Country: United Kingdom

I have been a good addition to the team. I have increased company's revenue and reduced time needed to complete most of the e-commerce projects by introducing a new platform. I have given a lot from myself not to mention 3 hrs everyday for traveling. Everything was fine until winter came and I had started having problems with tireness. I couldn't sleep and then I was running on red bull to compensate this. I have never had problems with getting to work, but twice i didn't wake up on time to catch the trains and buses. The other day somebody stole my wallet, so I had no money to get to work.

It does not matter that my colleuges are allowed to work from home, I couldn't although I was willing to. Nevermind the fact that for 3 days I had no money at all to go anywhere.

In the end I had 5 absences within 9 months on the job and it does not matter that I was doing hell of a good job. They fired me saying that I have lost their trust and they cannot continue to work with me.

Advice? Make sure that you have a car unlike me and some spare notes in the glovebox, otherwise just say goodbye to your job.

When negotiating your salary for a new job, remember the value of benefits and/or perks can supplement the salary the company are prepared to offer. For example, employer contributions to a pension scheme, additional holiday, bonus etc.

But there are also disadvantages. A salary increase of £1000 is useless if the office location means you are spending an extra £1500 on travel to and from work!

Make sure the job is paid fairly for the job you are doing not the type of job you are in. Even though i am still quite highly paid for a Customer Services job i find that my pay is equal to the skills involved. Our job is now undergoing a pay cut and the work is not being reflected in this.

I would rather work stress free at 12,000 a year than overworked and overstressed at 20,000.

It is sensible to be paid to the level of work you are doing not what someone else has decided you should work for. Never settle for something just because it looks fair from the outside, it is not always so.

If you reached a decision or decide to do something, stick with it and do it.

Your health is the most important thing - ensure good diet, regular exercise and meditation and learn how to switch off when away from work.

I think we would all agree that simply doing the 8 hours at the office and expecting recognition for turning up is a pipe dream. My example comes from simply chosing some area of the business to improve as a project for my next annual review.

It is important to remember that annual reviews should not be seen as a chance for your boss to mark you down but, as a chance for you to show the business what you have done. It needs to be tangiable and you must be able to demostrate what you have done, why you have done it and the benefits to the business for your efforts.

This may require some extra hours by you but if you can demonstrate your willingness to do more than just your job title and every other aspect of your performance has hit target then you can't fail to impress your boss.

Show enthusiasm and an ability to be able to work on ones own initiative. Recognise the industry and the market it serves to coordinate and optimally function within all business areas. Organisation and verbal and written communication is key (very good standard English).

I work 32hours per week and have 3 children under 7. My other half works full time nights so finding a good work life balence is hard. I work two early days 6-2.30 and two days 8-5, I never work Saturdays and try to make this family day. You don't realise how important having weekends off untill your children start school. With 2/3 of mine at school nights and weekends are off limits. I agreed a fixed schedule with my boss after returning from maternity leave last year and although it's hard work fitting in swimmimg lessons and football coaching after working 8 hour day its worth it just to see one of the boys score a goal or swim on their own. My only problem is because of my unflexibility towards working hours and days I've been overlooked for promotion. But the kids are only young once!!

I asked for a payraise after having performed during the previous 3 month very high results. My director asked me how much do you want and I asked him how much he valued me. We then negotiated it.

My job as caretaker is very physically hard, as it involves setting up and taking down folding tables and chairs for various functions. This is a seven day a week job, with split shifts. I do not believe that the job should be seven days a week anyway, but I also feel that the secretarial staff, whose jobs are the usual office hours, and whose work is not very taxing, should not be paid £1 per hour more than me. My hours are mostly either early in the morning or late afternoon/evening.