The 5 year plan to £50k

[dowie]

Sorry I don't know which bubble you live in, I see this day in day out people working like the poster said, it's not nice, and this country wants us work like dogs until 68 doing hard graft for peanuts.

I live in the London bubble, yes I know it is grim up north but I think you might need to reflect on the fact that you're perhaps in another bubble, you might see that stuff day in day out (unlikely really) but it isn't the case for 'most' people - you're making the mistake of projecting your supposed local experiences.

I expect 'most people' are doing boring 9 to 5 jobs, staring at a screen all day, no more than half an hour away from home.

yup, I'd suspect the same

 

[Housey]

Sorry I don't know which bubble you live in, I see this day in day out people working like the poster said, it's not nice, and this country wants us work like dogs until 68 doing hard graft for peanuts.

Nah, that isn't what most people do, some yea sure, but most have their own bubble, it is perhaps just yours and a few others. Also, your life is in your hands and sure, for some it's easier but that should never be an excuse, just a fact of life.

 

[Buffman]

It's such a ball ache to get CEng without an accredited degree these days that it's almost certainly easier to just do a part time Masters than to prove yourself through career learning assessments etc.

Yeah seems very unlikely/difficult for most people! (and the cost/benefit its probably worth the cost in a masters..)

Fwiw I started in my first graduate job @ 23 y/o with an MEng in mechanical engineering at the start of this thread in 2014 on around 25k (in Cambridge!!) . I moved companies after about 18 months, got a couple small promotions and now on ~35k @26y/o with bonuses on 37.5hr week and good benefits.

In 2 years if I do well I could hope to be chartered and maybe 40~45k with bonuses at a guess, but it won't hugely accelerate after that (without significant project management /director levels etc)

To be honest the money is ok for the area and moving from Cambridge to Warwickshire was far more worth it as I now can live with the Mrs and don't commute to hers at the weekend! We've been together since university in Glasgow. It would take a lot of money of money for me to move away from her again (needs must for job opportunities!)

I don't think I could earn the significant numbers in this thread even if I was doing well in engineering consultancy!

On the plus side I can go to the gym in my lunch times (outdoor swimming pool!) , can afford some toys and work ok hours with interesting work.

 

[Dunks]

Yeah seems very unlikely/difficult for most people! (and the cost/benefit its probably worth the cost in a masters..)

Fwiw I started in my first graduate job @ 23 y/o with an MEng in mechanical engineering at the start of this thread in 2014 on around 25k (in Cambridge!!) . I moved companies after about 18 months, got a couple small promotions and now on ~35k @26y/o with bonuses on 37.5hr week and good benefits.

In 2 years if I do well I could hope to be chartered and maybe 40~45k with bonuses at a guess, but it won't hugely accelerate after that (without significant project management /director levels etc)

To be honest the money is ok for the area and moving from Cambridge to Warwickshire was far more worth it as I now can live with the Mrs and don't commute to hers at the weekend! We've been together since university in Glasgow. It would take a lot of money of money for me to move away from her again (needs must for job opportunities!)

I don't think I could earn the significant numbers in this thread even if I was doing well in engineering consultancy!

On the plus side I can go to the gym in my lunch times (outdoor swimming pool!) , can afford some toys and work ok hours with interesting work.

I graduated at 24 with a BEng, started on 24k and did 9 months before changing employer and starting at £34k, now on £40k just under 4 years later with an increase to £44k in the next couple of months on the way.

Need to do some further learning to get the educational requirements for CEng though, then I'll be able to move up a pay grade to £48k. Paid overtime at time on anything over a 37 hour week also, which is not bad

 

[Buffman]

..

Damn that's pretty good going, is that in Derby or London?
What industry?

 

[Harv4]

I'm guessing by posting on here you're interested in IT

I would suggest trying to get on the Government backed SANS Cyber Retraining Academy. For those not previously employed in a cyber role, as long as you show the aptitude - IE DO YOUR RESEARCH! You'll stand a good chance at meeting your goal in 5 Years time. SANS Courses are highly regarded and personally I still feel there is a massive skills shortage.

I think they run these courses once/twice a year. If you do manage to get on it, send me a message. I'm sure I can help you find a job afterwards.

 

[Em3bbs]

I want a cyber role! Just like I had in 1997.

 

[opethdisciple]

I'm guessing by posting on here you're interested in IT

I would suggest trying to get on the Government backed SANS Cyber Retraining Academy. For those not previously employed in a cyber role, as long as you show the aptitude - IE DO YOUR RESEARCH! You'll stand a good chance at meeting your goal in 5 Years time. SANS Courses are highly regarded and personally I still feel there is a massive skills shortage.

I think they run these courses once/twice a year. If you do manage to get on it, send me a message. I'm sure I can help you find a job afterwards.

Isn't it just 118-24 year olds? Something like that any way. Maybe younger.

 

[Spook187]

I live in the London bubble, yes I know it is grim up north but I think you might need to reflect on the fact that you're perhaps in another bubble, you might see that stuff day in day out (unlikely really) but it isn't the case for 'most' people - you're making the mistake of projecting your supposed local experiences.



yup, I'd suspect the same

OK fair point, I do see it though and I don't just work in the north, I can be anywhere in the uk, going back to on topic, it took me more than 5 years to achieve the Op figure but it's very doable, I could have hit 75 80k with a push but with no life whatsoever, so I decided to trim that down to an acceptable level to some of family time and I am happy with what I get at present, what I do see in people I work with is greed talking over chasing the pound signs in not alway healthy.

 

[Harv4]

Isn't it just 118-24 year olds? Something like that any way. Maybe younger.

I know a couple of people who have gone through it over the age of 24. I think they maybe running multiple types of schemes some of which are aimed at graduates. This one however seems to just state 18+ on the website.

 

[MBennett]

I graduated at 24 with a BEng, started on 24k and did 9 months before changing employer and starting at £34k, now on £40k just under 4 years later with an increase to £44k in the next couple of months on the way.

Need to do some further learning to get the educational requirements for CEng though, then I'll be able to move up a pay grade to £48k. Paid overtime at time on anything over a 37 hour week also, which is not bad

I was reading this and thinking it sounds a lot like where I work! Then I saw your name and realised you work on the same site lol. Going for the 48k level soon, put the pack to my manager this week.

This is in Derby for anyone wondering.

 

[lookitsjonno]

Biggest advise I can give is don't be afraid to jump ship and take a risk. 2 years ago I was working for a company who "couldn't afford payrises" more than the inflationary 2% etc. I sat there and took it for too long, and with a young family, the "what if's" always won and I stayed put. Got sick of it in the end and never looked back. With a bit of hard work and some luck along the way I've doubled my salary since which has afforded us a privileged life in comparison.

 

[Freefaller]

nope, most people don't have a 3 hour commute and most people don't do 8-10 hours of "back breaking graft" for a pittance

what that poster described isn't "every day life for most" but rather an unfortunate set of circumstances for him

Agreed. Though I do have a 3hr commute on average plus some travel around the country once a week, but my work is not physically intensive, but more stress/brain intensive, the gym however is back breaking!

 

[Deus Ex]

Just worked a 13 hour shift 33% staff shortage on ward, **** medicine, its hours and its pay. I cant give much advice, but its a stupid mans way of making dollar.

 

[Martynt74]

I'm hoping you wouldn't recommend someone who wanted become a Chartered Accountant, Chartered Engineer or Solicitor to skip University!

But I do agree with you that University is definitely not the only way to a fulfilling and well paying career!

Why not? I'm a chartered accountant and didn't go to Uni. As have a few people I've worked with.

Get into a firm doing basic stuff and if you prove your worth they'll put you through ACCA or CIMA.

All a degree does is give you exemptions from the earlier exams.

 

[Puzzled]

I'm guessing by posting on here you're interested in IT

I would suggest trying to get on the Government backed SANS Cyber Retraining Academy. For those not previously employed in a cyber role, as long as you show the aptitude - IE DO YOUR RESEARCH! You'll stand a good chance at meeting your goal in 5 Years time. SANS Courses are highly regarded and personally I still feel there is a massive skills shortage.

I think they run these courses once/twice a year. If you do manage to get on it, send me a message. I'm sure I can help you find a job afterwards.

First time I've heard of this, sounds quite surprising how they say they will accept anyone from any background as long as they have the right attitude / mindset and turn them in to a cyber security expert in 8 weeks.

Looks like applications are closed currently, be interesting to see the aptitude tests and what it is they are looking for.

 

[Pudney]

Why not? I'm a chartered accountant and didn't go to Uni. As have a few people I've worked with.

Get into a firm doing basic stuff and if you prove your worth they'll put you through ACCA or CIMA.

All a degree does is give you exemptions from the earlier exams.

Depends which accountancy route you go and the degree you got. I did AAT then ICAEW after getting a university degree.

In fact if you want to do accountancy university is nearly pointless, just quicker to do the AAT/ATT route then a chartered qualification. But you don't get the fun of university.

 

[manic111]

Now they're scrapping the LPC and GDL I wonder if you need an undergraduate degree to sit the exam that will be replacing them?

You can sit the new exam with any degree, or if you've gone through the solicitor's apprenticeship route. The reality is that any decent firm will still require a 2.1 in a good degree from a good uni, though, unless you've done something incredibly special.

Qualifying as a solicitor is easy (the LPC was genuinely the easiest set of exams I've ever sat, and you can get a training contract at a high street firm without too much hassle if you're half-intelligent), but unless you want to wind up doing the most drudgy of all drudgery, the tricky part is finding someone to give you a good job.

 

[Gabbatek]

You work for the council earning 27k. I'd say suck up to your boss, work your arse off. Do some home study courses in whatever field you like that is relevant to working in the council and internally apply for better jobs in the council. I'm sure managers and higher-ups in the council earn over 50k.

p.s if labour had won you would have had free university and could progress that way.

 

[Dunks]

Damn that's pretty good going, is that in Derby or London?
What industry?

Derby, nuclear industry. It's a really good salary for the location to be honest.

I was reading this and thinking it sounds a lot like where I work! Then I saw your name and realised you work on the same site lol. Going for the 48k level soon, put the pack to my manager this week.

This is in Derby for anyone wondering.

It seems everyone I know who has been here a few more years than me has just gotten their grade 9, I need to pull my finger out and submit my pack for 8, it's probably a good year over due! Good luck with yours, but it seems if your manager is happy with the pack it's pretty much in the bag!

You can sit the new exam with any degree, or if you've gone through the solicitor's apprenticeship route. The reality is that any decent firm will still require a 2.1 in a good degree from a good uni, though, unless you've done something incredibly special.

Qualifying as a solicitor is easy (the LPC was genuinely the easiest set of exams I've ever sat, and you can get a training contract at a high street firm without too much hassle if you're half-intelligent), but unless you want to wind up doing the most drudgy of all drudgery, the tricky part is finding someone to give you a good job.

Is it that easy to get a training contract at a high street firm? It took an insane amount of effort and vacation schemes for my GF to finally land a training contract at a City firm in London, but I'm guessing they're the most saught after! She'll be earning double what I'm on in a few years so I can understand why