r/UKJobs

Did anyone here fall into a random, possibly boring, traditional, or completely overlooked industry that turned out to be vital to other businesses or the public?

Bonus points if it’s something you didn't even know existed when you were younger and doesn't require hard manual labor.

What do you actually do all day, and how did you get into it? By “okay” I mean it’s decent : realistic.

Sincerely someone looking at a new career 😮‍💨,

EDIT: by manual, I mean the trades. I’m no good with my hands! thank you all for your comments, I’ll thank you all at some point!

I recently got a job in a UK supermarket. Today an elderly lady came up to me asking for help with shopping. She asked for help at the self checkout. I asked if her she wanted a bag, she said no. I assumed she had one with her. After it seemed like she was going to struggle. She then wanted a bag, so I gave her one, but I never charged. I’m not trained on any tills or any of it yet, just on the floor. I didn’t realise it could be an issue until I came home. I don’t know if anyone knows or saw, but I am worried I’ll get into trouble if they do. I didn’t think it would be a big deal and assumed it would be ok, since she was old and confused and I didn’t want to see her struggle, but it seems they take it very seriously. I know I probably should have mentioned the cost at the time, but I wasn’t thinking.

It's like, what if I NEVER get another real job (I currently work part-time in retail). It genuinely seems like this is just going to get worse and worse, and harder and harder, the more it goes on the harder it'll be with more people competing for a job. I feel like I'm beginning to have real-life panic attacks over this.

after 7 years, i’m leaving childcare. i’ve been working in nurseries since i was 16 and at first, it was my dream job. it still is actually, because i’m not leaving because of the children. i actually love the children and i’m heartbroken about leaving them. it’s everything else

i’ve worked in 4 different places and i’ve seen questionable things at every single one of them. i’ve had a director who told us to give smaller portions to the children and avoid giving seconds because of budget reasons. this is a millionaire with several businesses. he’d also never buy toys for the children and encouraged staff to create toys with the kids instead

i’ve had several coworkers who were verbally abusive and neglectful of the children. i’ve had coworkers show up to work high, i’ve had coworkers threaten the children and i’ve had coworkers be very rough and even hit the children. we’re always so short staffed management give anyone with a pulse a job and don’t fire people unless they have to

i’ve worked with a man who i am 100% sure was sexually abusing the children and sexually harassed me and some other girls. he was also racist to the children and made inappropriate sexual comments around them. he was good friends with the manager and she denied everything when we reported it so even though we took it further, he was let off with a slap on the wrist and a transfer. he’s still allowed to work with children

ratios are always exceeded and the well behaved children never get enough attention because our focus is preventing the SEN children from hurting others and themselves. we never get to actually play and bond with the children because there’s never time and there’s not enough bodies. we get zero support with the SEN children and get physically abused on the daily.

we’re made to lie about observations and parent feedback. i actually worked in a place where we were banned from telling a parent their child had been crying . there’s so many occurrences where nappies haven’t been done and it’s been lied about. i’ve been told to hide accidents that haven’t left a mark from the parents who tend to complain

the management treat you like utter shit, and favouritism is rife. the favourites will get away with everything and are allowed to leave the room out of ratio whilst they chill in the office. most parents are lovely but some of them act like you’re beneath them and shout at you for making a simple mistake

so i’m leaving the industry. i don’t know what i’m going to do next but i am utterly devastated. i’m going to miss working with little ones so much, i love children and always will. it was never their fault and i feel bad that parents pay so much in fees to have their children neglected or at best, ignored

i will NEVER put my child in childcare and i know that’s a privileged thing to say, but i’ve seen too much. i couldn’t let myself do it and honestly, i’d advise most mums to stay at home if they’re able. the industry is a joke and it’s the children that pay for it. reporting anything gets you nowhere

So basically my sister is a GMC certified doctor and she's really been struggling to get any Medicine related jobs in the UK and my question is why? Is the job market like that for all doctors? And what advice would you give her?

Thank you

Basically the title. Curious what most would consider an okay time to ask? Would you also ask for a payrise earlier than a promotion, or vice versa? (I appreciate this could be different across seniority levels, industries, etc. just trying to get a general consensus)

M19, did really well in my gcses, flopped my a-levels hard, been unemployed for about a year now with minimal experience in admin/receptionist work, at this point it feels like they aren't even taking it into consideration considering the massive gap in my cv.

My parents are recommending me to redo my A-Levels and go to university, they see higher education as a saving grace that will grant me a job. Being on the Internet and watching the news a lot, I can see that this clearly isn't the case anymore.

I've been searching for apprenticeships and applying for jobs left right and centre in various fields, nobody wants me, even agencies are telling me they don't have work to give me.

It really is a shame because education has been shoved down my throat, was constantly bombarded with comments about how your Gcses and A levels are so important but in all honesty this isn't even a deciding factor anymore, experience is. It has really taken a toll on my mental health, thinking about how I spent 13 years in education just for it to not even matter. Great, I know how to write sociology essays and do Algebra, what now...

So what im really asking is, what do I do? Do you recommend me going back to education or what?

Would this do you a service or annoy a recruiter?

I have been at my job for over 10 years now doing a week of mornings and a week of day shifts. Last year, the senior management told me and my opposite shift partner verbally that we either do permanent morning or days or lose our jobs.

I decided on days and my opposite did mornings. After a month, the senior lead was dismissed and for 9 months me and my opposite carried on doing the same shift with no questions from management. We have based our work/home balance around this permanent shift change but now management have told us to go back onto shifts as it's what the business requires.

I have recently had some issues with my children and school that require me to be there in the mornings to ensure my child gets to school.

What are my options? My contract is to do shifts but at the time management verbally told me to not do them and now we're being punished. Will we have to pay back shift pay even though it's included in one wage?

I’ve had 9 days off sick in the last year, and I have been put on a sickness review plan given my days off falling above their “threshold” for context I’m a mum to a 2 year old and in the first year being back at work, like most families, we’ve been struck down by sickness bug after sickness bug. There has been no pattern to my leave ie taking every Friday off for example, and I have always followed procedure when calling in sick.

I’m just curious, what is your companies policy re calling in sick? How many days are considered acceptable?

I am going to one on 16th/17th, to Westfield, white city and wanted to ask has anyone gone to this one before? If so, how is it?

Have you ever gotten a job from going there?

Also, is anyone else going to this same one on 16th/17th?

I had my induction last week and we were told we have to lock our belongings away.

We can use our phone and sit during the 30 min break in the canteen only.

On the warehouse floor, we're only allowed a clear bottle of water, not even juice.

I applied for this job thinking I'd atleast be able to listen to my music whilst doing the shift..

Been in role for 5 months. Zero probation review meetings prior but informal feedback was always positive.

Returned from a week off, 2 hours into the day, catching up with manager to be given a letter with 3 concerns and a probation review. Had a panic attack (never experienced anything like this before) and was told I could go home.

Concerns were safety, inappropriate comments and I was verbally told about ‘management style’. Denied all accusations but wasn’t really in a fit state to arrange representation and there were only ‘alleged’ concerns in the letter which my manager wouldn’t expand on until the meeting so I had no chance to prepare. The meeting was also scheduled for around 24 hours from receiving the letter.

Had the probation review meeting the following day and my role was ‘terminated during probation.’ Sent my appeal in, not to reinstate role but to clarify the context around the termination and ask about reference / employment record. I know I have no standing in employment law.

My worry is that this was a role that would progress my career and so I want to use it as experience but I really don’t know how to tackle it on applications and interviews (if I get one). Until this event I actually gained some great experience!

Any advice?

[removed]

British company

Should I push back on below? Would they likely even change it or contracts are more of take it or leave it?

It's 75% base salary increase for me.

In the contract it says "in the event you execute a collection negligently and/or contrary to instructions"

"any sum for which Company becomes liable to third party and for which third party seeks recovery from Company"

"Any such repayment due shall be due as a debt"

No cap, and "contrary to instructions" needs no fault.

"You authorise us to deduct from your salary, or any other payment due to you, any money you owe us."

"you indemnify the Company against any claims, costs, damages, liabilities or expenses which the Company may incur as a result if you are in breach of any such obligations"

Clauses 6.4.6 and 6.5.2 (bonus and commission loss without fault).

"in its absolute discretion"

"improper or inadequate risk management"

Cancellation or three-year clawback for company-level events, not your conduct.

"Commision may total up to approximately £50,000, although no amounts are guaranteed"

"Company's decision as to whether your contribution resulted in a collection shall be final."

(long notice, then non-compete)

"six months written notice"

"for a period of six months after the end of your Employment"

Up to a year out of competing work, unless Company uses garden leave.

Hybrid policy (not contractual).

"This policy does not form part of any employee's contract of employment, and we may amend it at any time."

Clause 26 (terms can change).

"We reserve the right to make reasonable changes to any of your terms of employment."

applying for m&s part time job (food) as a full time (in 4/5 days) student. do i tell them im a uni studsnt or is this going to mess up my chances of gettin employed :/ also what do i wear and how can i secure the job!!!

I'm interested in a trade plate driving job, I've looked at a few companies. Some give you a fuel card, others make you pay for fuel and then reimburse you. Some pay by the mile, some pay by the job, and some pay for the time. Some organise transport to and from jobs, some will reimburse you, and others make you pay out of pocket for transport.

I'd love to get opinions from people who do trade plate driving or have done it in the past. Are there any companies that you would recommend, and any I should avoid? Are you able to make a decent living from it? I don't have a driveway but I have access to a communal car park, would this be an issue? I could potentially use a nearby vehicle storage facility instead.