To ask how you've reached a high salary? 50k+

[Redvelvetdreams1]

I'm on 29.5k which is the most I've ever earned in my life, and I'm 34. I have a degree and a PGCE but here we are.
I'm never going to be a millionaire, but I just don't feel like I'll ever know what it's like to be well off. I live alone too but fortunately only have myself to support.

I'm an EO in the Civil service, which i hate. I'm not trying to be rich, but I'd just love to have a comfortable salary and be able to save comfortably, go on proper holidays and not just a £19.99 ryanair flight (I know I'm lucky to even do that) afford to learn to drive, and just know what it's like to not have to check my bank account daily and count every penny.

However I know this is the reality for most people. Maybe I can go back to teaching and try to make it up to SLT, but school behaviour is horrendous these days which is why I left.

I'm just feeling a bit lost. I know I'm lucky to even have a job, but without sounding arrogant I considered myself as intelligent, I gained qualifications, can speak other languages and a lot of people my age are earning quite a bit more than me.
Just interested to hear anyone's stories and any advice on where to go from here.

What about tutoring in your out of work time?
Extra money using skills you already have
Language tutoring is especially well sought after

Civil service, started as a D band on £24k, gone through a load of promotions to £75k. Stress free and job security, flexi, pension etc I have no plans to leave

Unless they sought out a particular profession - law, medicine, finance etc. - most high earners stumbled into something they are good at at some point in their working life, and just concentrated on that

It’s tough, OP. I earn less than 5k more than you working 45 hours a week as a veterinary surgeon. Unfortunately a lot of jobs just don’t have the pay they used to. I’m looking to likely leave the profession and look for something else

With tax knowledge could always go private and become a tax accountant

$106K mid level political appointee. Have worked my way up over the past 27 years. Earned a reputation for being the person that has all the answers. Not sure how it happened.

I never dreamt I would be, and I got there age 49. I did further professional qualifications, mostly self funded, and studied outside work while my dc were small.

I applied twice to the fast stream but didn't get in sadly, apparently it's incredibly competitive. Will try again this year though.

The biggest pay jumps come via moving jobs as opposed to promotions as you have more leverage to ask for whey you want when you don’t work for them and nothing to lose really. Promotions do help though of course.

A friend at work early in my career always told me if an interviewer asks you what your current salary is, add to it. Then you can ask for a higher figure than that without it seeming crazy.

Say you’re on 30 k and you know there are roles out there where your experience could get you £40k. Tell them you’re on £35k (if they ask) and want £40.

Don’t be afraid to ask for what you think you are worth. I went to an interview and they said they wanted to pay £30 k (crazy low figure as our industry is niche and in demand) and I managed to get £50 k.

In terms of role I work a scientific role in industry.

Do you have a LinkedIn profile? I keep receiving job adverts for high paying jobs in my industry.

I almost doubled my salary in the ten years I worked. I job hopped twice, and in every place I made myself known by becoming a manager, leading teams, and focusing on impacts. Also apply for promotion and don't be shy to showcase your skills and achievements. Us women are not as confident as men to apply for promotion or jobs. And of course fake it til you make it. Everyone does! Even people whom I respect highly, I always thought they are like technical gods only to find out they know the same as me 😅

Just to add, if a job is advertised at £40k-£75k like the one I just posted, you ask for £75k.

They've already revealed that they're willing to pay £75k and, if they're offering you the job, then you're the best candidate and you deserve £75k.

Messed up early on by leaving a city finance job in my 20s . If I'd stayed I'd be earning well over 100k by now.

Then worked in various roles and industries, earning high 20s.

Then saw job for a pretty niche business development role that my mixed job experience made me a good fit for, even without the requested degree. Now in 40s and on 60+k.

Wish I'd fallen into business development earlier as there's some high salaries around if you want to pursue them but flexibility is important to me now.

Also, if you find a company you like, and if they have an in house recruiter, message them on LinkedIn. Ask to have coffee with them. That's what I did. They're usually very happy to talk to good candidates who's enthusiastic about their company and you may have a bit of leverage when negotiating salary as they have saved a bit of external recruiter cost.

I was a civil servant and I'd just apply for roles at HEO or SEO and try to jump to the next pay grade asap. So much of it is how you write job applications (competencies) and interview.
Years of austerity means that the main way to earn more is to jump up a grade (or two). EO to HEO fairly quickly certainly sounds very achievable for someone with degree level experience. If management in your area don't agree look at other departments and wider civil service. HMRC certainly at higher grades pays well though, so might be worth sticking with that if you can (and then even if you move sideways into another department you would keep your current rate of pay).
Have you looked at the fast steam as an internal candidate btw? That could be a fairly structured way of progressing to G7 in a couple of years.

I left the civil service as didn't like many aspects of it and then was offered redundancy, but it does at least offer a structured way to progress and workplace culture really varies between teams/departments and there is a lot of interesting work, too

10 years ago I would never guess I'd be here now earning what I do.
21 years ago my home was repossessed. I was homless due to my ex deception and addiction issues I had a 3 week (unplanned baby) 5yr old and 8 Yr old
After few years doing jobs fitting around kids 15 years ago started working nhs as PT B2 I'm now FT B8
As kids got older I progressed aboutb6 years ago focused on career progression
I'm 50plus and wish I could wind down instead of drive forward but am proud of how far I've come

Lawyer, £170 k, private practice. City Firm.

Sorry hadn't read the whole thread, just seen that you had applied for the FS - sorry about missing that in my answer.
Definitely apply again and get feedback on your application/interview practice with a willing volunteer or two this time...

I'm sorry but I just do not consider this lucky.

You should be able to afford flights and holidays if you work (I'm saying this in a nice way).

Such a decline in living standards and a Ryanair flight is now considered a luxury.

WTAF.

It's so depressing.

I teach in FE pay crap but enjoy my job and the College. The people who seem to rise to the top in my experience are the bullsh—ears who convince everyone they know everything and can do everything. In reality well……
Also I only apply for jobs I can do 90% of what is being asked but a better tactic seems to be go for something totally out of your league and you get it. Then minions like me have to show them the ropes🙄

The OP is in an entry level position, that they're too old for. By that, I mean the wage is appropriate for somebody aged 18-23 who might only have GCSEs.

If they'd stuck with teaching, they'd be on £50k.

This isn't a living standards issue.

Would you consider Banking? I make low six figures (5 years in role) and work in a strategy team, so mostly just putting together PowerPoints and presenting. Sure you’ll have transferable skills!

Started off on 50k (London).

53k in retail, I have worked my way up. The shift work and weekends are not the greatest tbf but I can't consider a pay cut

One thing to consider too is when people's salaries go up, it's likely their lifestyle will too (get mortgage, car, have kid etc because you now can) so even though you earn more on paper, you're still going on 19.99 Ryanair flights

I’d look at graduate schemes. You would start on that salary or near enough.
Have a look at what is out there and you might find a company or industry that interests you.
I work in the construction industry and our grad schemes are excellent, we have lots of people still working for us years later in senior roles who came through the grad scheme. Obviously it’s not all actual building, the roles are very varied.

Have a look at jobs in private schools - they normally have good language departments and generally pay more than state. I’m on upper pay scale in an independent primary (not slt) and earn over 55k which, considering the holidays, I am very happy with. Could easily supplement this with tutoring if I chose to. My school also offer teachers the chance to work at holiday club which they pay £160 per day for the leader. Some staff do it as the summer is so long.

Contact your old
Uni career service - they should be able
To provide free support for alumni