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).

That the public sector don't work as hard than the private sector. I've worked in both, they definitely do. The lack of respect civil servants and council staff get in the UK is disgusting, mainly in the pages of newspapers. Other countries respect public workers for the essential jobs they are doing

[quote housemdwaswrong]@chilver I've never seen a landscape architect advertise, but plenty of landscape gardeners. Are they a different thing then as presumably that's where the confusion stems from?[/quote]
A Landscape Architect is accredited through a professional institute following post graduate qualifications and then Chartership (much like an architect) and mainly focuses on designing infrastructure and commercial designs within city centres, public spaces and the countryside, however a landscape architect is more than capable of completing bespoke garden design too. Landscape gardeners/Garden Designers don't necessarily need qualifications (anyone can call themselve a landscape gardener or garden designer) and may be able to complete larger garden projects in commercial settings, however they’re not properly licensed or accredited to do so, so this restricts what they can work on.

Basically, landscape architects design all the spaces between buildings, architects design the buildings, landscape gardeners plant the plants!

As a Landscape Architect I work with engineers, ecologists and planners working on flood alleviation designs, national infrastructure rail and highways designs as well as city infrastructure designs.

But my family and friends still ask me to design and plant out all their tiny gardens ....

@CountreeGurl do public sector jobs generally come with more benefits? Eg. Flexi time, more paid sick, enhanced maternity packages etc.

@Zampa. Exactly what I was going to say! I've been a Chartered Surveyor for 18 years and I've never sold a house, and nor am I competent to tell you if your house is falling down.

I can, however, advise on whether (or when) your mixed use development proposal of 2,500 houses, a leisure centre, a GP surgery and two schools will make money. And I can sell or buy the land for the development, including drawing up complex purchase contract conditions.... but here's a secret: I've never even bought or sold a house for myself, let alone anyone else!

That every barrister is rich and charges a fortune for representation.

Err...No. Criminal legal aid barristers most commonly do not earn more than the minimum wage per hour of work they do. Most of us started out earning 10-12k a year.

People think of barristers and they think of civil fat cats earning north of £100k. That's not all of us.

That university lecturers do nothing in vacations

Yes to this- lots of people are surprised I don't stop when the students go home, that's when I start all over again doing my research! We just get twenty whatever days holidays like ordinary jobs (although it is pretty generous in comparison with some private companies).

Also that lawyers earn what they charge. Whilst I would love to, I do not earn £250 per hour!!

Would also mirror what a PP said that we are not all earning big bucks. If you're a senior corporate lawyer in a city firm then maybe but the ones who work in suburban high street practices earn ok money but it will range from between £30k and £60k depending on your specialism and level of seniority.

@CountreeGurl do public sector jobs generally come with more benefits? Eg. Flexi time, more paid sick, enhanced maternity packages etc.

They generally do but that’s irrelevant to whether they work as hard.

I'm a Personal Secretary. There are still people who believe that means "tea girl".

@chilver thanks. That made me smile, and explained it well. I'm loving this thread, I'm learning loads! :)

@toomuchfaster I find it hard to believe people think that, though if they don't use a pharmacy regularly I can see why. My GP has an in-house pharmacist and he manages my shared care. He is amazing. As is my local pharmacist. Godsends:)

Do they? Which countries?

Sorry that was a quote fail!

That university lecturers 'break up ' for the summer and have 3 months off.

That careers advisers are all rubbish and just tell you to do random jobs or tell you that you can't do your dream job.

That PAs and executive assistants just type letters, take notes and make the tea. I am an exec assistant and have an assistant that does those things for me.

Some exec assistants act as the 'right hand man' to the most senior members of an organisation. They are well respected and often sought after for advice and support on pivotal matters. They are often business savvy, well educated and very well rewarded financially.

This is a fascinating read.

[quote PinkPlantCase]@CountreeGurl do public sector jobs generally come with more benefits? Eg. Flexi time, more paid sick, enhanced maternity packages etc.[/quote]
Yes, but if you never need sick leave or get pregnant, then they aren't of benefit.

Not everyone gets flexi leave either.

Also we have to pay for our own milk, tea/coffee, bring in our own cups & cutlery and pay entirety for own Christmas party/dinner if we even get one. We get nothing for free.

That Accountants are evil sadists with hearts of stone. No: we analyse situations, collate data and make calculations. If the answer does not make happy reading that's not our fault - you are shooting the messenger.
It's the equivalent of eating too many calories and not doing enough exercise and then blaming the dietitian for your weight gain.

That cleaning is easy and requires zero skills. That it is a low paid, easy side line with zero professional progression or training. You can turn up looking like you just fell out the pub and no one will mind.

HGV drivers get to see the world and eat bacon on £40k a year. Nope. If you're making 40k you're driving a petrol tanker in the dark. If you're seeing the world, you're Romanian and living out of tins. Bacon, you're delivering to horrible places like Sunderland or Skelmersdale.

• Yes, but if you never need sick leave or get pregnant, then they aren't of benefit.

Not everyone gets flexi leave either.

Also we have to pay for our own milk, tea/coffee, bring in our own cups & cutlery and pay entirety for own Christmas party/dinner if we even get one. We get nothing for free.*

Entirely dependent because I get more holiday, personal days, pay rises are backdated!!! never had then in the private sector. Christmas parties, milk etc all freely provided.

Some exec assistants act as the 'right hand man' to the most senior members of an organisation. They are well respected and often sought after for advice and support on pivotal matters. They are often business savvy, well educated and very well rewarded financially.

I agree that is a role that is under estimated however I did think it tended to peak at 50/60k, what does it tap out at?

@gongy

Some exec assistants act as the 'right hand man' to the most senior members of an organisation. They are well respected and often sought after for advice and support on pivotal matters. They are often business savvy, well educated and very well rewarded financially.

I agree that is a role that is under estimated however I did think it tended to peak at 50/60k, what does it tap out at?

I earn a basic of 78k with an annual bonus of around 50% of my salary. Bonuses are of course dependant on how well the firm has done but mine is also perf related and topped up by my boss some years.

@DisgraceToTheYChromosome

HGV drivers get to see the world and eat bacon on £40k a year. Nope. If you're making 40k you're driving a petrol tanker in the dark. If you're seeing the world, you're Romanian and living out of tins. Bacon, you're delivering to horrible places like Sunderland or Skelmersdale.

My DH is a HGV driver and I keep trying to convince him to go for the hazardous jobs to get the big money But he doesn't want to be away from the kids while they're little.

Its a lot of work. A lot of companies will pay for the licence (DHs employer did) but you need to keep up with the CPC licence etc.

I would also like to point out that public sector workers also pay income tax, national insurance, council tax and VAT. Just like everyone else. Everytime I hear 'I pay your wages love' I roll my eyes and think 'I bloody pay my own!'

Completely agree about lawyer's pay, some really do not earn very much & I've never known one who didn't work virtually all the time. However partner at a Magic Circle law firm will earn 500k-2m