look for opportunities. I picked up a couple of unloved projects that I managed to turn into something more successful and high profile. Eventually more senior men tried to muscle me off them but by that point I had the official recognition and details for my CV.

4. Don’t be too helpful. Be careful of slipping into an unofficial PA/EA role by offering to sort things out, especially admin. Look how many male members of the team offer to do it.

5. Be prepared to stand your ground when needed but pick your battles. Also recognise when you’ve won - I had an issue that someone senior stepped in and 90% solved in my favour. I graciously thanked them and wrote off the 10%. He later helped me when I wanted to change roles.

6. Don’t compete with everyone all the time. Be strategic about what you are trying to achieve and work sensibly and constructively with others.

7. Be good at something. Become an expert in an area so people have to come and ask you. Grab every chance to expand your knowledge - I am still learning after over 25 years in the City.

8)Go for it. The worst anyone can say is no. Every application and interview is good experience. Think in terms of competencies and transferable skills rather than can I do the exact thing they are asking.

9. Public speaking and presentation skills are useful. Learn how to do it well. Get some training if it doesn’t come naturally.

10. Don’t be too modest. Don’t minimise your achievements or say anyone could do it. Talk about what you did in factual terms without self deprecation. This isn’t boasting it is providing an accurate view of your capabilities.

Good luck. A bit of luck never goes amiss.

The list 1 - 9 above is very good and I agree with all of it. Also when giving your views don't say "I think". Women do it far too much and it sounds like you don't know but are guessing.

Not yet read all the responses - I will - but can I just say I'm so glad I posted the question and have loved the responses I have read!!! Will refer back to this thread often and in the coming weeks and days - currently doing some serious thinking around career development and such and needed some motivation.

I'd love to do something like this. Want to leave the police and do something business-y and earn decent money without having my leave cancelled

@prinnycessa

investment banking or financial services IT in particular. Starting in shitty support roles and keep moving up. Always networking in a low key way. Getting in the door is the main thing, once you are in then it is a small world.

this from @ChazsBrilliantAttitude Sums it up. I do work and have worked with some right bastards, and clients have been awful but have been resilient and got through it.

Resilience - sometimes it is shit, sometimes it goes wrong, sometimes the person you are dealing with is a bastard. You just have to pick yourself up and keep going - keep the corporate face on even if you are screaming inside.

and fuck me but I have anti imposter syndrome. Most of middle aged white guys are SHIT at their jobs ! Any woman with a tough skin and half a brain can do well.

I have anti imposter syndrome. Most of middle aged white guys are SHIT at their jobs ! Any woman with a tough skin and half a brain can do well

Ha, so do I. I realised early on half the talent (women) were leaving. There's a bloody great big hole that's easily filled if you've got a bit of drive.

Yes. Funnily enough seems mostly to be all the male-dominated professions 🤔

On close to 100k, 42 and marketing director at a tech start up.

i have GCSEs and A levels but failed a uni 3 times and left with all the debt and no degree. I had moved down to London after a difficult home life, and consequently drifted around doing bar jobs and working in shops and just generally getting by but had no ambition. I also had crippling anxiety in my late teens/ early 20’s, probably from my home life. I couldn’t even hold a job down at WHSmith at one point.

Eventually something switched on inside me, I started temping doing data entry and my confidence and experience of just general office work grew. Got a job as a library assistant at a college. Then moved to a public sector role in their comms team. Then managing the intranet at a charity. Which led to a web master role at a large corporate, which turned into digital marketer role, which turned into VP of Digital for EMEA.

Then I had children and wanted to be with them, but was also scared of becoming unemployable. So I freelanced for years whilst I was at home with my children - I would work whilst they napped and in the evening when they were in bed. Full time SAHM and then working every evening.

It was hard but paid off. I started working in tech start ups and worked my way up to marketing director. I really suffer from imposter syndrome- I think because I was out of the workforce for so long. Freelancing was great because it enabled me to keep up but it wasn’t like working in an office for those 6 years. I do feel like I missed out on something intangible - I struggle with being assertive and wonder if it’s about that? I also think I would have been a lot further ahead if I hadn’t taken 6 years out - the freelancing was largely driven to enable me to stay at home. I didn’t earn great but it kept my skills relevant.

Theres a lot of great advice on this thread from women who have worked their way up in traditionally and still predominantly male environments. There’s a lot here I need take on board - in terms of being assertive and standing my ground.

I haven't earned £100k, but I earned £75k in 1998 as a freelance copywriter, so I feel it's reasonable to offer my story in the hope that it's encouraging. A levels, degree (2,2) publishing as a PA, emigated via marriage to NYC, and applied for a job with a financial magazine, in production. Unsuccessful, but I got called back a week later for another opening in marketing which I did get. I became absorbed by the magazine's content, and fascinated by the world of moving money and making it work. So when the marriage ended I returned to London and was offered work in financial PR, at which I was not good, but I did help out on a few annual reports.

Gradually I built a solid reputation for writing readable intelligent text about business. When I went freelance in 1990 to move to the west country and WFH and marry DH, my former employer went spectacularly bankrupt six weeks later: the 200 designers and 200 account executives went off to start companies and join others so I was lucky that I had contacts everywhere. I worked very hard for eight months a year; 18 hour days as often as not then.

Eventually I aged out of the game. And an eight hour round trip to work becomes impossible even with a brilliant nanny, so I chucked it in for a rural business MBA which was pulled three days before it started and then did a PGCE. Which also didn't come to anything. So now I am retired, and just run two tiny pension funds and help DH negotiate the strategic planning and marketing of his business.

I'm on £105k and work in a specialist role int he Energy sector. I can't say what I do exactly because it would be outing - there are only 4 women in the UK who do what I do at my level (and about 50 men). I work around 35 hours a week over 4 days and have an excellent pension and holiday allowance. I think @ChazsBrilliantAttitude's list contains a lot of very helpful advice. I would also add:

10. Try to figure out what your boss needs and get good at providing it. For example my boss needs me to be a sounding board who he can bounce ideas off of and who will play devil's advocate(rather than a sponge who will just do as I'm told). He also needs reassurance that everything is going to turn out OK! Because I provide these things he talks me up to his peers and his boss which will stand me in good stead when I go for my next promotion.

11). Don't react to anything in anger or in the spur of the moment, but really think at all times about how to achieve the best outcomes in terms of the work at hand but also the relationships with the people you're dealing with. You don't have to like everyoneyou work with but it's best if they don't know you don't. And think long-term when you're trying to figure out how to handle a situation.

12. Be on the lookout for opportunities. If you find you're at a dead end career wise make sure you don't get stuck there. Make a sideways move to get out of it if you have to.

Thai thread is brilliant!

I don’t earn £100k - on about £80k now and £100k - £120k is my next promotion. Debating if I want it. Not sure the extra money would change my lifestyle - but the pressure would be immense.

I agree with all the advice above

my career is very male dominated at leadership level - I’m the only female partner in my wider team

for what it’s worth, my lessons learnt so far are as follows (I don’t follow all of these and they may not be relevant to all):

I would say that men seem to believe they can do the job before they can, so they go for that promo etc. In my experience women are equally as capable but seem to wait until they can definitely do the job - and then some. This means that they don’t tend to go for the same opportunities - so you should just go for it - in a structured and reasoned way - have a strategy, have support and then fly

also I would definitely agree that if you are the only woman in the room - don’t offer waters, or be the note taker (unless you are also the most junior). Men don’t do this!

I am fierce and assertive but know when to pick my battles - it’s a bit dog eat dog and you have to sometimes lose some to win some - but it’s all a good lesson

maternity leave is really tough - you need to take time out often when you are near the top. Have clear boundaries in place and a clear structure - what projects are you taking back and ensure the team know they are babysitting them for you. Do take time out though

always look for where you can add value - I have asked to attend working groups on new initiatives, or write in publications to get our name out there.most of the time others can’t be bothered so it’s good for me and my brand - and no loss to others

don’t take things personally - most of the time people are just getting on with what they need to and it’s business….. but don’t be afraid to show your worth and sell yourself - if you don’t sell yourself, no-one else will bother to do for you. Don’t be cocky but do be confident (or at least act for it)

don’t be scared to ask for that promo or pay rise

ask for support when you need to - have a coach, mentor, sponsor- or even a variety of people - don’t be afraid to ask- most people are quite chuffed to be asked and you can learn a little from each person - even if it’s how not to lead or how not to be

don’t be scared of feedback - listen to everything and try and learn - even if you don’t agree with it all

don’t be scared of voicing your thoughts even if you are the only woman in the room

support other women - I am the most senior woman in my team and will always do what I can to support other women - in my team that’s mainly been women returning to work after Mat leave

be hungry for success but don’t be a dick. Be assertive and say what you want - but no need to be a twat

do what you enjoy - life is too short otherwise. And if you don’t enjoy it anymore then you don’t need to stay in that role or firm - you can move. Most people don’t stay in one place

I think that’s all I have for now.

oh and one other point which I definitely agree with from above - never ever do anything in a rush without thinking.

head over heart always. There have been times I’ve been really emotional or pissed off about something but I slept on it and thought about the best approach - taking advice where needed.

Unfortunately, rightly or wrongly - I’ve found that people never forget an outburst. Instead most appreciate a reasoned, logical approach - ie what’s the issue and what’s the suggested solution. Cliche but float like a butterfly, sting like a bee etc

I agree with the advice about avoiding outbursts. Sadly, men are seen as passionate but woman as emotional. It’s frustrating, but everyone remembers an outburst.

My career advice is this-
Do what you can to ensure that your manager is never blindsided. Build up a relationship where you can say “this is happening, I just wanted you to be aware” and tell them you don’t want them to be caught on the hop. Bring solutions to them- “this is happening but if it gets to X stage, I’ve planned that doing Y will help”.

As you progress in your career, surround yourself with people who do the same for you.

I’m not talking about gossipers or yes-(wo)men, I mean people who will tell you honestly what’s happening, what’s going wrong, and what risks/problems they’ve identified.

And ensure they know you trust them enough to bring solutions along with the problem.

When they get it wrong, back them up. I don’t mean hide what they’ve done, I mean if someone has done something for the right reason but it hasn’t worked out, praise them and work together to see what lessons can be taken from it for the future. Psychological safety is massively important- everyone makes mistakes but creating an environment where they fear they’ll be punished or ridiculed helps nobody.

@Sd352 Can I ask what field you went into and what a typical week (hours wise) looks like for you.

also another thing to mention that when I was stuck in a boring boring job, that paid ok with an alcoholic male boss and no chance of being moved up then I join the schools PTA and started helping out.

within a year I was putting on events for 500+ people, with no resources and flakey volunteers. It was hard, but fun and I learnt so much that I could transfer to my actual job. In the Pta you can make the decisions and you deal with the outcomes ! It’s great practise. And no down side. Once you can get volunteers to do what you want, paid employees are a doddle.

My work super power is to make a decision quickly, be clear about why and if it doesn’t work out then I shrug and say ‘OK, I got it wrong’. Sounds easy but you’d be amazed how few people can do it.

on that STEM and finance is the way to go. ££££ for old rope. someone mediocre in biz IT is going to out earn anyone in creative arts, public sector, industry.

look up fix protocol and go from there.

I agree with Cats' points. On 11 sometimes pause before sending an email or calling someone, count to 10 or sleep on it as it tends to be better to tone things down and think calmly even if you are 100% in the right.
Also consider moving for higher pay. One lawyer we know who in-house got some very good pay rises by moving every few years whereas had she stayed the pay would have been pretty much frozen. It was only by taking the risk to move companies a few times to move up eventually to Head of Legal that the increase pay was possible. Women tend to stay in jobs a bit too long and men take more risks - I am generalising of course so not all women and men fall into those stereotypes.