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Original poster

How good would you expect to need to be for a £70k job?

55 replies

WalkLong · 04/04/2023 17:19

At interview. I interview for much lower level jobs and sometimes successful candidates don't do that well, but we see something or they're the best we can get for the money

I've just interviewed for a public sector job with a salary of £70k. I've done a very similar job in another part of the public sector but not in this organisation.

I did 'OK'. There was a series of 121 "chats" with board members which were friendly and flowed easily, but I doubt that they gained anything inciteful from them.

There was a practical exercise sent in advance, which I think did very well at.

There was a presentation to prepare and deliver on the day. I think my content was good I Googled it, that's using initiative, right? but the presentation was far from polished.

Then there was a big panel interview. Some difficult questions, mostly tell us about when...I had some really good examples but at least 2 answers were a bit waffly and one I had practically nothing to offer, although I did try to fit my experience to the question.

So, at this level, is 100% necessary or does mostly pretty good have a chance?

OP posts:
Towmatertomato · 04/04/2023 18:12

RunningFromInsanity · 04/04/2023 18:08

Do you really think any man (or sane woman) is going to spend 2 years doing leadership courses and hiring a presentation coach before applying for a job?

Show quote history

No one does those courses unless mandated to by management because you have been pulled up for a mistake 😂 everyone at every level is winging it!

maxelly · 04/04/2023 18:13

WalkLong · 04/04/2023 17:59

It's interesting because I did get the job.

I knew when I applied it was a big step up, but also that I'm perfectly capable of doing it and took the view that I'd nothing to lose by trying.

Especially interesting is the advice that I should have waited before aiming so high. I think women are particularly disadvantaged precisely because we often don't aim high enough, never becuase we aim too high.

I think it's probably really rare for a candidate to score highly every single aspect for any job and would absolutely encourage women to apply for roles where they meet "most" of the criteria. On another day I may have been unsuccessful, but I wasn't and you've got to be in it to win it.

Oops, missed this! Well done!

NineToFiveish · 04/04/2023 18:14

Congrats on getting the role, op! Glad to see I was wrong and I will remember this when I apply for similar levels.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Jobs
Hawkins003 · 04/04/2023 18:17

@WalkLong are you the bees knees for the position or are you flying by the seat of your pants ?

Bibbetybobbity · 04/04/2023 18:17

Well said @RunningFromInsanity 👏completely agree

Stripycatz · 04/04/2023 18:20

Well done on getting the job. 👏

Original poster
WalkLong · 04/04/2023 18:24

Hawkins003 · 04/04/2023 18:17

@WalkLong are you the bees knees for the position or are you flying by the seat of your pants ?

No I genuinely believe I'll be good at the job.

There'll be a few things I need to learn but a very successful man once told me "if you're not out of your depth for the first six months you've taken the wrong job".I.e. the whole point of changing your job is to develop, there's no point moving to a job you can do with your eyes closed.

Actually he was interviewing me for a job at the time and I got it despite talking about certain aspects being daunting.

OP posts:
Hawkins003 · 04/04/2023 18:47

WalkLong · 04/04/2023 18:24

No I genuinely believe I'll be good at the job.

There'll be a few things I need to learn but a very successful man once told me "if you're not out of your depth for the first six months you've taken the wrong job".I.e. the whole point of changing your job is to develop, there's no point moving to a job you can do with your eyes closed.

Actually he was interviewing me for a job at the time and I got it despite talking about certain aspects being daunting.

Show quote history

Believing you are capable and actually being capable are two different perspectives.

That said congrats and all the best and positivity

Holliejollie22 · 04/04/2023 18:49

suzyscat · 04/04/2023 17:55

If my old managers are anything to go by, not very Grin.

Indeed I know a fair few people earning that and more that are at best average at what they do.

Original poster
WalkLong · 04/04/2023 18:51

Hawkins003 · 04/04/2023 18:47

Believing you are capable and actually being capable are two different perspectives.

That said congrats and all the best and positivity

Show quote history

Blimey, I'm surprised you recognise positivity. Why did you ask if you already knew the answer? Why do women want to keep women in their place and why, even if I have aimed a bit high, is that a problem? Any employer should expect to provide some training/development surely?

OP posts:
Holliejollie22 · 04/04/2023 18:53

Agree with the comments about women feeling like they need to be perfect fits and amazing at everything before they apply for jobs. The advice from @MissMarplesbag being the exact type of advice women should be ignoring.

UndercoverCop · 04/04/2023 18:55

I had a public sector interview recently, not quite at that pay grade but not far off. I thought I had bombed it. I said as much to the hiring manager when they offered me the role, he said knowing of your work there were probably areas you could've improved or sold more, but overall you did very well, no one aces every aspect of a recruitment process, and in my experience those who do are very very good at interviewing and not always the best fit for the role!
I start in June.

PlantagenetEmbassy · 04/04/2023 18:55

I had a similar experience recently OP. Still a bit stunned I got the job. I saw the advert and was going to click away when my brain went "what would a man do?" so I applied for this one that I got and the one that was one level higher. Mindset makes a huge difference. Congrats on your new job.

Kanaloa · 04/04/2023 18:56

Who knows? I think all interviews depend on a bit of luck as well as competency. If someone who was amazing, graduated with amazing marks, and had years of experience came in right after you then you probably wouldn’t have a chance. If everyone else was average or under qualified you might have a pretty good chance. Either way you did the important bit and went for it. Got to be in it to win it and all that jazz. Why not? If you get the job you’ve made an amazing achievement, and if you don’t get it you never had it anyway, so you’ve lost nothing.

Xenia · 04/04/2023 18:57

Well done on getting it. That is about newly qualified solicitor salary for London law firms and people do need for those jobs to be able to answer all those boring questions about why this firm is the right one for you (when all the candidate wants is a good firm with nice pay but you have to go through the hoops)

neilyoungismyhero · 04/04/2023 19:00

WalkLong · 04/04/2023 17:59

It's interesting because I did get the job.

I knew when I applied it was a big step up, but also that I'm perfectly capable of doing it and took the view that I'd nothing to lose by trying.

Especially interesting is the advice that I should have waited before aiming so high. I think women are particularly disadvantaged precisely because we often don't aim high enough, never becuase we aim too high.

I think it's probably really rare for a candidate to score highly every single aspect for any job and would absolutely encourage women to apply for roles where they meet "most" of the criteria. On another day I may have been unsuccessful, but I wasn't and you've got to be in it to win it.

Excellent news.

Having a small giggle here.

Original poster
WalkLong · 04/04/2023 19:02

Xenia · 04/04/2023 18:57

Well done on getting it. That is about newly qualified solicitor salary for London law firms and people do need for those jobs to be able to answer all those boring questions about why this firm is the right one for you (when all the candidate wants is a good firm with nice pay but you have to go through the hoops)

What does they employer learn from that question Xenia? We use it where I work now and in 6 years, I've only heard 2 different answers.

OP posts:
ActDottie · 04/04/2023 19:05

Depends on the sector, I’m on £70k and don’t think I’m anything special but I’m relatively junior in my role still so I’d say it’s all relative to the industry.

Hawkins003 · 04/04/2023 19:07

WalkLong · 04/04/2023 18:51

Blimey, I'm surprised you recognise positivity. Why did you ask if you already knew the answer? Why do women want to keep women in their place and why, even if I have aimed a bit high, is that a problem? Any employer should expect to provide some training/development surely?

Show quote history

I'm all for taking the initiative and applying for management,
As for your other points, I don't have enough knowledge to offer a qualified answer. I would need more research before I could answer your question,.Point by point

BlueHeelers · 04/04/2023 19:08

In my field, £70k is a professor’s salary, so you have to be pretty darn good. More than googling things, at any rate.

Kanaloa · 04/04/2023 19:15

WalkLong · 04/04/2023 19:02

What does they employer learn from that question Xenia? We use it where I work now and in 6 years, I've only heard 2 different answers.

Show quote history

I mean I’m not a lawyer at a law firm, but I have done interviews and it’s surprising how many people haven’t even looked up the company/business before they step in the door. If an interviewer asks ‘oh why do you want to work at x’ I would see that as my opportunity to mention things I’d researched about that specific company, how I feel their ethos would suit me, and how I could bring something that suits their ethos. It shows you’ve researched it and that you can tailor an answer to a specific business. Plus it is your chance to show that you understand their company aims/ethos and know how to fit into it.

I’ve heard loads of people just falter and go ‘erm… it just seemed really nice.’ They might as well say ‘well I need a job and saw this one.’ And I mean the second one is probably true but it doesn’t make you look like a prepared and enthusiastic potential staff member.

MoonOverBroadway · 04/04/2023 19:18

WalkLong · 04/04/2023 17:59

It's interesting because I did get the job.

I knew when I applied it was a big step up, but also that I'm perfectly capable of doing it and took the view that I'd nothing to lose by trying.

Especially interesting is the advice that I should have waited before aiming so high. I think women are particularly disadvantaged precisely because we often don't aim high enough, never becuase we aim too high.

I think it's probably really rare for a candidate to score highly every single aspect for any job and would absolutely encourage women to apply for roles where they meet "most" of the criteria. On another day I may have been unsuccessful, but I wasn't and you've got to be in it to win it.

Congrats, OP! 🎉

I completely disagree with the pp’s advice on ‘polishing’ and being absolutely certain you’re shit hot when applying for a good few steps up.

Start before you’re ready!
Punch a bit.
Don’t be scared to fail a few times before you get the job.
never ever think you have to meet all the job spec / person spec criteria. Villi is to that!

Men do this shit ALL the time.

MoonOverBroadway · 04/04/2023 19:19

Villi is = my autocorrect’s polite but bizarre way of saying bollocks

mackthepony · 04/04/2023 19:22

In my field, £70k is a professor’s salary, so you have to be pretty darn good. More than googling things, at any rate.

^
Who are you, the mortality police?

Who cares if she googled it??? If she's worth 70k, then that's that.

uthredswife · 04/04/2023 19:23

I'm on a bit more than this and I was rolling my eyes on the nonsense at the start of the thread. I'm on the money I'm on because I can be trusted to come up with the goods. I create my own work, I don't wait for delegation. Oh, and I Google work stuff all the time 😀😀. Anyone who says they don't is full of shit. Everyone seeks inspiration from old Dr google. It doesn't mean I don't know my job. I think some of the folk talking about all the courses you would need to do are still in secondary because that is simply not the way the professional world works