We need to talk about how organisations sometimes use vertical movement as a substitute for meaningful financial investment.

A new title (Senior, Lead, Principal, Director) can cost an organisation considerably less than a substantial, permanent salary increase.

And when employees start expressing stagnation, disengagement or an intention to look elsewhere, it's worth asking whether the response is genuine investment in their development or simply another promotion cycle.

You get a more impressive title, a broader scope of responsibility and perhaps a modest pay rise. Meanwhile, your contribution increases, but your purchasing power and personal time may not.

That's the strange illusion of career progression: you feel like you're climbing, even when the material benefits of moving up don't quite follow.

Of course, titles can have genuine value. They can open doors, strengthen your CV and create opportunities for future growth. But that doesn't make them a substitute for fair compensation.

At what point does career progression stop being genuine professional development and start becoming compensation theatre?

Have you seen a promotion used as a substitute for paying someone what their role or the market actually demands? I'm curious to hear how this plays out across different industries.

If you’re paying minimum wage you’re going to get minimum skill. You’re literally paying for the lowest level of ability. You cannot expect someone to have previous experience, these jobs are literally meant for people just entering the workforce and some people who are happy in the jobs and have no desire to “climb the ladder” and don’t upskill which I completely understand. Some jobs have you fill out a questionnaire and do scenario based assessments on the application, and then at interview they ask a series of scenario based questions “tell us about a time….” These people have nothing to tell you because they probably have no previous work experience. The interview questions should simply be are you willing to learn what days can you work and when can you start. I understand you need people to be able to do the job so a few questions relevant to the role are fine, but for example if you’re applying for a warehouse job and they’re asking questions about a time you’ve worked in a team or a time you’ve shown leadership skills these questions are simply irrelevant. The interview for a minimum wage job should include at most be a basic literacy and numeracy test and a FEW job specific questions, most jobs you just have to learn… on the job.

I understand employers want the best candidate of course they do, but people are being hired after all of these tests and still can’t do the job, I just think the interview should be in person with a practical element, actually trying the job, and this will tell you more than asking 30 questions which someone can just lie about on their computer.

I am happy to share that I have been offered a Housing Manager position in one of the HA in the north part of the country.

I almost lost hope after waiting for more than one month for a decision to be made.

This condition doesn’t affect my life whatsoever as it’s well-managed through a sort of treatment I do (just something I can do at home). But technically the law says to disregard effects of the treatment when considering the condition, so this does count as a disability.

I just wanted to know if putting this down actually does increase my chances of getting an interview or does it actually hamper my chances as it might be seen as an invisible cross on my application?

Hi all,

I completed a final round interview just over a week ago with the hiring manager and was told to expect a decision this week. I then receive an email today from the internal recruiter handling this role so far that they'd like to share the update over a video call instead of sending an email.

The wording used which I'm overthinking is "catch up" and thanking me for my time, that they look forward to speaking with me. Another candidate was completing their rounds after me and I'm assuming the worst that they got the offer over the week and I'm now being informed of the rejection?

The language is vague and neutral. I don't understand why, if it is an offer, the email isn't more reassuring? Makes me assume this is a rejection call. I appreciate anyone who has received similar emails over this time frame and could share their experience. Thanks!

Currently living abroad and not resided in the UK since 2021.

Been thinking of coming back lately, so decided to bring up the topic of jobs in our groupchat.

No surprises, all of my friends were complaining that jobs have become harder to come by and were expressing extreme disappointment at the job market.

The part that I was surprised about is that they all seemed to mutually agree on one thing.

If you want to get an in at the moment, you've got to lie on your CV.

When I left the UK, this wasn't the normal position that anyone openly took - sure, we'd exaggerate and professionalise what we actually did, but flat our lying about positions, titles and experience?

Nope.

One of my friends was telling all of us how he had to use his father as a 'professional reference' for a job and a bunch of achievements that don't exist to get his current job.

Another friend was saying that he's been making up freelancing work and 'American references', who are just his friends from Camp America - who he believes are less likely to get contacted and/or vetted because his references are abroad. He claims that by lying he's been getting more interest, though still no job.

Is this just the norm now?

Hi everyone, I am 34 and I live in the east midlands, its been a rough ride this year and I've realised after taking redundancy for a large telecoms company that the job market is very tough rn and there arent many entry level roles going to get a foot into a new industry.

I say this because after 10 years of service as a customer service broadband engineer with over a decades experience in copper and fibre tech I am lacking in recognised qualifications and certs. I do not have a degree, only training NRSWA, SA001, 002, 008. I managed to land a self employed role as a fibre installation engineer but it's a real graft for not great money and I really fancy moving away from telecoms and braving the outdoors and the varying weather all year round.

Whilst I remain optimistic about finding a new job thats permanent and pays decently I feel quite lost and under great pressure to keep working a temp job I'm not enjoying, to invest in myself and obtain some new skills and qualifications but in what industry? Sales, class 1 driver, data center tech, where is hiring right now where I can use my skills and experience or start anew and develop new skills for a new career?

I am open to new possibilities!

I have savings left from the redundancy I can use for a course or training.

Thank you

I made the horrible mistake of leaving my job 5 months ago for what I thought was a better opportunity. It was a step up in title, not much in pay, but I was eager to learn so I took it thinking it would be an exciting new opportunity. 2 weeks in I began to feel that I had made a mistake.

I was lied to about how much the department makes and was told if I kept it at the number it was at I would get a bonus. When I started and looked through handover documents which included company records I discovered that the finances were a lie and they had not made that much and there was an 80k discrepancy between the figure I was told and the true amount.

The company is small and consists of 11 people. I haven't clicked with any of them and I am in the office 4 times a week. The days feel SO long. They have worked with each other for a number of years and told me it feels like a family. I can see how they all get on, but it just isn't my vibe at all. I did really try to throw myself in there but there was often a mismatch of energy and they all seem to understand each other in a way that I don't. I realised early on this was a mistake but I thought I needed to give it some time, but week after week I am beginning to hate being there more and more. I want to cry at my desk every day and I feel so trapped in such a small team of people. I can't afford to quit on the whim. I've been applying for things but the job market seems shit for everyone and I'm not even landing interviews. I live alone and left an abusive turbulent family so I can't go back. I feel so trapped and I am trying to not feel like I've ruined my life but it's hard. I literally want to cry everyday and I don't know how to make this better.

I need advice over whether or not to put up with my current job and situation until I find a similar/better job or just bite the bullet and accept a supermarket job I’ve been offered.

My current role is admin in a law firm, this is the sector I want to be in and stay in. The job is in a place I hate and there is no progression in this specific firm. I commute there which takes about an hour and a half to get there and an hour back (traffic is very strange) which is absolutely killing me in multiple ways. 1. Don’t care for the place or the specific job so it doesn’t even feel worth it 2. Time commuting means i literally work eat and sleep everyday then spend my weekends bedrotting to recharge and 3. The cost of commuting is not something I can afford. It’s about 30 miles each way in petrol and car use/£15 via train.

I have tried to apply for jobs in the free time I do have but i have mostly just been ghosted. I have only had two interview so far. One was for a similar role to my current role which I didn’t get as I was ‘overqualified’ as they thought I should be going for paralegal roles instead (but I get ghosted for every paralegal role) and another for a supermarket which I got (very ironic). The supermarket job is pretty much the same pay as my current one, maybe like 20p an hour less if that, and only 28 hours but possibility of overtime. The supermarket job is also only a 10 minute walk from my house. If I take this I would be taking it with the view of freeing up my money and time to apply for other jobs, and maybe trying to improve my cv by attending talks and things like that. The shift scheduling also means I would be free to interview during core business hours instead of taking last minute annual leave days like I currently do.

I am just worried how this will look on my cv in the future? Especially if it takes me another 6 months or more to get another job. Don’t get me wrong I don’t look down on those jobs at all, I lived a lot closer to my current job last year so had more time and worked weekends in a supermarket, and I worked in one before my current role as well. I’m just not sure how a future employer would see me quitting a legal job for a supermarket. Would my explanation of the fact that I relocated and the commute became too much be okay? Especially if my new job ends up having a commute. My mum is insisting that it’ll look awful on my cv and that they’ll probably assume I was fired or something.

Hi All,

Just looking for some perspective here. I’ve been at my current job for 3.5 years and I finally managed to secure a role elsewhere after 6 months of looking, humiliating myself in interviews and getting rejected from jobs that I was very much qualified for. I currently have a hybrid setting so I am in the office 3 days a week (although I must admit, I’ve been cheeky to only come in for 2) because I get so exhausted and with the fuel prices it’s just not feasible to drive to and back from work, also I’ve had issues in the office with my colleagues micromanaging and just general drama around the workplace. My new role offers a fully remote working environment, so I’ll be at home and the pay is decent (35k) I only accepted it because without the commute I save on fuel and since I live with family and contribute towards groceries and bills.

My question is, anyone that has been working remotely- what is your experience and how do you have a good work/life balance? I’m really excited for my new role but I don’t want the remote job to allow me to essentially become a bum at home and become lazy.

This account is somewhat of a throwaway, honestly partially because I feel ashamed, but also because my old account has way too many work related memories and posts, and I really don’t want to see them right now.

So, I’m 38. I’ve worked in the same career path since I was 18 (offshore structural & underwater welding) and loved it, but following a pretty significant head and shoulder injury (not work related) which resulted in multiple surgeries, lots of rehab, and permanent inner ear damage, it’s no longer possible to do; as I often have to walk a lot slower, swimming is……questionable/near drowning now, have a lot less balance than I used to, and can’t keep up the pace. I can’t even weld in my garage anymore, which is a shame, but if the vertigo kicks in when I’m doing it, injury is going to wreck me - on that point, I can’t weld at all anymore. It’s all I ever wanted to do, I was good at it, and it compensated me well over the years. But now it’s not really an option anymore; and since all my skills and relevant experience is in that one area, I’m not really qualified for anything else. It’s taken me nearly three years of surgeries, PT and intensive rehab, but I really want to get back into the job market. I will say that the experience of the benefit system has been simultaneously a lifeline, and very dehumanising; it’s one thing to want to go back to work but can’t until you recover, it’s truly another when every single person bar one I’ve dealt with in the system, seems to treat you as either scum, a scrounger, or beyond help. I’ll be glad to be back on my feet.

So I’m facing down the barrel of starting over, and this is where I’m stuck, and any advice anyone can give, I’ll take it. I’m happy to retrain, happy to follow a new path, and happy to take on new challenges; but I literally have ZERO idea where to start. Contacted job coaches, and they seem to either want me to do entry level work for the rest of my career, or go back into welding - not a great idea. Asked the job centre, they basically told me to go be a cashier or perhaps a taxi driver (direct quote), and I don’t even know where to start with looking for retraining advice. What I can say is the trades is now off the table for me, so I need to look elsewhere. To be clear, I’m happy to start at the bottom at entry, but I don’t want to stay there, much like no-one else does of course.

What I want is a career that I can at least feel fulfilled in again, and perhaps help others. I’m not expecting to earn the same as what I used, that will never happen; but more than minimum wage over time is pretty important with two kids and wife at home. I’m not proud, and I’m willing to put my head against the grindstone and graft, but I just don’t know where to go from here.

I’m not really asking for someone to suggest a job or career path; more so that I don’t know where to start when you’ve only ever done one thing and it’s something you can’t do anymore.

So any suggestions, pointers or advice will be graciously appreciated. Honestly just getting this off my chest has made me feel a little better, so that’s something. Point me where to look, and I’ll dig in. Thank you all for your time.

New grads have just started at my work, apparently competition has been fierce and as with other graduate roles, the number has shrunk.

This should mean we get a wider pool and get to pick the best.

I don't know if I'm turning into a boomer but I have started to see across all sectors a lack of effort from people.

New grads want to all work from home and despite having access to AI take forever on simple tasks.

Customers service agents don't seem to be able to provide any help.

Tradies arriving high and forgetting their tools.

Wait staff at restaurants act like I'm asking for their first born when I'm placing an order.

ive been applying for 2 years since I was 18 if I dont get a job im afraid ill get kicked out, but know one will hire me.

my perents say "just get a job" but its not that easy in 2026 and then I get call lazy what do I do?

Hey,

I wonder if anyone had any experience or tips for an interview with a director in EU Parthenon for an assistant director role?

Bit of a long one any advice welcom

I have worked for this company over 20 years.

I have had a neck shoulder issue on and off for about six years with minimal time off.l am a lab tech I mostly do computer work using a mouse and lots of clicking. But also bench work using pipettes and syringes to make standard references and dilutions.

My shoulder issue gives me problems using a mouse, and doing any bench work involving syringes and pipetts.

I don't think I have had my output/ performance questioned or had any absence reviews (Bradford score) over this issue either.

Until now most I've had a week or two off and a month of restricted duties and then been back to normal, Until this year.

I had an occupational health report in around 2023, it's kind of been uphold stay out of the colder drafty areas and extra computer breaks.

But this year.

Around February I had two weeks off for my shoulder issue, I came back on restricted duties again. No bench work and slower working than usual.

The restricted duties have stayed in place for 6 months now and the 'stand in manager has called two welfare meetings now.

From Feb to September my shoulder gets stressed/worse during the week and calms down during the weekend.I just about manage.

I haven't managed to get back to full working capacity in this time and have had two welfare meetings. Both attached.

One in June (when another member of staff was known to be off ill for a while)

Second in September (when a computer went down ( in a less drafty area) and I requested not to work in the draft year area and suggested some work arounds)

At the second meeting I requested more admin tasks again. The outcome of a second meeting to me seemed to be I either get better or I take a demotion.

( supposedly a demotion would have more admin tasks involved not sure what role or pay this would be)

My initial question to ACAS was how does this sit with work regulations? Can they tell me to take a demotion.

But since the second meeting I got quite stressed this made my issues worse. And since I have injured my shoulder extra while doing physio exercises (sprained shoulder on top of previous issue ) . And noticeably grinding my teeth since, due to meds or stress.

I have now been off for nearly 5 weeks and progress to getting better is seeming pretty slow to me.

So I have had 7 weeks off this year now (two weeks in feb) and have a doctor's note for another week (I get 3 months paid sickness) I have a docs note for all absences.

Via doctors I am on a physio course and taking a range of pain killers. I have asked for more investigation but they are generally unhelpful.

So currently not in work and don't feel I can perform in work right now and unsure how to proceed further.

Occupational health has been mentioned but what if they deem me unsuitable for work.

Is there any advice or help that you can provide regarding what I have shared here

I have had very little contact with work in this time. I send a sicknote and they reply with hope your better soon. (Team leader not manager)

I would love a way forward where i remain in work.

If I go back part time (will currently get paid less as have another month of full pay) and can't do it will this count against me

Would offering to take a week or so unpaid be a good idea or would this count against me on Bradford score?

Any ideas welcome 🤷

So I’ve been doing graphic design for quite some time now, and I think my portfolio is decent. Lately I’ve been wanting to land a junior graphic designer role at a marketing agency, but honestly I’m not sure where to start.

For those of you who work in agencies, what made you stand out when you were starting out? And what do you look for when you’re hiring juniors?

Would love any advice.

Hi

Particularly interested in replies from skint people who've been unemployed for a while. :)

I have all my old CVs and job application text (example of different skills and project work) to cut and paste into applications.

My Word has run out and is £100+ to renew. Google docs makes it really hard to open stuff from my computer. Word not being renewed means I cant open a doc in word and do anything apart from view it (fair enough).

And all my old One Drive files (more work and study stuff) is about to delete, I'm planning moving it all to different cloud storage (paid).

Usually my employers provide MS Office etc free for home use which is one reason Im holding off paying.

TL DR. What cloud storage/ software do you use or how do you get around everything becoming subscription based?

Thank you.

I worked employer A for 5 years from Jan 2020 - Aug 2025

I worked for employer B for 5 months from Sept 2025 - February 2026, left due to horrible management

I worked for employer C for 2 months from April 2026 - June 2026 due to civil service job transfer to different dept

I’m currently working in this dept since June 2026 - current but desperately want to leave soon I find a new role due to feeling burnout but feel I need to stay as I fear that I’m starting to become a serial job hopper

Thoughts?

I have been told by some people who work at BAE Systems Digital Intelligence that they know people who have been on the bench for a year, and still employed with their full salaries.

According to one of them, it's quite unusual for them to have redundancies and prefer to keep people, as it also helps their reputation as one of the largest engineering firms in the country. One person had been on the bench for a year a while back, and has now been in a project for the past few years.

I have read lots of posts where people get let go within weeks or a few months of bench period in other companies, and I'm just wondering how the company can afford to keep people on for so long without billable work? Or is this just a quirk of the company (or other large firms in the UK)?

I’ve noticed that job descriptions often have quite a long list of requirements, and I’m genuinely wondering how strictly recruiters actually follow them.

For example, some entry-level roles ask for 1–3 years of experience, or experience with several specific tools. I might have relevant experience and know most of the tools, but not every single one. Is it still worth applying, or am I just wasting my time?

Some internships explicitly say you must be currently enrolled at university or graduating in a specific year, which I understand. But others simply say you must “hold or be working towards a bachelor’s or master’s degree”, without mentioning any graduation window.

If I’ve already graduated earlier this year, would I generally still be eligible for those internships?

The same goes for graduate schemes. Do recruiters expect applicants to meet every basic qualification, or is there some flexibility if your overall experience is relevant?

I understand that preferred qualifications are usually more flexible, but I’m asking specifically about the minimum/basic requirements.

For anyone working in recruitment, HR, or who’s been through the UK graduate job market:
• How strictly are minimum qualifications enforced
• Are graduation-year and student-enrolment requirements usually non-negotiable?
• If I meet most requirements but lack experience with one or two tools, should I still apply?
•How do you decide whether a job is worth applying for versus one where you’ll almost certainly be screened out?

I’m trying to be more strategic with my applications rather than blindly applying to everything, so I’d really appreciate some insight!

Currently working for a company in the UK, being a UX researcher, I have to interview internal stakeholders to find out how they work, etc. Some of the stakeholders are based in Asia, particularly in Japan, some in Europe and some in the US. Is it reasonable for project manager to expect me to conduct meetings or interviews at 7am to accommodate stakeholders in Japan? If yes then should I expect to finish work early as compensation? Project is expected to start from Nov until April or may next year.