To ask how people get these jobs.

[Ecriture]

I'm over 30, I come from a working class background.

I grew up with a mum on benefits single parent, 3 kids.

I tried though.

I went to iffy poly uni and got a crap degree (2:2) because I worked three jobs just to stay on the course.

It's not been easy but I've been willing to work as hard as it takes to make a life for myself unlike my childhood.

However, in the past 7 years I'm working I've barely scratched the surface and I am only on 25 grand and still at the bottom of the pile.

Today I had to attend a meeting where 60% of people present were some type of chief officer, cfo or head of major departments.

They all seem to have very distinguished careers and have attractive salaries way beyond my own.

My question is this how did they get there?

A lot of women on this site also seem to be high earners with lots of responsibility.

Does one have to be born into a wealthy family, know the right people or go to the best university. I have none of this.

Can hard work actually get you anywhere in life?

Am I destined to spend the rest of my life doing a low paid work despite my ambitions?

Am I being unreasonable do you think that someone from my background could ever rise higher?

Can anyone give me any advice about what I can do or how they progress in the phone their own career?

The people who get on and get up are those who know what the next step is (sometimes it's a sideways move), and who take everything as an opportunity - even if it's a bit more responsibility without the initial pay award.

Counterpoint: taking on extra responsibility without commensurate pay makes you look like a pushover and a fool and you won’t be taken seriously at that company again.

Ask for a fair salary. If the company you’re at are willing to give you the work but not the pay, find a company who will give you both and leave.

Surely your earning potential is governed in part by the industry you work in? In the arts it’s rare to earn over 40k, for example.

Depends where you work Snuffalo - in private firms yes, but in heavily banded public sector work it's better to get the experience for the next band so you can walk into the next band IYSWIM.

I’d say as a woman don’t get stereotypically drawn into doing all the mum tasks
Don’t sideline your career for the kids,accept you will not always be at school gate,and that doesn’t you bad
Don’t get suckered into all the precious moments pressure were you give things up

@Mrscog - fair enough, never worked public sector and imagine it’s quite different.

I’d agree on the regional accent thing, I’ve got a regional accent but live somewhere else, my accent is often mocked in the media, and people generally associate certain traits with it that they then expect me have and I don’t. I definitely know it has held me back in the past.

I think a lot of it is moving roles a lot and therefore job titles. You never get a pay rise increase in the same job which is as much as a job move/salary bump.

The people that have done great at my company do generally seem to have come from quite wealthy backgrounds. But it's not automatic that they have done well just because of this, it's more just given them a step in the door. After they're in they still need to prove themselves. The people I know that have done the best are people that are generally -

• extroverts but also give the appearanceof listening to people
• confident
• Ability to see the bigger picture and not get bogged down in detail, for example the type of people who will keep a meeting going by summarising and moving on or asking someone to meet separately to discuss a different issue if they've been sidetracked
• worked hard both in terms of hours and taking responsibility for things
• volunteering for things that raise their profile
• been willing to move around for the job
• Been willing to do sideways moves in areas they are weaker in to gain extra experience

My best advice is do something you love and are good at. Find a mentor in that field and change jobs every 2/3 years. Treat everyone you work with the same, ie the way you want to be treated. You don’t need to work silly hours - I never did - but be incredibly effective in the hours you do work. And, trivial as this sounds, dress for the job you want, not the one you have.

My days of working for money have gone but my final salary was just shy of six figures.

Multitude of factors.

Luck. Although most people will tell you it’s jot luck but hard work.

Having good guidance early on in carer choice.

Taking advantage of every opportunity. Making opportunities. Shouting about how great you are because no one else will do it for you.

Resilience.

Made sacrifices in terms of time and life for work.

Good health.

Friendship group with driven women with high aspirations to help support and model good work habits.

Being confident or at least looking like you do.

Playing the game astutely.

I did well at school until about aged 14, then skived more than I went, and did not even consider going to University. After a couple of years of mucking about I was forced to do a TOPS course - 20 weeks full time, typing, shorthand, 'business administration' - , which I found I really enjoyed and became very competitive to be top of the class. Did well on all except the typing (but that takes so much practice and had never been exposed to it at my very academic school.

Led to basic admin jobs (typed when everyone was at lunch so couldn't hear me plonking slowly) then got a lucky break into a law firm. Admin, but tons of training and I sucked it all in. Stayed 5 years, learned all they could teach me and moved on. Continued to do that, was hungry for knowledge and not afraid to ask for more. Worked lots of overtime, pushed systems to do lots more than advertised (most people only use the very basics) and was noticed. First big promotion was to be the boss of my boss. Have been C-suite now for quite a few years, and I doubt anyone would even suspect I have no degree. I have never lied about it, but for the jobs I have sought or been approached about, it is most likely assumed.

Work hard, work smart, keep learning. You'll be noticed for that alone - and paid accordingly.

My parents were pretty poor, my mum left for a while and my dad brought us up. I was the first one from my family to go to Uni. I had nothing when young and that has absolutely driven me to do the best I can and be completely independent. I left school at 16 with hardly any O Levels and worked in a meat packing factory, following by being a multi drop driver.

At 26 I decided I had to do more and worked towards going to Uni. I did night school for 2 years to get a place, then joined a foundation year at uni in electronic engineering. I passed the foundation course (although it was really hard!!) and I then did a BSc Hons in Computer Science. I wanted a first class which I got, but also worked through my degree apart from the finals. I then became an engineer at British Aerospace and have worked my way up in IT and software engineering at several companies.

I strategically change jobs, I market myself and foster a big network. Since graduating I have done an MBA (distinction) with the Open University and also done an MSc. I am well paid (6 figs) but I have to work very hard to stay at the top of my game - new tech is always coming emerging. I regular do study by myself (coursera and the like), I put in lots of hours and I'm pretty much always available.

Also yeah +1 for grad schemes with defined training and career progression.

Really interesting thread,lots of sage advice

I'm 26 and on 48k. I have worked for same company for 7 years starting salary 18k in 2012. I have GCSEs and then did an apprenticeship relative to my field. Took a call centre type roll then worked my way up was a manager within 1 year and have been promoted 3 times since. I now run my own branch. I worked hard, was willing to move around and do extra things I wasn't technically paid to do. I also asked for the opportunities whenever they came up and generally proved myself to be trustworthy and reliable. 1 sick day in 7 years. I have no degree. Council house upbringing never asked my parents for a penny. There have been times I have felt undervalued and unappreciated but I have always gone the extra mile and done whatever was needed to get the job done even if it was above my pay grade and it has always always paid off.

I'm working class, no degree. I earn £50k now in a fairly senior position. When I was 17, I got offered a £40/week apprenticeship. I worked my arse off for pittance for 3 years, taking every opportunity to prove I was a grafter. I eventually worked my way up to the decent-ish position I'm now in. Some of it was luck admittedly, and alot of it was grafting my arse off. I also served with the TA for 5 years so I had courses paid by the Army and Army training/experience has went down well in my interviews. I'll be ready for a good rest when I retire mind 😂

Confidence is part of it. You have to play the game. Sometimes people who're very good at a job just stay stuck there, while people who promote themselves reap the benefits, even if they're not so good.

Not sure what your field is but I would say moving jobs, look for something better each time and better paid; increase your experience and work hard. If you are not growing/learning anything in a Company move on.

I got a 2.2 too! From a decent ‘old poly’, but it’s more life happening rather than upbringing and the like. I had two DCs so lost 6 years of work and then effectively changed career path, then got made redundant and now I work in a typically lower-paid industry. My pay is terrible but I have quite a responsibile job which will hopefully lead to the next one being much better paid.

Forgot to add - I have always been available for work (to the detriment of family and home life!) and always respond to emails fast. That gets noticed.

Gravitas. That word is used about me often. I don't know how I got it but I believed in me. So they do.

Also don’t be too swayed by the posts saying some of the people with great jobs are lying. I had no idea my role existed when I was younger and I think that can be half the battle with widening participation and having a more diverse workforce in certain industries. That and shite careers advice from schools. I’ve been involved in a mentoring programme for year 12s and could weep at some of the bollocks they have been told by their teachers that will make their lives harder later on.

Surely it rather depends on what your degree is on and what type of work you do?

Exec level in large MNC. Not CEO level but my total package is just shy of seven figures.

I had an unhappy upbringing and was money motivated - I wanted to escape and knew it could only be done if I earned well. I've worked my arse off but the number one piece of advice is:

Make actual decisions.

If you're asked for your opinion, be unequivocal in your advice. You're being asked because someone thinks you can add value to the discussion. Flip flopping and hedging doesn't help.

Everyone can express pros and cons but if I'm asking for an opinion it's because I want you to take a view.

Top tips would be confidence, knowing how to play the game in your company, applying for external posts on a higher grade is easier than getting internal promotion, networking at every opportunity, take any opportunity/experience that's offered to you.

OP, I’m from a very middle class educated family, I went to private school and an RG uni, got a 2:1.

I’m 47 and earn £27k full time. I’m not in a terribly highly paid industry but I’ve moved jobs a lot, I struggle with people and am not very career oriented.