Job specific misconceptions which persist

[housemdwaswrong]

An acknowledgement to @whatusernameshallihavenow for totally ripping about their thread for general misconceptions that persist. I've tried linking to the thread but I can't. Sorry.

I wondered which job specific myths there were (and hopefully thus avoiding brexit or covid).

Proofreader: You don't need any training as it's just checking spelling.

In my past life supply-teaching: supply teachers get paid more than 'proper' teachers. Prevalent view around here. I never, never understood it (or was working for the wrong agencies).

@housemdwaswrong
I think I am touchy about it because my ex colleagues in secondary said I was switching for an easy life.
I will fully admit that marking a year 2 long write is a lot quicker and easier than marking an A level essay but that's about the only thing that is easier. Still takes time though as I have 29 in my current class I had 18 in my last GCSE class and 5 in my last A level class.

That putting "I love books" will get you a job as a librarian!
No! We don't want you reading at work. We want to know about your metadata skills, your knowledge of digital repositories, your understanding of the difference between green and gold open access, current copyright regulations, do you understand about correct citation and plagerism?
Please read the essential criteria first, you'll never see "love of books" listed there.

That solicitors must give you a free 30 minute meeting to provide you with advice.

No, you aren't entitled to that.

That civil servants are all in non--jobs and overpaid for their cushy lives.

That chartered surveyors can only either sell your house or tell you if it's about to fall down. Nothing else.

I'm a agency carer

1. I get paid more than a staff carer - I'm lucky if it's 5p more.
2. I just clean folks 'downstairs' - it's about 90% true in an understaffed home and 10% in a well staffed home. I spend more time making cuppas and chatting to residents normally. Occasionally, I feel like I'm stealing a living.
3. I can dish out drugs just because I have the keys to the medicine cabinet - I can only give you anything, even paracetamol, if your name is on the drug and your details are in the drugs book. I have had to have extra training for this.
4. I'm spreading Covid - I always wear my PPE ( which has always been plentiful) I wash and sanitise my hands before entering a resident's room and when I leave the room. I also get tested every week.
5. I'm a turnip head and can't get a 'real' job. Maybes

That hr are there to play "teacher' to squabbling colleagues

@KatherineJaneway exactly the same with hospitality. The general public don't realise how well qualified many hospitality staff are, neither do they realise that it is not easy and many fail at it.
One of my colleagues is a law graduate and her part time hospital job supplements her career.
Pubs - you don't open the doors at 11am and close 12 hours later. The place has to be cleaned, tills counted, stock takes, deliveries, prep, line cleaning and much more. The phrase "I'd love to run a pub when I retire" pisses me of royally! It's fucking hard work, and particularly hard for beginners in the recent climate (pre-covid)

That you can take in some ironing and earn enough to pay the mortgage and all the bills. That you live in an area where people outsourcing ironing is normal.

Hosptiality* not hospital, bloody autocorrect

That nurses are some kind of extra caring angelic types. A lot of them are just doing a job and not particularly kind of nice.

Happy to see proofreader on this list. It always makes me chuckle when I see people on here musing that because they are good at spotting typos they could suddenly take up proofreading and make a living from it.

English degree, experience in managing freelancers, background in book production, and an address book full of contacts and it still took me years before I made actual money from it.

I always thought that Dr’s were all really well paid.

@niceupthedance you beat me to it! Exactly the two that I wanted to post

@ChampagneCommunist

That solicitors must give you a free 30 minute meeting to provide you with advice.

No, you aren't entitled to that.

Really? This is one myth I’ve never heard. On the contrary, widespread belief (or fact, no?) that solicitors charge you for every last penny, and are indeed among the highest earners.

@SadderThanEeyore

So true. Dealing with the public is a skill in itself! A few are lovely, the majority fine but some of them are really awful and you can't retaliate (they know this of course which is why they target you).

That the public sector have an amazing pension. Mine costs me 14% of my salary which is a huge chunk, and each year paid in gets me an average of 1/80th of my salary.

@cryhavoc I'm just starting out. The training through the CIEP was a real eye opener and a heck of a lot tougher than I expected! So much to consider in one copy.

I feel like I'm competent enough now to start looking for work but it will be a steep learning curve. I like that as it means there's always room for development, but I really wondered at some points if I had bitten off more than I could chew. It's been a serious investment of time and brain power. :)

That prison officers just open and shut doors.

[quote housemdwaswrong]@cryhavoc I'm just starting out. The training through the CIEP was a real eye opener and a heck of a lot tougher than I expected! So much to consider in one copy.

I feel like I'm competent enough now to start looking for work but it will be a steep learning curve. I like that as it means there's always room for development, but I really wondered at some points if I had bitten off more than I could chew. It's been a serious investment of time and brain power. :)[/quote]
Good luck. It's a great job, and I really appreciate behind able to work from home and choose my own hours.

As a lawyer I know the law in relation to all legal issues that friends, families and random acquaintances may come across such as a speeding ticket, neighbour dispute, planning issues, divorce, child access, police interview under caution, school admission appeal, benefits appeal, problem with Granny’s care home etc etc.

Spoiler - I’m not competent to advise in any of these areas.

Nursing is just about wiping bottoms.
Hopefully the BBC documentaries Hospital etc have shown a different side of nursing.

That people who work in factories are all thick uneducated losers.

That pharmacists just stick labels on boxes, and because I do it in a large multiple shop I am just a minimum wage 'shop girl'. No, I have a masters degree and 2 post-grad diplomas - there is a lot more to it! And a fuck lot of people to deal with too!! Actually 100s a day in a quiet store.

That I shouldn't get paid for doing my job for a charity because a volunteer should do it.

I'm sure there are many people who want to look after millions of pounds of other people's money, deliver mental health services in 5 countries, manage 30 staff plus freelance counselling teams and write complex reports explaining what we spent the money on and how it helped for 45 hours per week FOR FREE.

So yes I do get paid - approximately 2/3rds of what I used to get paid when I worked in NHS mental health.