19 Seeking a reasonable wage

Fine

I left school and immediately got a job in a local supermarket at 16 earning about £6 an hour. This was only part-time as I was also studying at college. After I had finished my 2 year course I decided to change my workplace and go full time somewhere, unfortunately after weeks and weeks of applying my only option was McDonalds @ £4.90/hr!!

It was a temporary move to pay off my car insurance (£210/month) which I find highly ridiculous as I only drive a little fiesta I purchased for £600.

I now find myself 5 months in and struggling to find a way out. My wage pays a little rent for my mum, my car insurance, my petrol and a few bob for a night out or whatever.

My working conditions are awful, running around a hot kitchen all day being spoken too like dirt by someone with a white shirt on £1 more than me.. All im looking for is a reasonable wage, im on about £8,000 which I feel should at least be doubled?

Am I asking too much?

dmg24

Yes, you are. You are nineteen with few qualifications. Graduates are lucky to earn £16,000 in the current market - what do you have that makes you stand out?

Gordon_Hose

What did you do at college?

Fine

dmg24 wrote: »

Yes, you are. You are nineteen with few qualifications. Graduates are lucky to earn £16,000 in the current market - what do you have that makes you stand out?

Im sorry to hear that age makes any difference to working capabalities. I understand there is a lack of experience but I do know the average wage is around 25k and im not asking for anything close

@ college I studied computer programming and realised it mid way it was not for me, I did however finish the course but it's not in me to take it further. Would just like to join a company at a reasonable rate and work my way up.

dmg24

Fine wrote: »

Im sorry to hear that age makes any difference to working capabalities. I understand there is a lack of experience but I do know the average wage is around 25k and im not asking for anything close

@ college I studied computer programming and realised it mid way it was not for me, I did however finish the course but it's not in me to take it further. Would just like to join a company at a reasonable rate and work my way up.

Your age is relevant because it means you have very little experience. The average wage is irrelevant when you consider that includes people with far higher qualifications and many years of experience.

I would work at getting some qualifications and/ or experience in a field that you would like to pursue.

Oldernotwiser

If you're earning £8,000 you must only be on about 30 hours per week, so working full time would obviously make you better off or, alternatively, you could get rid of your car until you can actually afford to run it.

Expecting to earn £16,000 at your age and with few qualifications is ludicrous but perhaps you could go back to the supermarket where you used to work.

Fine

dmg24 wrote: »

Your age is relevant because it means you have very little experience. The average wage is irrelevant when you consider that includes people with far higher qualifications and many years of experience.

I would work at getting some qualifications and/ or experience in a field that you would like to pursue.

I appreciate your advice. My worry lies where friends have finished university and still on very low wages, Ive really read into it and it almost seems you have a better chance of working your way up the ranks from scratch.

I just dont know anymore..

Aliasaila

I'm a qualified pharmacy technician and earn less than what you aspire to earn. Without a degree you wont get high paying jobs in this market. You can always work your way up the McDonalds chain and train as a manager, they get decent wages at that end of the scale.

Fine

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

If you're earning £8,000 you must only be on about 30 hours per week, so working full time would obviously make you better off or, alternatively, you could get rid of your car until you can actually afford to run it.

Expecting to earn £16,000 at your age and with few qualifications is ludicrous but perhaps you could go back to the supermarket where you used to work.

I do about 34 hours a week and I am in a full time position. I earn just over the 8k mark. My car is the only luxury I have and the only thing im not willing to forfiet at this stage.

In a way im glad to hear that it's ludicrous because im smashing my head wondering how it can be done. The supermarket I previously worked at was completely breaching laws which is another thread entirely, basically it is not an option for me.

Gordon_Hose

lol, at 19 I was earning £12k in the Army.

Maybe that's your answer. Join the forces, get a trade and a half decent wage.

Fine

Aliasaila wrote: »

I'm a qualified pharmacy technician and earn less than what you aspire to earn. Without a degree you wont get high paying jobs in this market. You can always work your way up the McDonalds chain and train as a manager, they get decent wages at that end of the scale.

Mcdonalds managers only get a small pay rise, about £1-£2 more than they would without the managerial role.