21 applying for his first job - bit of advice needed from the older people

DCFC79

ManicMum wrote: »

Aldi pays graduates £40k? To do what? Blimey, wish I could go back 20 years and start again.

Why not do the newspaper thing and if you don't like it, join the army. Surely the army will still be an option in 5 years time?

to hopefully run the store or become regional manager

bristol_pilot wrote: »

Aldi pays grads £40k, plus executive car, as trainee supermarket managers. No experience required, but I belive it is very hard work.

yes aldi is hard work but the grads are worked much harder but that is reflected in the pay

Pocketsaver

ManicMum wrote: »

Why not do the newspaper thing and if you don't like it, join the army. Surely the army will still be an option in 5 years time?

With the army training, it is best to do it while you're young, especially since I am aiming to join an infantry regiment.
Plus, I have been told that the skills aquired from training, it makes ex-officers very desirable in civilian jobs.
I'll continue applying for other jobs, such as the newspaper, to keep my options open.

bristol_pilot wrote: »

I am about twice the OP's age. I take the opposite view to Wyndham. At 21, my main priority was getting interesting work, job satisfaction and developing new skills. As I have got older, money has become more of a priority as I realised just how much you need to earn to get a house and afford a decent lifestyle. Being young and poor(ish) is OK, it loses its appeal as you get older. I don't regret my choice of subject at uni, just wish I'd made the move into management earlier. I now see earning money as my main reason for working, although I still enjoy it too.

Although the army pay is lower, you don't get that many chances to spend your money. The training lasts 44 weeks, so I'd finish with just short of a year's worth of pay (you live and eat in their grounds). Along with my personal savings that I expect to have by the end of this year I'd have enough for a fairly large house deposit (min £30k). So after one year of employment, I would be in a strong financial position as well.
After that, since I believe you live on-site for the working week, I'd have minimal outgoing and therefore overpay the mortgage/ put the money to things such as rennovating the house/ flat, investments etc... And when I get sent on overseas operations i.e. afgan, how am I going to spend the money whilst away but for the most important money issues?
It would be great if there was an army officer who could impart their knowledge on the subject.

SevenOfNine

Dream job over better bank account hmm, tough decision.

IMO go for the dream job, want to be old and grey regretting not having followed your dream (albeit living in a great big house with a big fat bank account).

Lokolo

bristol_pilot wrote: »

Aldi pays grads £40k, plus executive car, as trainee supermarket managers. No experience required, but I belive it is very hard work.

Grad starting salaries of £25k+ are normal, £40k+ in London. These are proper grad jobs. Of course there are many graduates who have to accept far less and are doing jobs that would have been done by school leavers years ago (prior to the ridiculous expansion of higher education).

I am about twice the OP's age. I take the opposite view to Wyndham. At 21, my main priority was getting interesting work, job satisfaction and developing new skills. As I have got older, money has become more of a priority as I realised just how much you need to earn to get a house and afford a decent lifestyle. Being young and poor(ish) is OK, it loses its appeal as you get older. I don't regret my choice of subject at uni, just wish I'd made the move into management earlier. I now see earning money as my main reason for working, although I still enjoy it too.

£40k+ for London is ambitious. Not quite that high. Barclays pay £36k, my job is paying £33k (at an Investment Manager company).

And Aldi's salary actually rises to £60k after 2 years... incredible.

Other than that, agree with you.