In thinking DN's career prospects are slim for now?

[NameChangeGhosty]

Niece is 19. She started an apprenticeship as soon as she left school for Business Admin - 3 months in and she quit because someone the family knows offered her a PA role - he was impressed by what she had to say for herself etc.

Her other half is away in the USA for the majority of the next year for business ressons, so she said she'd like to find something exciting in London

She was there two and a half years (her old job). She's now moved to London and wants a job here. I've advised that she won't get much and should do some further training.

I'm a PA and I think it'd be hard for her to find anything paying more than £22K. She will only have the one reference

She's very bright, and looks/comes across much older than her years

What do you think?

My brother thinks I'm ridiculous

I think that often people don't like receiving less than positive news about they or their off-springs chance of employment and you'd be best changing the topic from now on.

She will find a job - fortune favors the young and brave and also £22k is a starter salary for London . She may suprise you !

I hope so!

Lovely girl, get on famously with her

YABU. She sounds bright and proactive. 22K is fine! It's more than either of us earn..

bacon I'm not saying £22k isn't fine. I'm saying she needs to be sensible about hoping for much more than that

If she has experience and a good reference, then she has a chance of getting a job in london. She can apply, it's often a numbers game and on the meantime start training.

Has she said said she wants to earn more?

Yes she's said she wants to earn at least £24K.

Is also adamant she won't train in the meantime because she 'just wants to work like normal'

I think honestly just ... don't worry about it?

If she gets a job then she does, if she doesn't she doesn't. She's only 19, if she finds a good job then great on her and if she doesn't it's a valuable life lesson on expectations. Your brother is probably trying to be positive which is the best thing to do.

Sugar she has a lot of responsibility for someone of 19 though

Might be worth her registering with a few secretarial recruitment agencies now in London to see what they have on their books. They will also be able to provide her with a realistic salary expectation.

Lots of people have responsibilities and live and work in London though

Why does it matter to you?

Presumably if she doesn't get a good job then she moves somewhere else, or tries something new. What's the big drama if she doesn't earn £22k per annum?

rookie she won't move elsewhere because her OH will provide for her

I don't want her losing her ambitious spark, releasing she can't make the money she wants yet and end up just relying on her fiancé for her and her 1 year old

She could also do temping and see whether she's offered anything once she's in the job.

I am not sure she will get £22K straight off the bat in London. My DD1 found it hard to find jobs offering more than £18/19K and she has a First class degree. She eventually found one starting on £21. After 18 months in the job she is on £27 which is much better given her rent is more than £550 for a room in a shared flat!

She has a one year old? How will she be able to afford accommodation and childcare?

Mines her fiancé is paying for it all

blues really sorry for your DD, London is hard work but really vibrant at the same time - good career prospects once you get your foot in the door

Am I the only one thinking good on her?

Has a 1 year old and partner away on the US and she wants to get a good paying job and move to London? She sounds like super mum!

I would just keep your nose out so to speak. If she doesn't get the salary she wants then hey, it's no skin off your nose is it?

*£27K. She wouldn’t get far on just £27!

I dint notice the bit about the 1 yo. Noway is she going to earn enough to keep her and a child in London. Where was she living before? Has she ever had to take financial responsibility previously?

Namechange I wouldn’t feel sorry for my DD - she is having a blast working and living in London!

If your niece is being bankrolled by her fiancé then i guess she can move to London and get a lowish paid job if she wants.

She's more likely to lose her ambitious spark if she doesn't follow her dreams (cheesy as it sounds).

Paula all very true - her fiancé wanted her moving to USA with him for a while but she didn't want to... they seem a happy couple otherwise.

She has a wedding in the Summer, honeymoon and will be away for a good few weeks in the USA after that. Not sure how she can have a permanent job when needing that much holiday

She sounds in the perfect position to try and get what she's looking for. It might be useful to tell her to look at what she can get in 6 months/a year. I think telling her you think 24K might be difficult as a starting salary, but she should see what she can get and remember lots of places will give raises once she's proved herself would be a reasonable mix of realism and encouragement.

I wouldn't go for a very negative tone as a counter to her brother - in general it's better to be overly optimistic than pessimistic, especially if she has little to no risk.

While there are still well paying, in some jobs they really want you available and 100% committed time wise, which can be hard on one parent families, childcare, travel and rent is outrageous, but it is easy to get in the door at big well known companies, so reference wise she will end up looking very prestigious on her cv. Its a hard one, while London can be very glam for the young uns, some areas are more like villages with strong community spirit, ideal for children, other areas especially the city and regenerated parts, are cold and snobby.