To think salary is very low for this job ad

[Jobseeker0]

FTC job ad I just came across has a salary of £25,063 based in Kings Cross

I get that it’s a junior role but is it just me who thinks 25k is very low for this London based role? It’s really getting me down as I have a degree and a few years experience including placement year but most jobs I see pay very little and are still extremely competitive to land. I’m fighting for jobs that will barely cover my essential bills, and will require me to get a second job.

“We’re seeking a coordinator to support the successful delivery of multidisciplinary projects at the (x), working closely with project, delivery, finance, and discipline leads in a fast-paced, agile, and collaborative environment. Ideal for an early-career professional or graduate eager to develop new skills, this role focuses on overseeing project-level requirements, aligning processes, managing delivery tools, and coordinating resourcing and financial aspects of successful project delivery.

Key responsibilities

Manage and coordinate project delivery with cross-functional teams across various disciplines.
Ensure projects are delivered on time, within budget, and meet established goals.
Working with the project team to ensure focus on the quality of outputs and how the work we do best reflects the values of the (x).
Actively engage in continuous improvement initiatives, including retrospectives and delivery team meetings.
Coordinate meetings and manage project resources.
Develop and maintain collaborative and positive relationships with internal and external stakeholders through effective communication and engagement.
Provide clear monitoring and reporting to clients when required, covering project-level deliverables and key performance indicators.
Monitor effectiveness across project work-streams and provide administrative support as needed.
Perform financial tracking, budgeting, and reforecasting activities.
Encourage agile ways of working and efficiencies across the (x).
Other ad hoc duties as required.
Provide backup support for Business Support when they are on leave, such as handling receptionist duties.”

Seems to be quite a long list of responsibilities too…
(I’m a struggling job seeker so appreciate I’m no expert)

Executive assistant

They're relying on the fact that there will be young graduates living with parents or with parental support, who will take the job for the experience to kick start their careers. Unfortunately this means that people in a more privileged position are able to gain experience those less fortunate can't afford to.

My first junior role in central London in 2018 paid £17k. The majority of junior reporter roles at newspapers pay £25-28k. It’s not unexpected in many industries.

Its shit but normal.

25k is full time minimum wage.

@HarvestMouseandGoldenCups22k would be less than minimum wage for a full time role

Yes I just edited it as I realised I was basing that on an apprentice salary I’d seen rather than junior. Apologies

Yeah that should be a graduate entry salary.
Just to say I'm a teacher and after 20 years, only earn around £18k more than a teacher setting foot into the classroom on their first day qualified.

Thats so good! Thanks both @Addictedtohotbaths and @DailyEnergyCrisis , I’d not really considered EA roles.

I presume it may be harder to break in without prior experience of same role tho

Although as previously mentioned I don’t mind taking temporary pay cut if it leads to better prospects (I earn around 35k and could just about manage 28/29k for first year but would be tough surviving on that longer term)

This has been happening for years with unpaid internships in careers like film/ theatre.

OP would be better paid as a nanny...

No we weren't. My management graduate job in 1997 paid me £15k entry. This was considered a decent wage at the time. So that's crap frankly.

That sounds like a massive waste of everyone's time

the median grad salary in the late 90s/early 00s was 18k

Agree - but we didn't have to pay for uni tuition so we didn't have thousands of ££££ worth of debt before we started work.
Also rent was cheaper

The team PAs get paid more than that at my firm.

If it's NHS then Agenda for Change and nationalising pay banding really screwed support staff in HCoL areas. But private companies also seem to be in a race to the bottom. Every other admin job listing I've seen recently includes some element of project management (or in some cases people management!) for barely over minimum wage.

Grad entry level jobs in my sector (media) paid 20k at the lowest

Even if it was 15k you had no student debt and rent and housing was far far more affordable.

However you want to cut it... Basically flat grad salary over 30 years isnt right.
Particularly against the context of homes 3-8 x ing in price.

My adult kids aged 27 and 28 earn almost double this.

That’s really good! If you don’t mind sharing, what job roles and industry do they work in
Also how did they get into it?

Given your update that you are in work and want to progress, can’t you identify some suitable learning and development? Not just training courses seminars and events, but work shadowing, cover for seniors, reverse mentoring etc.

I saw a job advert recently for an Independent Domestic Violence Advocate (IDVA) which is where you caseload people who have suffered domestic abuse, help keep them safe, caseload them until they can cope and are safe on their own: it paid £25k a year too, I couldn’t believe it. Imagine the stress and the risks involved in that job - why would you do that when you could work in a cafe for the same? I think it’s a hidden problem with the ever-rising minimum wage. Other salaries are NOT rising at the same rate. It’s destroying the careers ladder and making a mockery of it.

I feel angry that there are employers who think it’s acceptable to try to recruit someone on such a low salary.

in general I think that, taking inflation and higher costs of living into account, U.K. salaries have gone down.

NMW ensures that the people we need to support our society via 'unskilled' jobs (shop assistants, factory workers, HCAs, cleaners, etc) are able to live average lives without government support. It must rise somewhat in line with CoL or may as well not exist.

The big red flag is why hasn't the average wage increased. I remember when ultra-wealthy was a net worth in the tens of millions! Maybe a few businesses were operating in the 100 million sphere. Now we see companies operating with balance sheets in the multi-billions. Why aren't we in revolt over the unwillingness to let any of that trickle down to the workers' salaries.

Not necessarily. The best EAs I’ve recruited had very little EA experience (one worked in retail- customer facing, one was a receptionist). For me it’s transferable organisation skills, proactive attitude, good judgement, low ego and resilience that makes a good EA.

I’ve been at my company for three years and tried a few dif things without luck. I hit all my objectives, achieved small bonus each year, and have taken on additional responsibility tasks which are sometimes two pay scales above my own (eg project lead)

In 3 yrs not just me but the rest of the team have had no new opportunities/ promotions. Hence think it may be best to look externally.

It’s quite a strict and highly regulated company. You can’t do work shadowing here unless it’s a formal secondment. Company has redundancies and hiring freezes in many areas, so barely any applicable secondments or jobs have come up.

I successfully applied for three different mentoring programs whilst here, they were all nice people but all too busy for the commitment. The few sessions I had never got more than basic/superficial advice. I believe it was more of a tick box session, and when I spoke to others they also said mentoring wasn’t great here.
I also successfully got a place on a competitive career coaching program funded by my employer. Ironically the guidance from the coach only made me want to explore external opps more, and realise I shouldn’t have to put up with some things in current role normalised by the company😂

I’m def not complaining about mentors as I understand they owe me nothing and very grateful they offered mentorship scheme in first place. I would also try to take the initiative to make it as easy as possible for them/work around them

Many people are too overworked here.
I’ve had better career advice from some Mumsnetters and reddit forums than any mentor session at work.

I don’t want to derail thread too much speaking about current role but please trust that it’s not a good environment for me. I also have heavy workload and toxic management. I know it’s extremely rare for anyone to have a ‘perfect’ job without some sort of compromise but I feel like I’ve had to compromise and lower my standards in most areas after being stuck here.