Desperate. ANY junior office job I can retrain in that pays 37k+?

[ASDnocareer]

• I don’t have dependants so can be flexible. (at this rate can’t see myself ever starting a family as I’ve never landed a career path).

• Happy to work long hours (I often work 8 - 6 in my current low skilled role which barely pays much. If I was actually paid 37k+ with career prospects I would happily work much longer hours!!)

• Happy to make work my priority (I always join network groups, and volunteer in the companies I’ve worked for).

• Happy to give up remote working. I live in London and willing to work fully from the office, but also don’t mind hybrid.

• British citizen so no visa/sponsorship issues

• Not fussy about company ‘benefits’ (pension, maternity leave etc) - I’d rather just land a career job first, then can later be picky about companies.

(All of my performance reviews have acknowledged I’m willing to go the extra mile, not just me being delusional)

I know it doesn’t count for much but I also have 2.1 BSc degree with industrial placement, zero CV gaps, completed a coding bootcamp and 5.5 years experience of working in financial services. My roles have always been low skilled (not intentionally, I just never land any career jobs after multiple internal and external applications).

I’m open to getting further qualifications however I constantly hear people say experience is more important, and companies often fund qualifications once in the related job. I don’t want to risk spending money I don’t have on a qualification which won’t guarantee me a job, and potentially end up working in a different area.

This 100%. Junior office positions usually start on minimum wage and work their way up like everyone else.

Thank you, would be a dream to work for a less rigid company with more opportunities. I got to final stage interview with a fintech recently for a job I was under qualified for (they also paid much more than 37k). My interview feedback was surprisingly positive but then due to budget cuts they dissolved the role :( Still applying desperately

I’ve noticed my friends who work in tech or for start ups have progressed much quicker than even the hardest working ‘smart’ people at my old fashioned FS company.

That’s what I was thinking and would hope not as well, seeing as I’ve been in the same office job for 22 years (was junior, now senior) and still don’t earn that much.

I’m sorry to hear that, what industry / line of work? Based on my industry, I presume your company is seriously underpaying you if you’re based in London and ‘senior’ with 22 years of experience. I have applied to junior roles at not for profit companies who still paid around 35k.

I may be stupid, autistic and out of touch but I’m still not ready to accept defeat, and stay on less than 37k for the rest of my life. Even if that makes me delusional, I’m not giving up yet.

When including my performance related bonus, I didn’t earn far off that (still less than 37 though). Now that’s still not a lot even whilst living frugally with zero dependants, and flat sharing in a rough area.

Although it’s a sector currently undergoing a bad time, support/professional services in Higher Education is an option worth looking at.

A junior?

Well it depends what you mean by “junior”, the temp admin I referenced is on pretty much the lowest rung in the organisational hierarchy and completes basic administrative tasks, opening POs, identifying templates to be utilised for various initiatives and ensuring they’re completed by third parties, routing contracts for signature, compiling reports. That sort of thing.

@ASDnocareer junior posts do not pay £37k pa outside of the usual sectors. You’ll be looking at £25-30k pa, depending on location.

Out of curiosity, what is the experience within the financial sector as you may be suited to HEO / SEO policy posts at HM Treasury. Do let me know and I’ll help you out, if suitable.

Thankyou, hope you don’t mind I PM’ed you

I was going to suggest this. My husband did it a few years ago until he got fed up of just making rich people richer.