r/UKJobs

There’s so many posts on here that ask the same question in a different package. You are offered a job in less than ideal conditions and are debating whether you should take it or not.

Right now in the UK, if you do not have a job and are offered one, TAKE IT.

You can keep looking once employed for a better role, but until you have a job you cannot be picky.

A friend who works in the NHS got me an interview. My friend says their desperately looking for a driver. I said. Pass my details over.

I got a call and went for an interview. It was all very rushed tbh.

The part that really caught me out was.It wasn't just a driver. In the interview she says. Ok the duties are. We need a porter. A delivery driver. Unload deliveries and also work on the security desks and monitor the cameras. I just looked and said. Four different jobs? She was like yes. We're very tight at the moment and of course budgets.

The job is paying 37 hours at UK minimum wage. The actual hours are unspecified and no set days. Basically it can be any day and anytime.

I just said thank you and I need time to think about it.

Is this becoming more common in workplaces? Your employed as a ???? but they want far more out of you? Also no actual work day structure? I don't mind flexibility but not if I'm sacrificing my health with work a day shift then a night.

I just feel like that would be hellishly stressful. It's also minimum wage. Surely they can't expect 4 separate roles paid at minimum wage?

Am I missing something?

Thanks

I was invited to a screening interview at a well known tech firm last week (the recruiter reached out to me on LinkedIn, I hadn’t even applied for the role). I’ve just been made redundant and am job hunting, so I had nothing to lose and everything to gain. My mother’s health had been deteriorating but I powered through it the call anyway before rushing back. I wasn’t at my best needless to say. Sadly my mother passed away hours later.

Should I inform the recruiter about what happened, or would this be too personal?

TL;DR Is a 47.5k salary fair in London for the job description below?

Hi all, 37M living in London here. Apologise for the long post, I don’t know where else to seek for some help. I’m hoping someone can give me some advice, as I feel my current job situation may be slipping through my hands, but maybe I’m overreacting.

I’ve worked in IT support for 14+ years. For the past 3 years I’ve been at a large multinational retail company supporting stores across the UK and EU. I was hired as a 2nd level IT support technician on 42k. I really enjoy this position and never had any complaints, everyone seems to be happy with my work. Three years later, my salary is just above 46k, but my role now covers much more than 1st and 2nd line support, including project management, IT operations, coordination, and acting as the main contact for retail and office users (despite there being a dedicated 1st line service desk).

Nine months ago my manager gave me the title IT Coordinator, but my contract and salary were not updated, with the promise of a review this year.

Come to March, after repeatedly asking for the review, I was offered a new job description (which still doesn’t fully reflect my tasks and feels very generic) with a 3.2% salary increase, bringing me to about 47.5k. To me this feels like a standard inflation increase rather than a promotion. My manager says my salary is already above average for 2nd line support and that their offer is based on market research averaging the different roles I cover.

I’m trying to get a reality check. For a role like this, does 47.5k sound fair, or am I being underpaid? It’s been hard to find reliable salary comparisons online. Thanks to anyone who can help. 🙏🏻

IT Coordinator – Job Description

The IT Coordinator plays a central role in ensuring smooth daytoday IT operations across the UK and EU. This position focuses on coordinating IT services, projects with external suppliers and group brands IT teams, and supporting endusers across offices and retail locations. The role is handson, serviceoriented.

Note: This role does not include server administration, network architecture or deep network configuration or other backend infrastructure responsibilities.

Key Responsibilities

Project Coordination

* Coordinate IT projects with external suppliers, internal stakeholders and group’s brands IT teams.

* Track project timelines, deliverables, and dependencies to ensure successful execution.

Service Desk Coordination (UK & EU)

* Manage the daytoday service desk operations for the UK and EU regions.

* Ensure tickets are prioritised, assigned, and resolved within agreed SLAs.

* Monitor service performance and identify opportunities for process improvement.

* Provide reports and statistics based on KPI

IT Operations (EndUser Focused)

* Manage onboarding and offboarding processes, including account setup in scope, access provisioning, and equipment allocation.

* Maintain accurate asset records for laptops, mobile devices, peripherals, and other enduser equipment.

* Coordinate procurement, lifecycle management, and disposal of IT assets with group ITM.

L1/L2 and OnSite Support

* Provide handson technical support for office and store environments across the region.

* Troubleshoot and resolve L1/L2 issues related to hardware, software, networks, and business systems and applications.

* Support store and office projects, including openings, closures, and relocations.

* Support store technology such as POS systems, payment, network connectivity, and computers and peripherals.

* Collaborate with group IT teams for escalations requiring specialised expertise.

Skills & Experience

* Experience in IT coordination, service desk management, or a similar operational IT role.

* Strong understanding of enduser technologies (Windows, M365, OKTA, collaboration tools, MDM solutions and mobile devices).

* Ability to manage multiple stakeholders and suppliers.

* Excellent communication and organisational skills.

* Experience providing L2 support in office or retail environments.

* Experience with ITIL practices.

Nice to Have

* Experience working in a multicountry or multisite organisation.

* Experience with asset management systems or ticketing platforms.

* French, Spanish, Italian language is a plus.

Personal Attributes

* Serviceoriented mindset with a proactive approach.

* Comfortable working independently and taking ownership.

* Strong problemsolving skills and attention to detail.

* Ability to adapt in a fastpaced, evolving environment

I found out on Thursday that the company I work for will cease trading and the small team I work with is being made redundant. We don't have an official date yet but it is likely going to be in May that we close.

On Saturday I saw a job listing that looked good, I applied and within an hour I received a phone call to arrange and interview on Tuesday. In our conversation I was asked why I was leaving my current position and in that moment I said that I was seeking a role with more variety to broaden my skillset.

I believe that I may be asked about this again in my interview, and I would prefer to be transparent about why I am changing jobs. The thing is, I work in an industry where people know people and will talk about what is going on with competing businesses, and it would cause panic for our clients if it got out that we are is closing before they have been contacted by us and that is something that will take time.

Do I disclose that the business I work for is closing? The prospective employer will find out at some point anyway so would it be bad to withhold that information at this time?

Just a moan/gripe and to see if anyone else is "feeling" this. Highly experienced professional but have worked a large chunk of my life abroad. Came back to the UK in 2022 and now have nearly 4 years of experience under my belt here. About to finish a level 5 qualification in my field just to "prove" I have the competencies that go with my non-Uk experience. Friend just sent me a job opportunity at a local council (in the north) for a specialist yet non-managerial role, the completing of my level 5 would coincide with me applying/starting this new job so thought my new qual would suffice. Job pays 42k (in the north, so add maybe another 8k to get southern equivalent), but the job spec is asking for a level 7 (Masters) qualification. I don't rate quals anyway unless you're a doctor/dentist, etc. Are they taking the michael asking for a level 7 for such a role, or is this standard now?

I never really had this issue until I was made redundant in 2021, since then I’ve had 3 jobs and made a mess of them all. I guess it’s almost like the opposite of imposter syndrome where someone doesn’t think they’re good enough yet out perform their colleagues but you still can’t convince them. I know I’ve got the experience and qualifications but like a car merging onto the motorway I stall at the vital moment or crash.

It’s like once you get the job you care too much, you’re keen to do a great job but the opposite actually happens, mistake after mistake after mistake it’s like your previous experience or knowledge has been locked off unable to be accessed and you can’t do anything right and the more you try the worst it gets. I’ve quit 2 jobs because of this embarrassment, I’d have quit this one 2 but the market is crap and in my 2 years searching can’t find anything else. I’ve also learned once people label you as “Useless” that’s it there is no coming back from it regardless what your CV or references say.

Hi all.

Just thought to have some advice. So I recently have been offered a job via an Agency within the Civil Service in Manchester. I would be relocating over from Northern Ireland and I am debating to rent in Liverpool (living there before I miss it) and it’s cheaper to rent. I have been going back and forth as there is a long commute as it will be an hour & 20 mins on the train and then a 20 minute walk to the office.

The job is hybrid after the initial training period, but I’m just wondering do you all commute to work and how do you manage it? Would it be worth it for a salary of £24k?

To keep it short, I have a degree in psychology (which I did because I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do in life, plus I enjoyed learning the subject academically). I then, unsurprisingly, struggled to find a permanent job. Since graduating and for the last 4 years, I’ve been working with agencies on and off to simply make ends meet.

The work is in schools, which I absolutely hate, but I could not get anything else. It is physically hard for me, affecting my mental health, and I’ve even faced sexual harassment.

Over the years, I’ve tried all sorts: I’ve tried setting up my own business (never worked), tried to get as many certifications as I could, courses etc… For example:

- Got a 120h TEFL (but couldn’t find a job with it because I’m not British native, sadly. Plus, I’m now trying to leave education)

- Got certs in Microsoft 365 Apps

- Did a software development bootcamp. Computers are a hobby of mine so I naively thought I could make it my job. Sadly after one year of constant job applications in the field, I realised I was kinda beating a dead horse.

I’m the only one in my household that can work (3 adults), so I’m supporting us all on my crappy agency pay. It’s hard. And that’s an understatement. To give an idea, last financial year apparently I had only earned £10,500. So yeah, I am tired and I just want to start a career to hopefully improve my life.

Anyways, in my most recent agency work assignment, I’m doing some admin tasks where I need to calculate things like ingredient amounts and ordering for all the students. I realised I was really enjoying that task: I could sit down finally (most days I only get to sit down for lunch, which has been affecting my physical health…), I wasn’t dealing with students and receiving abuse from them, and my brain was getting in the ‘zone’ and happily crunching and working those numbers.

I actively asked to be given that task more often, and I despaired when there wasn’t any more of it to be done.

So yes, I want to get into accounting. My teacher friends, when I told them I wanted to change into that, would say things like, “Nah, an office job is boring.”

But after what I’ve been through in the past and because of my mental health, a stable, ’boring’ office job is exactly what I need.

I would appreciate some concrete advice. How to go about entering accounting without an accounting degree? I appreciate I might sound a bit stupid.

I’ve applied to every apprenticeship I can find, but never received a reply. There aren’t many available anyways, which is a bit depressing.

1. Would it be worth it cold emailing companies to ask if they would hire a trainee?

2. On those cold emails, should I keep my degree on the CV or not? I would say on my covering letter I am looking to change careers anyways, but what would be best?

3. Is it 100% worth it to do the AAT L2 course? Would it massively improve my chances? I want it to an actual concrete improvement… I know nothing can be known for sure, but I am worried to pay for that course online as, and I am embarrassed to say this, it took me one whole year ‘just’ to save £700. So I have to unfortunately be very stingy with money.

Also any other advice would be greatly appreciated. I am quietly confident in my soft skills. I’ve had great interviews in the past, so I do believe I could be a great worker. I just would need training in accounting, of course. If anyone also in accounting has any tips or what they specifically look for, that’d be brilliant too.

Thank you in advance 🙏🏻

hi,

im doing my GCSEs next year (business, economics, triple science, geography) and am predicted grade 7-9 in all subjects.

thinking of doing engineering after GCSEs, and I don’t want to do college/sixth form.

I feel like engineering is something that has job security, and want to know from people who make good money from engineering what pathways they took. Should I look into apprenticeship? what type of engineerin? what can I expect to make yearly? and what makes the ‘big bucks’

Hi, I'm applying for a part-time job, and it's 20 hours a week, £13.45/hour, so doing the maths, it's roughly £13k a year. But I was unsure if it is fine to put in that fiture as I saw online to go higher than the expected salary?

Has anyone had any experience with these questions when applying on the form?

Hey everyone!

I recently applied for the National Audit Office

(NAO) Summer Internship Programme, and I'm the next stage - the telephone interview, specifically in financial audits and value for money (VfM) work. But I'm curious to know if anyone here has been through the interview process for this programme or a similar opportunity.

What can I expect in terms of questions? I've read a bit about the NAO's work in financial auditing and VFM, but l'd love to hear what kind of questions they focus on during the interview, especially since this programme is open to undergraduates from all disciplines.

A few things l'd love to know:

• How formal or informal is the telephone interview?

• Are the questions mostly competency-based, or do they focus more on your understanding of public sector work?

• Any tips on how to best prepare for the interview? (I want to stand out but I don't have formal accounting experience!)

Would really appreciate any advice or insights from anyone who's been through it. Thanks in advance

Background is BSc Business and Financial Management.

I have since found myself working in analytics wfh go figure lol but i've had enough and want to to do something useful for the world and nature but I just don't know where to start.

Ideally I want to work in Industrial Waste Management and/or conservation - renewable energy is good and all but it produces a lot of toxic waste during manufacture which i'd love to try to help to mitigate

vSo I've been lurking here forever and finally got an offer last month. Still feels unreal.

My background is IR / political science and my CV kept reading like an academic essay. I knew I had relevant experience, I just couldn't translate it for the roles I was applying to.

Someone here mentioned a tool called RoleShift (getroleshift.in). You paste your CV, pick your target role, and it reframes everything, ATS score, what's missing, how a recruiter actually reads your experience. I was skeptical but it's not just a word-shuffler. It caught that I was burying the most relevant stuff entirely.

Anyway. Good luck to everyone still in it. It does end.

​

People who have full time 9-5 jobs wish they were at home chilling, whether it's a job a in a specific field, even top fields like IT, health care, law etc. And those who don't have decent jobs wish they had a job like those mentioned above or just any decent job.

Or are full time people actually enjoying their jobs? Or at least some. And same with those who are unemployed?

Just signed up for a mortgage but trying to explore other options outside of the classroom , at the top of my pay scale (46,000) but can manage a pay cut in the short term. I’m aware this a very well trod ground. I’ve been teaching for ten years and I’d like to do something where I am not taking the work home with me as I have a young child. Have no clue where to start!

Was told i was at risk of redundancy … while on annual leave in Mallorca. Not quite the holiday ending I had in mind :((

I’m a 26-year-old marketer based in the North West, with ~4 years’ experience (B2B + B2C, fully remote). Our team of 8 is being reduced to 3, so we’re currently in a collective consultation/selection pool.

Honestly still processing it a bit, but trying to get ahead of things now. Would really appreciate any advice or support from anyone who’s been through something similar 🤝

• What should I be focusing on during collective consultation? Is there any way to negotiate or extend timelines, or improve chances of being retained/ or atleast delay the process!

• Any CV/portfolio tips for standing out in the current marketing job market?

• And if anyone’s hiring or open to connecting, I’d love to chat

Also always up for connecting with people who are trying to grown their network — drop your LinkedIn below or message me and let’s connect 💛

I’m not gonna pretend my job search was going great.
It was mostly just application after application, barely any replies, and a few interviews that ended with “we went with someone else.”

After a while, it really starts messing with your head. You start wondering if you’re saying the wrong things, coming off the wrong way, or just missing something everyone else seems to get.

What changed things for me was finding u/Different-Habit2122 and looking at my interviews differently.

I stopped treating them like these stiff, one-sided conversations where I just had to survive until the end. I started paying more attention to how I answered certain concerns, how I showed interest without sounding desperate, and how I ended interviews in a way that actually left a strong impression.

That was the first time it felt like something actually shifted.
The conversations got better. I felt more confident. And instead of walking out of interviews replaying every awkward answer in my head, I felt like I’d actually represented myself well.

Today, after four months of getting absolutely nowhere, I got an offer.

So yeah, if your search has been dragging on and you feel like you’re doing everything “right” but nothing’s happening, it might not be you overall. Sometimes it’s just a couple of small things in how you approach the process that make a huge difference.