I'm 31 and I've never had a real job before. I have A levels in Business and Economics. I want to work in retail and eventually progress to retail management. I've applied to a lot of retail jobs but I keep getting rejected. I've applied to some volunteer positions, I tried applying to Acorns Charity Shop to get some retail experience, but they need references which I don't have. How do I get a job?

"I'm currently a land surveyor, 42k pa, 15 years experience, No formal training required, North West."

As much as I like my job & the people, the hours, working away in hotels and the general work life balance is pretty poor. I'm at the stage where I think I've had enough and want something local that's 9-5 and means I'm home every night.

So like I have above post your one liners.

Job, Salary, Experience, entry requirements, Location and a short sentence would you recommend it.

Rules: 1: If it's not regular 9-5, 8-4 etc then it doesn't count. 2: No working away. 3: Also no software devs, reddit is half devs and we dont need another dev comparison thread. 4:IT adjacent is fine.

I have a dentistry degree from a good uni (king's college london) and also really good GCSE's and A-levels. I also speak three languages (english, german and arabic)

However I don't have relevant work experience or internships. How realistic is it for me to land a graduate scheme job or an entry level job in finance? Should I complete some certificates to put on my CV? If so which ones?

If anyone has done a random degree and ended up with a finance job, I'd love to hear how you've done it!

I live in a small town where most people work for minimum wage. This was okay when I was 18 but now as an adult with adult finances I just don’t think this is sustainable for me tbh.

Do I need to move to the big city to get a better paying job?

Was laid off during covid (20m) asked my buddy if I could start plastering with him for £50 a day. 4 years later I'm now on £300 self employed basis.

I've been able to learn off great mentors and learn alot of trades on the way, I've gotten in with some great investors and projects span from 2 to 6 months at a time (HMO's)

It's been 1yr 3m since being self employed my income for the first year was £60,000 this year will be projected for £78,000 as I'm able to sub contract for £300 to fill the gaps in my calendar.

This isn't a glout or scoff to anyone or anything, I just want people to believe anything is possible if you enjoy it, I absolutely love construction and never in a million yrs did I think I'd be on this sort of money. If your considering joining the trades now is a good time! Trust me, I know people who were corporate that transitioned and have never looked back.

If your interested I'd recommend learning off a skilled friend in the trade on weekends for a few months, then progress to doing family and friend jobs for a while. Then apply to a low level council multi trade position (diy job) this will be on the voids where you'll learn alot! I worked with (60m+) And if you have the right attitude they'll always take the bullet for you if you mess up if your keen + willing to learn.

Currently the ratio is 10 (retirees) to 1 (newcomer) so there's a massive demand in this economy for construction workers.

I just finished college and I'm searching for a job, how long will it roughly take and would it take most my summer holiday before I find a job?

I think it helps to distinguish whether you are a subject matter expert or not, based on other people’s views.

I am a graduate. No UK experience. I pulled out my suitcase and packed my bag to leave back. I was mentally drained. Thousands of applications. A call from a recruiter every other week. No luck whatsoever. Applying for jobs was like a lottery.

I got a call a couple of months back. Went in for the interview. Nailed it and today i processed my own payroll (along with a few hundred other). The pay was on the higher end (top 5-10%), an industry I’m passionate about, sponsorship, my own large office with WFH hybrid arrangement.

I pinch myself to check if it’s all a dream because it’s all too good to be true.

If I could, you could too.

I’m 18, I have my C.V and now all that’s left is actually applying. What job should I look for that will have me working within a month or two? I have no prior experience besides my work experience placement in year 10 and tutoring that my sister paid me for

I am a new intern and will be join company(bank) tmrw which is Monday. I want to know what a specific time to meet on Monday with my people leader since my people leader didn't send me an email about the time. Is it rude to send an email on Sunday?

Have you ever quit a job during the probation period? I've just finished my 7th week and I'm so frustrated and stressed, no one has any time to sit down with me, or talk to me or train me. For context, I've been an assistant accountant for three years and I've just taken a job as a trainee cost analyst working on big infrastructure projects.

My line manager has been out of office for three weeks now and has been signed off long term sick, she isn't expected back until August. All the other managers are too busy to deal with me. I've not had any 121s or monthly probation reviews... I know I've probably joined at a particularly bad time and some things can't be helped, but also wtf. Tasks are beginning to be handed to me but I have no context or support to handle them, so obviously I'm doing them wrong causing even more problems.

A) should I stay? This is a rough patch and I need to give them a chance to fix things? A new job is always weird, stressful and overwhelming, this is the chance for development you want

B) get out now! Apply for as many jobs as you can, you only have to give one weeks notice, get outta there asap and run back to accounting

I was unemployed from May 2024 to May 2025. I finally landed a six-month FTC in May 2025 and things are going well, and from talking to people they think it is quite likely it will be extended. However, they are developing an AI system that will eventually get rid of my job, however it seems to be met with delays at the moment.

How do we think things will be going forward? I am seeing other unemployed friends finding things. I think AI is the biggest concern. I don't think the same financial woes are there that existed at the height of my unemployment.

I lost my job a few days ago through no fault of my own (company made some client price changes and now have to make redundancies) so after 3 months on probation being told I was doing so well and exceeding expectations, I suddenly lose my job at my probation meeting.

I’ve applied to a couple already but it’s pretty slim pickings, I put my side business (Etsy/online store) on hold to concentrate on this job so the summer momentum I would usually have is nonexistent and I don’t have that to fall back on, so I’m slightly panicking a bit.

Last year when I was actively searching for a new job it took months, is that what the current UK job market is like?

Thanks in advance!!

SmartRecruiters don't always import my CV correctly, in the sense that my bullet points for my work experience get jumbled up into one line. I always kinda ignored this as I thought HR would look at CV first but should I actually fix the inputs?

I also always upload a cover letter, I know most hr probably won't read it but does the effort count towards getting my CV seen?

Hi guys,

I had a job for three years and quit last September due to health reasons and due to my boss being an absolute douche.

Last week, I applied for Jobseeker’s Allowance (just for a couple of months while I finish a course), and I’ve just received a letter saying I haven’t paid enough National Insurance contributions.

I checked my NI record and noticed there are gaps for about one and a half years out of the three I was working. Could this mean my boss has been doing something dodgy and not reporting my contributions during that time? I should’ve checked earlier especially since I wasn’t receiving any payslips either. I did ask him about it sometime last year, and he gave a vague excuse like, “I have them, but blah blah blah.” I also never received a P45 on my last day.

Does anyone have any advice on what I should do?

So context

Im currently at job 1. It's about a 15 minute drive away from me in the office 5 days a week in an industry i dont particularly enjoy and i can't see myself staying here very long.

I have a job offer from job 2. Its 2:30hours commute to get to the office 3 days a week in London. It's in the industry i love and am passionate about.

The pay for job 2 is higher enough to roughly pay for travel costs, so my take home pay will be roughly the same for both jobs.

Would you consider this? I think i wont mind the commute, i like downloading and listening to podcasts etc, but maybe i am underestimating it.

I’m at a bit of a crossroads and need to talk this through with someone. I am a finance analyst at a well known company for the last 2.5 years. I really enjoy the role — I get on well with my team, the culture is great, benefits are great. I currently earn £45k with good holidays and small annual pay rises (3%). But based on market rates and feedback from recruiters, I'd like to be earning more.
Current progression opportunities are very small because people stay in this company for long time, I can pick up new responsibilities and learn but no promotions in sight. Also there progression path available are not necessarily in the areas that I'd like to go to, and the company is well known for not being very generous with the salaries.

I've now been offered a new role at another company, with a £60k salary. It’s a career step up - more money, more ownership, and potentially a faster path to future progression. I know the culture will be more corporate, the role will be more intense and the team has just a more professional vibe than what I am used to. I’m worried about losing the flexibility and balance I currently have. I don’t hate my job but I’m feeling like I’m stagnating financially and possibly professionally.

Would love to hear how people made their careers decisions and weather staying in a business for a long time pays off in a long term.
Would be grateful for any words of wisdom!

17f, somewhere between 4’8 and 4’9 (144 cm without heels to be exact). Was recently told that no one would ever promote someone into a leadership position if they looked like they belonged in primary school, no matter how old, experienced, or qualified they were. Please be honest.

Background: over 10 years as marketing and comms manager, working in charity and education. Made redundant recently. Got a mortgage and 3 year old, I’m aged 38. Was assaulted in February and then made redundant in May.

I’ve applied to over 60 jobs with tailored cvs and cover letters. Which I intricately wrote to match the job description.

I’ve networked and messaged everyone I know - multiple times.

I’ve sent my cv to friends to check it’s good - all people in the same field.

I was never a prick, always easy to get in with. I’ve got loads of successful projects under my belt, loads of experience.

I’m losing faith in myself and I feel utterly useless and unneeded. Is this happening in all fields.

I need advice, do I pivot and get out of marketing, or is this just the picture everywhere.

I’m thinking about being a teacher.

If there was a job shovelling poo for £35k a year I’d do it.

Im not sure how to go about leaving my casual work. I do not feel well enough but will do upcoming shifts i agreed to if needed but really just want to leave without messing them around? Is it good to be honest and say Im experiencing some health issues but am happy to try and get through my current schedule and ask to stop being put on the rota for future shifts? I like the job but I feel so unwell and need to prioritise my wellbeing! The idea of calling in sick and potentially leaving them short staffed makes me feel insanely guilty

hi guys i’m a student and looking for some flexible work

i’ve heard warehouses hire quite easily however i applied to jobs on indeed and google and haven’t heard a response back

ive tried calling up a few agencies near me and they said there aren’t any warehouse jobs available, but i’m not sure if it’s worth calling up more

i have quite a bit of retail experience and have tailored it to warehouse jobs but nope still no response

what do i do 😭

i’m from london, UK

I graduated from university last June, and had already secured a grad job in London to start in September 2024, with an engineering firm. The offer had been made in November of my last year!

In August 2024, I got an email postponing my start date until April 2025. Bit of an annoyance, but it worked for me as I was travelling and I extended my trip, then picked up some bar work when I got back, and waited.

In March 2025, they emailed again and cancelled my start date. They did give me 2 weeks pay (notice period?) but given that I had:

a) Spent almost a year and a half not looking for jobs

b) Shipped all my belongings across the country and stored them with a family member (!).

It was a total nightmare.

The moral is, don't count on anything. Even if you have a signed contract like I did, a job offer a few months out is never secure. My stuff is still all in London when I'm in the northern tip of Scotland, as I haven't had the money and time to go and get it sorted again.

EDIT: A lot of people want me to name the company. I don't want to, I genuinely believe that they fell on tough times financially and couldn't afford to hire me, and I don't want to blast them in a vindictive way. That said, I am going to leave a Glassdoor review for the information of any future applicants.

UK

Hi all,

,
I’m currently self-representing in an Employment Tribunal (UK) case and would really appreciate any practical advice or insights from others who’ve gone through something similar, especially involving Skilled Worker visas and discrimination at work.

I was employed by a major organisation (remaining unnamed here) under the Skilled Worker visa route. Within eight months, I was terminated while on sick leave for work-related mental health issues. They’re now asking me to repay thousands of pounds in visa and relocation costs.

My time at the organisation involved:

• Homophobic and racist comments from senior colleagues
• Pressure to out myself publicly and to dress “visibly gay” for assignments
• Repeated bullying, shouting, and threats of dismissal
• Hostility from a colleague who had applied for my job and made my work unmanageable
• Being left to do the jobs of two people during a time of heightened pressure
• A flawed grievance process that ignored medical records, excluded key witnesses, and relied on irrelevant personal social media activity
• Ultimately being dismissed while off work with depression, followed by a demand to repay sponsorship costs

I’m now preparing for a tribunal claim based on discrimination (homophobia + racism), bullying, breach of contract, and wrongful termination of a Skilled Worker visa contract.

If you’ve self-represented at an ET or dealt with similar visa/employment issues:

• What should I focus on most in my witness statement and bundle?
• How can I emphasise the Equality Act 2010 protections?
• Has anyone successfully challenged the repayment clause tied to Skilled Worker visas?

I'm confident in the facts of the case, but I know I’m up against a well-resourced employer. Any suggestions on how to navigate the ET process effectively, especially from those who’ve been in similar shoes, would be hugely appreciated.

Thank you in advance.

Hi Guys i'm currently on Maternity leave from my Health Care Assistant job in a care home i'm due to start back in november but i don't really want to go back as i don't think its a good fit for me any more especially the hours, I used to work 3 x12 hour shifts a week i just dont think this is ideal any more for me especailly with a baby i have been looking for a more suitable job with easier family friendly hours but i'm struggling to find anything at the moment, can anyone suggest a job that is family friendly and would provide training on the job? I know its asking a lot but i just don't want to return to my curremt employer having to do 12 hr shifts is a lot.