What do you do for a living?

[Didydani]

Hi all!

So, I was wondering what you all do for living? I'm looking at going back to work this year and haven't completely decided on a career yet. I want to go into something highly paid and something I'll enjoy.

When I say highly paid, Im talking about atleast £1000 - £2000 a month. Do any of you know what kind of career I'll make that sort of money in?

I'm not asking for exact figures either but if you could tell me how much you earn roughly a year, that would also be helpful.

Alot of you are probably wondering why i want something highly paid, and the reason for that is because I want to able to live comfortably and not have to struggle. I rent and want to be able to buy a house, to be able to go on holiday atleast once a year, to have something extra to save or spend and i want to learn how to drive, but a car and so on.

Thanks!

I’m surprised you consider £1-2k highly paid

I supoose i dont really, that's just a "minimum" example.

What are your qualifications in?

What work have you done in the past? There is about to be a huge rise in unemployment so I would be very open to what job I would look to do.

Technology marketing? Look at CIM qualifications. Then an entry level job in a high tech firm. You should start on that depending where you live. £28k realistic with three years full time.

What are your skills and qualifications?

There's that godawful government retraining careers advice thing (Fred's next job could be in cyber, that one) that might be worth a look for a start but I wouldn't set too much store by it

You’ll need to say what you’re qualified to do first off!

I'm a microbiologist (to put it simply) I earn around 50k per year...I take home over 3k per month

When you say you haven't decided on a career do you mean that you intend on going to study first or just try and go straight into a job??

Absolutely love my job.

Private ambulance service - roughly £250- 300/day depending if its a late/night/weekend. I tell them when I’m working in advance. I worked 6 days on/ 2 off throughout lockdown before they found out I was pregnant and was making nearly 6k per month but this was tiring and not sustainable long term - 2 shifts a week is perfect and still a liveable wage whilst also getting 5 days off with my son, with the opportunity to work hard for a few weeks as and when needed to save for something.

I started out by working for the NHS as an ‘apprentice’ ambulance practitioner, then progressing to technician, then paramedic which took me 3 years. I left nhs due to burnout, set shift patterns and extremely low pay - although as an apprentice ambulance practitioner I was on what you would consider “well paid” I can’t see how anyone can live on less than £1500 a month which is what I earnt with overtime as a starting wage.

I love the flexibility. I work out what wage I want that month and choose what days I want to work. I can do only weekends, only nights or only days/ lates to work around childcare

What work did you do before kids?

Hi all, thanks for your responses :) to those of you asking what I've done for a living before and what qualifications I have. Well I've been a waitress, had jobs in stores, been a volanteer and worked in a call centre.

I don't have many qualifications but the ones I do have are customer service related. I plan to resit my GCSES online however, since I got really rubbish grades in school and the career I've been looking at requires A to C in maths and English.

The career i mention is a dental nurse position. Usually you'd have to go to college and study it, but there are apprenticeships available. However, the agency who was managing the applications for the apprenticeship discriminated against me because I wasn't a school leaver. Too old to apply basically. They didn't advertise that though in the job description. They were looking for school leavers and could of put that in, which would of been helpful and saved me wasting time applying!

I think at the moment, taking whatever job you can is a priority. Money coming in plus improving skills/work experience is good. Holding out for "the career" isn't usually advised. You can look for/train for the career whilst working.

I have a 3 yo. Was in a call centre job but non ops on 29k a year (started in the call centre). I did an access course to get into university (you dont need highers) and im now in my 3rd year of a finance degree.

I think if you really research what you want then put the work in so if it is dental nurse, work part time and go to uni. Make a lower wage in the interim to get a job you want.

Would anyone else like to add what they do for a living? I only ask because I'm looking for more variety. I have taken on board what those of you have said about taking what i can get btw. I'd get abit more on a minimum wage, than what I'm getting right now on benefits, which is only a plus. :)

With zero qualifications youre not going to have much luck getting anything except NMW jobs tbh. You need a good selection of GCSEs and then some form of further qualification. You haven't said how old you are, but you're unlikely to get apprenticeships at the mo as they're aimed at school leavers. If i were you i would work out what want to do, and then work towards appropriate qualifications.

To answer your question, i take home 2,100 a month, and i work in marketing. But i needed a degree to get my job.

Don’t we all want what you described in your op? Not many people would say “I want to return to work to earn a pittance, because I’m not bothered about quality of life”!

Anyway, that aside. You def need qualifications but there are things like access courses for mature students.

I’m a teacher at the top of the main pay scale and I get £2,300 a month. Obviously need uni qualifications for that (I have a BA Hons and a PGCE). We have 4 kids though and only just manage to pay our bills. My partner had a massive pay cut due to COVID and I know how lucky I am to have my job.

I work in HR for 38k. Started in junior position 3 years ago then promoted to current role. Starting salaries around 23k. Next step is paid about 45k, then 60k etc. In my sector top wage around 120k. I'll not get there though!

Have a degree, HR qualification and customer service and office management experience.

Civil servant, £50k. But you'd need to join at less than that and work your way up. There are various entry schemes, not sure on details, but at my organisation I think there is an apprentice scheme which might be suitable. Apprentices tend to help with admin, programme management, finance support, event management etc. Those that I have known have gone on to get jobs in the same department after... so long as they are good.

The trouble is most well paid jobs are linked to qualifications. Like the PP I'm a teacher - a Head of Dept. It required me to get decent GCSEs (or O levels in my case!) 3 A levels, a three year BA Hons degree, a year's PGCE and then finally a NQT probation year to qualify.

I've done if for 30 odd years and now bring home about £2,700 a month. Sadly you don't just walk into a highly paid job.

I enjoy my job, but I've worked extremely hard for a great many years to get this kind of salary.

Should add I have postgraduate degree and specific technical experience, most of my colleagues have at least an undergrad degree plus experience to get to the same salary, but there are some who don't and still manage to progress.

... don't have a degree, obviously they have experience...

Director at a charity. Sounds impressive but take home 2100 for working 4 days per week. Worked really hard after my degree in some terrible entry jobs to get where I am. Grateful every single day.

Not much point in people telling you what jobs they have if you need experience and qualifications for them. There are a huge amount of roles where you earn in excess of £1k.

I was a an Executive Assistant/PA made £45k a year (London) before becoming a SAHM. But the role required a graduate degree plus a few years experience.

You could start as a receptionist or team assistant on £23-25k (London) and work your way from that.