To want to work in a shop?

How long ago were you working in a supermarket?

10 years ago it used to be a sociable, easy job with flexible hours but they have been cutting staff hours & increasing productivity which means the work is a lot harder & you will likely be working alone for most of the time. The hours have become less flexible & more unsociable so more late nights, weekends, all bank holidays including Xmas day.

Depends on your colleagues circumstances but where I work you get a maximum of 2 weeks annual leave in school holidays (to make it fair to all parents) the rest has to be outside school holidays. Annual leave in December is completely blacked out.

Also a teacher and thinking to move on after mat leave. Supermarket retail is not something I'm considering (my brother used to do night shifts in one). You're on your feet a huge amount - I know we are in teaching too but it's something I'd like to avoid in my next job and we have the option to sit down even just to do the register. I wouldn't like the unpredictable hours. I don't trust the general public not to be vile to retail staff and would worry about health risks with new viruses going around.

Personally I've been thinking of going back to some kind of office job even if it's more entry level. I want more flexibility in my day even just to be able to go to the bathroom when needed and to leave work at work.

If you're definitely keen on retail, I'd look at working somewhere less busy and slightly higher end if possible? I would also think a nice gastro pub might be an option (have worked in a Spoons years ago and don't recommend it)

I'm a teacher and going into retail has always been my ambition.

I don't think that retail looks easy in the least because it's wall to wall people who can be awful and entitled etc . But .... some of the ignorant people that may work in your local store who have zero patience, people skills and intelligence makes you think 'well if they can get a job here then how hard can it be '.

If you want to work in a shop, pick one which aligns to your values and you would appreciate the discount for.

There are also specific laws now relating to abuse of retail workers. Career in retail leadership here.

Smaller store means dealing with a lot more confrontation than a bigger store, and working Christmas and bank holidays, being expected to cover shifts last minute. I can't see the appeal personally!

Are tog happy to work early/ late shifts, weekends, bank holidays, Xmas (well, probably Boxing Day). Would you be bored as there's not much mental challenge compared to a teacher (I mean that with the greatest of respect!). Could you deal with drunk swearing customers trying to steal stuff?

In some places, yes, but presumably the OP knows this particular store as it's near to them, and presumably it's in a "nicer" area, so got to assume they don't have as many "violence" incidents as a shop in the middle of a crime ridden estate or run down deprived area.

Tesco don't do flexi contracts any more - it's set hours, and if you want overtime you can see what's available and book your shifts using the app.

It's usually part time hours though, and that's how they get their flexibility - because people always are looking for more hours.

I worked at a Tesco express and it was set shifts, same each week. I think a lot of their part time roles are.

I was a teacher and now work part time in a flexible job just three mornings a week and I can choose my days. I always like to work a Saturday as I'd much rather have a day off in the week when shops, cafes etc are quieter. Also traffic is so quiet on Saturday mornings so my short commute is super easy. I love that it is shift style and different days as it's nice to do different things on different days. I think 20 years of teaching with a daily structure and not being able to choose a day off makes it all the more appealing!

There used to be a lovely guy who worked in my local supermarket, he was a retired lecturer and lots of local people had known him in that role. He was known as "The Prof" and he'd taken early retirement and said he wanted something to do. He might have wanted a bit of money as well.

Why not give it a go if you fancy it.

Given that op used to work in a supermarket, she probably has a good idea as to what it's like.

I took a supermarket job as a temporary 'COVID' job. I'm still there. I could be doing a better paid job in a different industry, like I have done for most of my working life. But you know what? My 'crappy job' (not my description) is really rather good. I've worked in jobs with much more cachet, that pay significantly better - and I wouldn't swap this job for those. Most of my colleagues are similar - they are more than capable of doing jobs that are 'better' on paper, but choose to stay there instead.

I hate that supermarket workers are always thought about as being downtrodden and treated like shit. If that was the rule rather than the exception, it would be very easy to get a supermarket job as nobody would stay.

On the Morrisons thread,supermarket workers are called grumpy,nasty,morons amongst other names. Working in a supermarket with the general public who love to look down on you is not all you think it is.

This. The amount of friends I have that come to me because they can't pass the online test is unbelievable.

It's beyond me why people think retail jobs are easy to do and easy to come by. They're not. They are obviously easier than teaching. You just have to read the millions of threads about what arseholes the general public are. I work in a small supermarket and am retiring soon and I cannot wait.

I went the other way Op, from retail in a Tesco express to teaching. Teaching is 100% easier than a Tesco express job.

StarSlinger · Today 14:43

It's not that easy to get a job in Tesco. People on MN seem to think anyone can just walk into a supermarket job.
Same with McDonald’s, Aldi etc. Just go get a job In McDonald’s 😅 Oh ok then!!

I often think it would be lovely to return to a supermarket job where there isn’t much pressure or responsibility.

It’s a different type of pressure- these have to be out by x, prices need to be changed, there’s new stock in, the managers are coming, there’s a delivery get x out on the floor but I need someone on the till, customers complaining etc etc. I worked in the pharmaceutical industry so of course it’s not like that because you can’t kill anyone but no job is stress free

I work in a small supermarket. I like it but that's partially down to it been in a close knit community and also many of the staff(including myself) have been their many many years too. So it's a bit like an extended family. I work various jobs including checkouts, shopfloor and bakery. You do have to be flexible but our management is reasonable and will always sort out a day off for something if you need it. That is store specific though, so it depends on what the management is like. Pension scheme isn't too bad either.

Maybe it's a bit crazy if you are a teacher but with teacher's been in desperate need, if you didn't like it you could probably get back into it. Or do both jobs part time, so if you don't like, you can just leave.

If you hate your PT teaching job, why don’t you become a nanny? If you’re a mother and teacher with a knowledge of first aid and can drive, that’s good enough experience to be a nanny. And the pay is good.

Then you can apply to all the shop jobs you want and see if they want to hire you.

As someone that currently works in retail in a larger (but not massive) supermarket and enjoys it - I would say don't do it, not for a smaller Express type store. You will be multitasking every day - you won't be able to get the shelves filled because customers need served at the till, and they'll get grumpy because you aren't there waiting for them. Everybody that I have spoken to that has come to our store from an express type, have been surprised at how much they prefer it.

YANBU but don't let on to anyone working there you don't think shop work is as important as any other job or somehow beneath you!!!

That's what's jumping out at me from your post.