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).

@Goldenbear

That data protection/compliance is the most boring job in the world!

It isn't?

What is fascinating about it. I work in compliance so curious what you think.

Love the librarian comments; a massively varied, misunderstood role.

Working in a public library can benefit from reading and enthusing about books (although requires many other skills too), but those staff are unlikely to be a 'librarian'.

I don't read many books (and definitely not the ones I buy for work), but am very good at finding information with little to go on and telling you why your (lack of) references won't get you any marks.

From old job - that being a solicitor means I get paid £250 an hour for nothing at all, you could download a form off the internet and do the job yourself.
The pay thing have been covered elsewhere, but if you want to hazard an internet form be my guest, because I’ll just have to charge your relatives more to sort out the unholy mess you made of writing your own will to be cheap, rather than paying for it to be done properly in the first place.
Oh and a formal ‘reading of the will’ doesn’t take place - that’s just a plot device used in the movies.

From my current job - being a TA isn’t just about listening to kids read and wiping noses - I do a rather large range of things, including leading small group learning, first aid and behaviour management. I should probably be paid more than £10k a year for this!

On the teacher salary thing, having moved from an office job to teaching I think of it as having negotiated additional annual leave by sacrificing some salary. So teaching isn’t necessarily a low paid position, it has okay pay but we don’t get a full salary because of the unpaid leave days. That makes me feel better about how my job is valued! I also feel amused by anyone who thinks teaching is easy My job is hugely rewarding and I love it, but it’s considerably more taxing intellectually, physically and emotionally than project management ever was.

People who do advice work (CAB etc) already know everything and shouldn't need to look things up or ask for advice.
During the lockdown there was a Facebook group about workers rights/furlough issues which attracted loads of really experienced knowledgeable people; tradeunionists, employment lawyers and so on.
When everything was new and everyone was just figuring it out you would often get better/quicker information on this group than through more established resources.
I got absolutely torn into by someone who was scandalised that I would "waste time asking randoms on the Internet instead of doing my job"
I did try to explain that I was just looking for a bit of direction and would double check anything I was told against the regulations. And that's its totally normal and encouraged to ask for advice.
She wasn't having it. Stalked me over several different posts to "call me out" over it.

Don’t know if this has been.
Veterinary staff cuddle puppies and kittens all day.
“Are only in it for the money” - FYI it’s a business with overheads and staff to pay.
Are earning £££££ - they’re not.
“I want to work in veterinary because I have a passion for animals and don’t like humans” - don’t take this job then as 90% is dealing with the public, who then occasionally (more than occasionally in my experience) will abuse you for charging for a service.

All these misconceptions lead to why I left 5 years ago

Teaching is the only job I know of that doesn’t allow accrual of annual leave and/or holiday pay while you’re on maternity leave so 52 weeks is the absolute maximum you can take - no tagging annual leave on at either end. So you can take a full year off but accrue no annual leave or pay.

Isn't that because holidays are "unpaid" though? When I worked in a school lots of treachers had Sep/Oct babies & would return to work end of July for a day or 2 to get paid for the summer.

God don't start the teacher salary chat up again please.

@Ad3laid3 I’ve had two different physios massage the area of pain (amongst other work)

[quote DeborahAlisonphillipa]@Ad3laid3 I’ve had two different physios massage the area of pain (amongst other work)[/quote]
Are you posting in the right group?

That permanent contracts are much of a thing in my sector. My last 5 jobs have been temporary contracts. I'm in the cultural sector.

Mainly my parents generation always think once you've got a job you've got it until you leave. They have no idea how precarious most jobs are.

That as a translator I sit in a booth with a headset on. That's an interpreter. Two different but related professions (though there are people who do both).

And that anyone who knows a language can translate/interpret. Or that Google does it just as well as humans...

@Plussizejumpsuit

That permanent contracts are much of a thing in my sector. My last 5 jobs have been temporary contracts. I'm in the cultural sector.

Mainly my parents generation always think once you've got a job you've got it until you leave. They have no idea how precarious most jobs are.

Yes this is the same for my experience in the public sector. I've seen lots of comments regarding the public sector pay freeze that 'a pay freeze is the only thing affecting the panic sector' and we should be 'grateful for job security'.

I've worked in education for 8 years on a combination of zero hours or fixed term contracts. I lost my job in the pandemic as well. Some people have job security in the public sector but not all.

@sueelleker ha yes - @Ad3laid3 posted on page 1 that a job myth was that physios would give you a massage.