Right, so background. I was dismissed from my last role - there was a nasty incident where I was spiked whilst I was off duty but someone saw me and reported me to an on-duty manager and I was subsequently investigated by HR and dismissed.

Anyway, I should give my background here. I have a master's in chemical physics, an MRes in pure physics and 4 years experience working in research. I subsequently have 5 years experience in engineering management. I have taught physics at degree level and have presented research internationally and published many journal articles. I've also helped develop software working well outside my comfort zone and have qualifications in COSHH and in clean room work.

I am being consistently turned down for roles - I either don't get shortlisted (no chance to ask why) or I get shortlisted but always get told I'm "not a good fit". I don't get it. On paper I seem to have everything they ask for but time and time again I keep being passed over. If I apply for more menial work I get passed over for being "overqualified". What on earth can I do? I'm fed up of my parents acting like I'm lazy when I'm barely making ends meet as it is, but that's a whole different story.

Hey there!! So, I need a bit of advice regarding a recent issue I've had with my employer regarding sick days?

So, with my employer, you get 20 sick days per calendar year, and I have currently taken 12.

1 of them was in January with food poisoning, 2 in May with flu, 5 days in June because I was in hospital, 1 in September due to a cold which I caught off my manager, and 2 at the end of October (last week) because I'd caught a bug and was throwing up for 2 days.

My manager has never told me that after a certain amount of sick days, you may end up having a formal meeting about it or anything. So, when I returned to work after my 12th sick day (and I am aware it is a lot, but considering a lot of it was when I was in hospital, I didn't really think anything of it). My manager pulled me for a meeting and told me that the following week (so this week now) I will have a meeting with her, and another manager who I don't know, to basically talk about my sickness as I have taken a lot of days off sick. I was quite shocked by this as I felt as though I was being given a bit of a slap on the wrist for being ill?

I think the most annoying part is that I was never told this would happen, and also, when I have called in sick in the past, I felt comfortable doing so because they had either sent me home as I was too sick to work, or told me the day before that maybe I shouldn't come in the next day as I looked too sick?

Also, our team leader who I had called to alert I wasn't coming in as I had a sickness bug had told my manager that I had said that 'I just wanted a rest day' which obviously wasn't true, but that's another story...

I just want some guidance on this as I've never really been in this position before. Is it as serious as I am making it out to be in my head? I'm also expected to be taking a few weeks off at some time next year as I am going to be having an operation (relating to the reason I was in hospital this year) and my manager mentioned this a couple of times in the meeting?

Also, I read the sickness policy in the past and had never saw this written down, but I read it again recently and it does actually mention this happening in there (except it says you're supposed to have a formal meeting after 10 days off sick, not 12) so I think they had updated it and had never realised.

TIA!!

I just need some advice because I’m really scared. I’m 24, female, and I’ve been working throughout my degree and for the last two years full time. I’ve had jobs since I was 16.

I was a part time stylist for a high-end high street brand while I was studying at uni, promoted to manager when I graduated. I worked there full time for a year and a bit (not including my work during my degree) , and then became an assistant store manager for a different luxury bag brand. I worked there for a year and loved it - i have now had to relocate to london for unexpected family reasons.

I cannot even get an interview anywhere. I’m freaking out because I’m completely self supported and I had to use all my savings to move house / new deposit / moving van etc. etc.

I have a degree, management experience, qualifications in Excel and customer service skills and I have been applying non stop for two months to roles in buying and merchandising, visual retail work, store manager roles for luxury brands…. I am so desperate now that even though I was hoping to be out of retail I think I will have to go back to the long hours.

I just don’t understand. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with it but my passion isn’t in high street retail and it seems crazy that with experience and education I’m now considering places like tesco just so I can make sure I have food and a roof over my head. I feel like such a failure and I don’t know what to do. Anyone else managed to get through something like this?

Hi guys I recently applied for a role as a data analyst in a company called e-careers and immediately got a reply that the post has been filled but there is an opportunity for a govt funded training for data analyst and there is no cost for joining it. Has anyone come across it or is it legit?

I’ve received today a great job offer, but there’s a catch - it requires me to be in Manchester four days a week. I currently live in London, and after five years of working from home, the thought of spending 3.5 hours commuting one way feels overwhelming.

To complicate things further, I’m about to finalize my first home purchase this week, so moving to Manchester or renting a place there isn’t an option I’m considering.

Has anyone here dealt with a similar long commute? How did you manage it, and was it worth it?

EDIT: Thank you, everyone, for your input - it really helped me make a decision. Deep down, I knew this wasn’t feasible, but with the current job market, it’s hard not to second-guess yourself. That said, some things are truly priceless. I’ve decided to say no, and honestly, it feels like a huge weight off my shoulders.

I'm 23yrs old, with no degree or formal qualifications. I have ADHD/Autism, Fibromyalgia/chronic pain & fatigue, and am struggling with depression/not having any social life. I also smoke too much weed and dont make as good use of my free time as I could/should be. These details will become more relevant further along.

I currently work as an IT Support Technician in a small independent school, on paper my salary is £25k, but I also receive UC/disability benefits, such that my current take home pay is around £2600 per month.

I've just received a job offer to work as an IT Support Technician for a Gov company/working for MoJ, the salary on paper is £42K, but with the reduction in benefits and increase in tax/pension/student loan costs that will come with it, my take home pay will be around £2900 per month.

So although its a £17k increase in salary on paper, it will only feel like a £4k increase in practice.

At my current job, I get paid half-terms/school holidays off aswell as annual leave, I start at 9am and am finished by around 3pm most days. I get lots more free time, the work/life balance is great. There's only 2 weeks of term left and then I'd have 3weeks paid time off for Christmas holls.

The new job I would be starting at 8:30am, finishing at 5:30pm, and will only get 25 days annual leave + public holidays. I would be working everyday between now and Christmas.

The new job is also only a 2 year contract/the company is being shuttered and replaced by private sector services in 2026, so its also not yet certain whether there'd still be a role for me after that, or if I'd be back searching for another job.

It feels like I would be crazy to turn down a salary of £42k/pass up this chance, especially when I see how much other people are struggling with finding jobs/how low most salaries are atm. But then I just keep thinking is it really worth it, when the reality is it'll be significantly more work for only £300 extra per month?

I'm already miserable because I feel like all I do is work, home, work, home. I feel like if I take this new job, I'm only going to be more exhausted after a days work, and even less likely to go out and socialise. But then again, I dont currently make good use of the free time I do get, I just smoke weed and keep to myself - so if I'm going to be wasting that time anyway, I might aswell be earning money while I do it instead.

How much of a difference will my having been on 42K make to my ability to negoitiate a higher salary in future? Is it worth slogging out a couple years there just to have it on my CV?

Or should I stay where I am, and make better use of the time I currently get? Re-enroll at Uni/do an apprenticeship at the same time, earn myself a degree level qualification while working?

Any advice would be appreciated. What would you do in this situation?

Careers that people generally don't know about, where you can start from the bottom.

I recently saw a job description for an Estates and Facilities Director role in higher education, which seems to fit largely within what I can do. However, I have never line-managed staff, just consultants and contractors. I’ve spent the last decade managing capital projects at NHS Estates.

Generally, even if it’s not stated anywhere, what would you expect an E&F director to be experienced in to be accepted at an interview?

If this isn’t for me now, I’d like to know what I could develop.

Throwaway.

At risk of redundancy, 3 roles consolidating to 1. New role is available to apply for and I did so. I have an interview this week. However I'm now hearing a lot of conflicting info from managers involved and it's starting to affect me to the point I just want out.

However, I have some questions I'd like answered and figured I can ask them in the interview. If I were to proceed with the interview, get Q's answered and be offered the role, can I refuse the role or would this fall under the Suitable Alternative Employment and need a reasonable justification to refuse the offer? I thought that was only in the case where you were immediately offered an alternative role (rather than having to apply for it) but I'm not sure.

Alternatively, if I simply pose my questions to management outside of the interview, can I simply rescind my application for the role and receive the redundancy package?

Bottom line, have I snookered myself?

Thanks in advance for any advice

So I have been working as a teacher in private school for the last 8 years teaching primary school kids.

I am coming up to my 60’s and earlier this year I had to have cataract surgery to my right eye that required me to take off 10-15 days for the op and recovery.

My next op for the other eye is this month and boss told me that from next year sick leave pay will be capped at 5 days per year starting next year.

I’ve always given my best and felt like this is lacking sensitivity for my contribution and the fact that I have always done my best for the kids at the school but I can’t help it if my health requires me to take time for treatment from work. I always try and time it with the holidays but as you all know the nhs is doing it’s best to accommodate what is a very long list and growing list.

Should I go part time next year or have a word with my boss about this? I don’t know if it is even legal so any thoughts or experiences of similar treatment would be welcome.

Hello all,

Here to hopefully find some helpful advice.

I am almost 30 years old and currently working as an offshore mechanic, full time for a company based in the UK. - Long trips away, pretty well paid, but not a lot of time off in comparison to other offshore companies. Can be away for 6 to 8 weeks and only have a week off before being back at work. Not great for maintaining home/personal life. (Required to work onshore Monday to Friday also as part of contract)

I have worked as a mechanic since the age of 18, starting off on cars, then trucks and now heavy equipment offshore. Ive been working away from home since 2020, and I'm slowly starting to get more feelings towards finding a job based permanently at home in the UK. Maybe even a complete career change, getting away from mechanics. (Starting to notice the inevitable mechanics knee and back pain) Although I have considered trying my hand and getting into wind turbine maintenance.

Working away from home the past few years has been good to me financially, and this is the main worry I have about a complete career change, taking too much of a drop in salary. From what I can see, most jobs based onshore in the UK don't want to pay anyone more than 30k a year.

Are there any mechanics or ex mechanics here who could possibly share any experiences or advice? It would be greatly appreciated.

Many thanks 👍

I have a question. I work part time in supported housing and we have a new HR person. They have decreed that all staff must be fully flexible, i.e. available 24/7, and also cannot say no when asked to work in different houses. My question is this - is it legal to make demands like that? Some staff work one day a week because that’s the only day they’re available, and I know someone is very worried they’re going to be forced out.

So I have a day off today and was texted by a coworker for my login to one of the systems I use. No sorry to disturb you, no please, barely a thank you. He’s technically my superior but I also have 2 other superiors above him.

I just want to relax on my day off and not have to stress thinking about work.

Hi all after a bit of advice. I am 37M.

Straight A student in school but didn't go onto complete my studies (gambling got in the way, specifically poker)

For the last 15 years, I've either played poker for my income or ran my own sole trader business buying and selling wholesale stock.

I also helped run a charity for 4 years, overseeing local and international projects and managing 3 physical stores.

I have a high aptitude with numbers and would consider myself as someone who thinks logically. I actually excel under pressure and need something that would be stimulating.

What sort of career would I be able to enter in the job market? Would any of my experiences be relevant or would I need to go back to studying?

Any advice appreciated

I’ve received a call from the company asking if I could do interview on Friday last week. I checked my diary and said no I have to work on that day. She suggested another day but I’m also not available. I then told her I can’t do interview this week what about next week. She said she will check her schedule and call me back but I still haven’t received any call. DIFU saying I can’t do interviews because I have my shift? Do people usually call sick to do a job interview?

Seems there are people building groups and initiatives to support people but that can’t work fast and it can’t work everywhere. Are enough people listening to this demographic?

I am 26M with a First-Class Honours BSc in Economics and Mathematics in 2021.

I'm a Personal Assistant for a Council CEO.

I can't get anything better. 🥲

Wish I had a rich mummy and daddy with good connections so I could be earning 200k straight out of uni in the City.

I suck at interviews.

My CV is pretty good for what I've done, I've got metrics and stuff. I tailor cover letters for every single job I apply to. I've applied for entry-level sales in dealerships, which I would've been really good at and really want to start a career in sales. Huge flop, they've all turned me down (5+).

IM TOO OLD AND ITS TOO LATE WAAAAAHHHH

Hi everyone :)

Currently unemployed after failing probation in September, been on the job hunt since then. Pretty much all the grad roles in software start next year so I'd have to get something in the meantime, what are some jobs that are more relevant to software than just being a kitchen porter? I've tried having a look for database admin stuff, but most of it requires a good amount of experience.

Also on a related note, how bad is the job market for .net roles? I'd prefer to work entirely on the backend side of things, either in testing or just making stuff, but a lot of stuff requires front-end as well these days - the last job I had switched the training from testing to full-stack halfway through :/

Thanks guys :)

Sharing my story here as so many of you shared and made me feel better this year.

I’ve been facing redundancy since May. I applied for roughly 120 jobs, many I was overqualified for but just panic applying. I’ve had 24 interviews in that time, the rest either didn’t respond or knocked me back. 20% response rate for interviews.

Of the interviews I have actually lost count of how many times I was told I was second choice. It was breaking me. Days spent crying wondering how I’m going to pay my mortgage come Christmas. Days spent feeling like I wasn’t as valuable, smart or capable as I once thought. The self doubt grew to be intense.

Then hits Friday, after 6 long months of hard grind and getting nowhere, I have not one, not two but three job offers fall out of the sky. Good jobs that I’d be delighted to do.

For anyone else on here struggling, don’t give up, you just need that one (or three) lucky break and all the woes melt away. ❤️

I am under investigation for possible gross misconduct as a jealous colleague went to HR and told them I'm carrying out work in works time using works equipment and vehicle, I have proved I have my own equipment own vehicle and I carry out work outside of my working hours and on weekends. My question is can my employer dismiss me with no actual evidence or proof of these allegations? The person is lying trying to get me sacked, can anything happen to him if/when im found not guilty? Any advice would be appreciated.

I have been 3 months now on unemployment looking for work.
I do go on interviews and have been to second interviews, but get told that I'm not the right fit.
This week I have been to 2 job interviews and have another on Thursday.

One of them, offered me a job,, however they don't seem like the best to work for.
To explain let me take you through the process I witnessed:

Company posts on internet job for Manager role with salary based on experience.
The supposed operations manager calls me and invites me to an interview.
During the interview he tells me he has just been made Manager and that the position available is actually for Assistant manager.
He does a 15m interview where he barely asks any questions and mainly talks about the role and the company.
He says he really likes my personality and that he will organize an interview with the Regional manager.
He calls back same day and invites me for an interview on the next day.

This is were the real interview was set. The Regional manager asks all the normal questions about experience and myself, and explains his position in the company (which feels more like an operations manager than a regional one) He tells me that they will get back to me.

Yesterday I get a call from the Manager. He tells me that they are going on a restructure and that the position is no longer available. They want me to join as they loved me but starting as a line worker and they say that they will have loads of opportunity for me to advance.
They offer me a salary of £12 / hour which is a little better than some companies are posting for supervisory roles in my field.

I am feeling a little scammed and at the same time I don't know what to think.
Should I decline this job offer?

I'm an ex-chef, moved into teaching. Been teaching hospitality for last 20 years. Fancy a change but I'm nearly 50 so is it worth it? I'd need to earn a half decent wage 28-30k min. I've got 20 years working left in me though.

I’m currently working in a PR agency in London and hating it. I don’t really get on with my colleagues, the work and clients are pretty shit, and there’s pretty much no room for growth.

I’ve got two years of marketing/PR experience and have spent the past two months applying for junior marketing roles but have only gotten an interview from one, which ghosted me after a final stage interview :( I feel like I’ve got no way out and I’m going to be forced to stay in PR which I hate. It doesn’t help that there’s no career or sector that I have a real passion for, and the ones that are most aligned with my interests in the arts I would never do anyway because the salaries are so bad.

I just feel so lost and directionless - I’m not even interested in marketing, I just ended up here and I feel like it’s my only option. Im 23 and everyone around me is earning upwards of 40k and well on their career paths, and Im kind of just floating by because I haven’t found the right fit yet. I’m not sure how I even can find the right fit when even for an entry level job, they want years of experience in the role :( It would be great if anyone has some words of wisdom or advice :’)

30m. Got my A levels but no degree. I want to get into IT. Ive got an interest and affinity with tech. Done some basic coding but nothing too serious.

Does anyone know a realistic pathway to break into tech?

Thanks

I've been avoiding talking about where I live to my manager.... He thinks I live somewhere else.

So I've been working at my company for about 4 years. When I joined, I signed a remote contract.

We recently had to go back to the office once per week if we're not remote. I checked with HR and the office thing doesn't apply to me as I'm on a remote contract.

My address is noted at the city the office is in.

Now here's my issue.

I don't think my manager really knows I live in this city. But I've never said I don't, and I'm pretty sure I've mentioned I live here when I interviewed and on random occasions.

I feel kind guilty because I think he is assuming I live faraway because he always talks about the city as if I don't live here. Do I correct him? Is this weird?

Edit: some context is basically everyone who joins us now is on a hybrid contract, and people who joined around the time I did are also on hybrid. It seems my contract is an error but obviously I'm not mad about it... It just makes me feel even more guilty!

Hi internet people.
How do you calculate the strength of hybrid or remote working benefits compared to being stuck in an office? I know it depends on transportation costs and time wasted travelling and maybe other things.

Let's assume I earn £50k in office. So, If I travel 1 hour there and 1 hour back, that is 25% of time compared to my 8 work hours that I am not paid for doing the job. 25% from £50k is £12.5k/year. In addition, I have to pay transport that is not tax deductible or work expense, so I have to pay another £400/month * 12 = £4800/year. I also need office clothes (I can't go into the office in comfy joggers), and eat food from restaurants or meal deals which are about 50% more expensive than homemade foods => £2000/year.

Overall, my calculations say that working from the office is £19300/year (£12.5k + £4800 + £2000) more expensive than remote working. If I worked hybrid, it would still cost me 50% of that, so it would still be around £9650/year more than working from home. So £69.3k/year in an office job is exactly the same as £50k/year job done remotely, right?

Is remote working one of the biggest benefits, or am I doing my calculations incorrectly?

Hi all,

I'll keep this as brief as possible.

• Worked from graduation until 37 in an old career. Hated it (very volatile industry with long hours) but paid well. Started side hustle doing the same thing to get as much money in as possible. Used that to pay the house off in order to facilitate a career change to something I've always wanted to do which was work in IT.
• Switched to IT at 37 working in local government. Took a 30% pay cut. Working in a very niche area supporting a specific software but on the promise of broader exposure over time to wider elements of IT.
• 4 years later and only course I've done is ITIL Foundation. Now under threat from 2 angle. First is the general financial pressure in the local government. We are having a restructure, which is dragging on. Second is the software I look after now being up for replacement and, with that, my role no longer being required.

I'm now flapping a bit. If the worst happens I can go back to the old career but I really don't want to when I feel like I've got my foot in the door as far as IT goes, not least within the public sector.

The last few weeks, I've been weighing up what to do. I'm thinking if the worst happens to take some time out and do a few courses. I've signed up & paid for access to a website that provides IT learning pathways which has all kinds on there, and I have a few in mind. However, I'm conscious in IT that without "real world" experience, the certifications might not help in my situation. I also worry a bit about my age and whether it's all worth it.

I've got no idea what to do at this point and feel a bit stuck.

Any advice is appreciated.

Does anyone happen to know how much the commission or OTE would be for a sales role in the equipment rental industry?

I don't know much about the industry but I imagine you could potentially sell the odd batch of generators here and there but then possibly large construction sites over multiple years. I'm just trying to get a sense of how much you could earn.

Hi All,

Apologies, new to this. For context I’m 26, earn £34,800 a year as a System Analyst. I work from home, in the process of buying a new home. Literally pending sending in my mortgage application. I applied for an IT manager role (I will manage one person), I have experience in 1st,2nd,3rd line support. I got the IT manager role, the role entails what I have done minus some little bits but aren’t considered to be in my scope as they’re contracted out. Is it normal to feel edgy based on some of the lacking in particular parts, I was interviewed by the CEO and a director, new role is office based about 4 miles away and I’ll earn 38K (As they’re aware I lack management) for the first 6 months then 41K onwards as they put it “sky is the limit” my current role is basic, I’m satisfied but feel like I’m treading water, been here for 2 years and 7 months. I feel like I’m making the right decision. I give my notice in tomorrow hopefully. I also want to be an IT manager, I think because it’s now on my plate I’m a bit like “Oh shit!”

Thanks all,

Hi Everyone,

I have been working at the same company for 5 years now, they put me through AAT level 3 & 4 in collage and once I had finished level 4 in 2022 I began doing the month end accounts with teaching guidence from the month end accountant, whom I eventually meant to be replacing.

I am currently studying CIMA, completed E1, F1 and now studying P1

For the last 6 months I have bascially done 90% of the month ends all the legwork to get to the end result - the accountant now just checks for errors and puts everything into a yealy spreadsheet.

On the daily I handle all the accounts, banking, credit control, accounts payable and recievable, intercompany account transactions, promptly replying to customer and supplier queires and then all the random odd jobs.

We have since slashed the external accountants pay in half from £1400 to £700 net pay per month - I have been on £26600 for about a year now and when I asked for a rise I was told 7.5% which would only raise my take home pay by about £120 per month.

I feel dissapointed in this considering the significant redution in the accountants pay - and knowing where all the money goes makes me feel even more undervalued

I have been looking at other jobs with my skills and quals and they are averaging around 32K-35K jobs that I could definatley apply for with my skills

We are just about to implement a new system which I have also been conducting all the meetings and intergration exercises (I was promised more pay for directing this too)

The company I work for is quite small and outdated in financial procedures and while pursuing CIMA I know that there is no future for me here.

However I feel I am at a crossroads - There is an accountant job going in a big well established rapidly growing company that my fiance works at - the MD said they would also give me an internal refferal for the role which would also offer CIMA support.

But I also feel like the timing is bad, the training for the new system begins in January and I havent fully taken over the accountant role yet as I still need abit of guidence with month and year ends; however the job going at the other company would be an amazing oppertuniny to fully persue CIMA and grow in the right direction if i managed to secure a position there

The external accountant is very supportive of my career goals and CIMA support and thinks i should be looking for something else

I am really worried about rocking the boat, especially as they paid for my AAT training with the end goal of me becoming the full time accountant - and I know I am valued - just at the moment I would like a salary and career path that aligns more with my personal goals.

Can anyone advise - I am a people pleaser - but I thinking I should put myself first for once..

Thank you!