h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I've got a job interview tomorrow and it was only when someone asked what the wage was today that I realised I had no idea. I've just looked and the bottom of the payscale, which I'll probably be put on if I'm selected, is £23,121 (before tax) and a £2,800 London Allowance. After tax, will that leave me with enough to live off in London?

I lead a relatively cheap life but I don't want to be in a position where I'm in a city I don't know, without social networks at first, and skint at the same time.

There are people who manage to live in London on a lot less money than that - it certainly won't reduce you to living on tins of supermarket own-brand beans.

HonestIago

From your personal statement you seem well qualified and have teaching experience.

So are you being cautious in assuming that you would be at the bottom of the pay-scale? If it is a teaching job surely you should not be?

A career change situation I suppose might be different, but from your uni admission experience you know all about stressing relevant attributes, and I have no argument with women getting credit on the teachers' pay spine for time spent off having and looking after their own children--- but surely that is an application of a general principle of relevant experience.

Good luck in the interview anyway. And, if it is tomorrow, be careful about navigating proposals of marriage.

It's not a teaching post, it's university outreach and admissions. I've got substantial experience of widening participation work, excellent experience of mentoring, somewhat less experience in marketing and admissions. I have a general strategy of hoping for the best and planning for the worst so I've assumed the bottom of the payscale.

Cheers for the good wishes,
Iago

P.S. I'm a bloke and while I have the figure of a woman who's 8 months pregnant, I've never taken time off for kids.

HonestIago

Well did you suggest on your application that they read your updated and authoritative H2G2 piece on this area of work.?

All sounds good to me.. If it is tied to the academic year perhaps there might be some chance of some "bridging" unused student accommodation during the summer recess while you sort out your accommodation etc.

But you are wise to work out in advance "bottom line" factors, and, depending on how things go tomorrow, perhaps the best to hope is that they will not actually offer you the job on the spot so that you can work out these cost-benefit implications.

I was offered the first job that I had travelled up to London to be interviewed for in 1967. Though it was advertised as a Comprehensive School, it was actually in a girl's grammar school that was going to gradually turn comprehensive. I felt that I had been summoned under false pretences. But, when I turned the job, down they refused to pay my travelling expenses, or more accurately, when I expressed my reservations, they held that threat over me. Bad choice, though I suppose it saved them money.

By the way I had reckoned that you are a bloke..Hence the wedding proposals business. 29 February tomorrow- a day when women get a once every four years chance.

From what you write about "marketing" as opposed to mentoring, it sounds like you are more familiar with working with individuals and small groups, and- from my teaching experience- "widening admissions" often seemed to involve people coming into school to address year groups and such.. But there is a common stereotype that Scousers are natural-born perfomers that should be an asset. Just work out how to be Lennon and Macartney.

Good luck again.

Cass

From what I know of universities and the recruitment process, it's generally assumed that the bottom of the scale is where newcomers to the sector/grade will be put, but it's not unheard of to be placed higher up if you've got the skills and/or current salary to justify it.

It's worth having a think about how far you exceed the expectations of the person specification. It's also worth a look to see if a range is specified or not. Marketing is not an especially rare skill, but WP experience really is. Admissions you can learn/they can teach you, and ditto with marketing. WP experience? They'll need someone to bring that.

I'd suggest tentatively bringing up salary at interview, but that it shouldn't be your only question. I'd recommend something like the "I know I probably shouldn't ask this at this stage, but..." approach, and mention the expense of London. It's worth looking at the small print to see if qualify for relocation assistance too. Depends on the role, the grade, and the university.

My other thought would be whether comparable opportunities are likely to come up outside London. University pay (minus London weighting) is fairly uniform across the country - for now, at least - so it's possible to live better for the same wages doing the same job outside the South East. Given the importance of WP/outreach work as a condition (in principal) to being allowed to charge sky high fees, I'd imagine a fair few new posts opening up. Jobs.ac.uk is the place to go for graduate level university jobs.

I've lived in London for close to 30 years, and have not been paid that lofty wage, and survived.

It is going to be dependent, from my experience, on three factors.

1) Which area you live in, and type of property.
Certain areas are cheaper than others, from both a rented and owner perspective.

2) Travel. Mode of transport, linked to the above, will determine expense. I've always lived in Zone 3, in areas with good. varied public transport, in case one doesn't function. It's around £1,100 for an annual season ticket.

3) Entertainment / dining. It is a City, and a Capital. This can prove expensive or cheap. Savoy? Or Saveloy. Opera or opportunity knocks?

There are deals about. Try Groupon, or the ticket booths in Leicester Square, as well as many 2-4-1 deals that abound.

London is as expensive as you want it to be.

Feel free to ask for advice, or maybe a and a chat...

And Welcome to the Great Metrolupse!



MMF