can i ask about your job

Starry-eyed_surprise

I do a mix of things to earn money. My hours, pay and conditions of service are all variable which makes life interesting (!?) but my finances unpredictable. I work for two different universities as a part-time lecturer and I do supply teaching in primary schools. School teaching used to be my main job before I began to do further study (as a mature student in my own time) in a subject which was my interest but not connected with my school teaching. I am hoping to build up the HE side of my work as it is quite hard switching 'heads' sometimes between primary school teaching and degree level work. I also do extra work as an exam invigilator. All on variable temporary terms - not permanent. My pay varies hugely from nothing at all in September :eek: (as I don't do any paid work in August because schools are closed and university students finished and I get paid in arrears) to ok at other times of the year, so money is always precarious. I am hoping to move more into the university teaching in the next few years and to try and get some stability to my work and pay. (Also, I'm still studying.) Although it sound messy, I love my work - all of it. I just wish it was a bit more predictable.

Tyler_Durden_UK

I work in IT as a developer, have a couple of Microsoft certifications under my belt, take home after Tax / NI about £1700pm. Have worked in IT for about 12 years after going on a programming course while unemployed. My wife doesn't work but we live fairly comfortably.

Chuggy

Train driver.

tawnyowls

BucketOfCoffee wrote:

Totally depressing reading this - I'm an administrator in the NHS, single parent, earning less than 11 grand take home.... why did i bother getting a degree and why aren't i earning more????

Unfortunately, degrees have really been devalued in recent years. I used to be all for education, but with the cost of fees and the narrowing of the gap between graduate/non-graduate salaries, I wouldn't recommend university to a teenager any longer (unless they were looking for a job in which there was very specialised learning such as science or engineering) - I'd tell them to go and get a job (one with good career progression and prospects, obviously) and study in their spare time. Once you've been in work a few years, I'm not sure anyone cares - they just want to know you can do the job. Has anyone ever had their qualifications checked out by a potential employer?

NHS salaries aren't good, but the pensions, sick pay and other benefits probably bring it up to more than a similar job would pay in the private sector.

Dolly_Smith

BucketOfCoffee wrote:

Totally depressing reading this - I'm an administrator in the NHS, single parent, earning less than 11 grand take home.... why did i bother getting a degree and why aren't i earning more????

I also have a degree which I've done nothing with in ten years! But I'm an adminstrator with the NHS also and I earn nearly triple this - admittedly I'm in London so get an extra allowance but I'm interested to know what job you actually do. Medical Secs in my Trust are on a Band 4 which is more than 11k, PAs to Directors on Band 5 and CE PA/Board Secs on Band 6. Check your internal vacancy bulletin and apply for other jobs within your Trust, or even look for ones in your local SHA. With a degree and good technical skills you should be able to move up the scale pretty quickly - I started as a temp PA two years ago and have moved up four times since then. Once you're at that sort of level you can look towards moving away from secretarial stuff and into operational management. Another key thing in the NHS is to be interested - ask your manager if you can get involved in some project work, even if it's in a supporting role. Also ask for development training, Exec Directors are allowed to get personal coaching, so are you!! You could also try getting a mentor.

People knock the NHS but there's some great opportunities and the benefits outweigh those in most companies

good luck!

Ali-OK

rog2 wrote:

Fine, but how do you get on with all that Indian Food?

Easy..always keep a stash of non-branded indigestion remedies in my bag

But seriously, India has been looked at and ruled out.

SeldomSensible

Dolly_Smith wrote:

I also have a degree which I've done nothing with in ten years! But I'm an adminstrator with the NHS also and I earn nearly triple this - admittedly I'm in London so get an extra allowance but I'm interested to know what job you actually do. Medical Secs in my Trust are on a Band 4 which is more than 11k, PAs to Directors on Band 5 and CE PA/Board Secs on Band 6. Check your internal vacancy bulletin and apply for other jobs within your Trust, or even look for ones in your local SHA. With a degree and good technical skills you should be able to move up the scale pretty quickly - I started as a temp PA two years ago and have moved up four times since then. Once you're at that sort of level you can look towards moving away from secretarial stuff and into operational management. Another key thing in the NHS is to be interested - ask your manager if you can get involved in some project work, even if it's in a supporting role. Also ask for development training, Exec Directors are allowed to get personal coaching, so are you!! You could also try getting a mentor.

People knock the NHS but there's some great opportunities and the benefits outweigh those in most companies

good luck!

I actually made a typo there - I earn more than that (currently on whitley grade 4) - but since I've not yet been assimilated over to Agenda for Change banding yet I've got no idea what I'll be earning next month.

Dolly_Smith

BucketOfCoffee wrote:

I actually made a typo there - I earn more than that (currently on whitley grade 4) - but since I've not yet been assimilated over to Agenda for Change banding yet I've got no idea what I'll be earning next month.

don't forget that once you are assimilated they backdate your extra pay to October 2004 (or whenver you became permanent if it's after that) - a lot of the ladies I work with had a big smile on their face when that pay packet came!

krisskross

newleaf wrote:

I'm a nurse, qualified for 25 years, completely knackered, and longing for early retirement!

I made it until i was 59 then collapsed in a heap and retired. Nursing, particularly in a busy hospital environment, really sucks all the life out of you.

OIMO

tawnyowls wrote:

Has anyone ever had their qualifications checked out by a potential employer?

Not personally, but I have checked applicants qualifications when I was recruiting staff previously.

OIMO