What’s your views on people doing Low Skilled jobs all their life? Are they stupid?

[Benny91]

People that are bin men, cleaners, bus drivers and work in retail? Do you think they’re only doing it because they’re not very smart?

As I heard this guy talking to his friend in the Gym today and that he’s a manager at a supermarket and all I overheard was that the longest ones who have worked at the place are ‘thick as shit’, and I was actually quite shocked about what he said! 😳

Also saying about those doing this long term. People often assume that people that do this way of living are failures in life?!

Whats your thoughts?

Tried to change the way things work for the better, but was told, "that is how we have always done it" i have had no choice but to remain in a low skilled job, why would you envy that?

I wouldn't say any of the jobs you've mentioned are low skill op. They all require either specialist skills and/or a variety of physical and mental skills and the ability to use quick judgement, communicate effectively, think on your feet and multi task. There are many process driven office jobs that require a much narrower skillset.

She doesn't.

Not everyone wants to change the world in order to dash around in an expensive car. Some people are content, or just don't want too much responsibility and hassle.

I think that probably makes them the clever ones.

Everyone is a cog in the wheel. Without the supermarket workers going into work during Covid we would have all starved. If you look at the stats, apart from frontline medical staff they were the group with the highest covid mortality rate.
My job wouldn’t be possible without multiple levels of support workers from bin men to delivery drivers. The minions are probably more important than the alpha professionals. Who would make my coffee?

I was brought up to think this as it was repeated constantly through childhood, along with the mantra if you can’t do, teach.

I am going out of my way to teach my kids the opposite. People do different jobs for all different reasons.
I went on to become a ‘thick’ teacher, not because I couldn’t do anything else but because I loved it. Since leaving school I’ve done other jobs for different reasons, to gain experience, to fit around kids school runs.

I work in a kitchen. I also have a degree in Archaeology and Roman History. I can read Latin and Ancient Greek.
I prefer a job where I go in, do my bit and go home. I've been a manager and I've had enough of it. I don't want to be in charge of anyone or anything.
I don't want responsibility any more. Just a nice job that I like, which pays just enough, and fits around my daughter.
I'm certainly not stupid. People can think I am if they want to, doesn't bother me at all.

Maybe she means envy the feeling of being content exactly where you are without the need to progress.

It doesn’t sound like you’re in the category she’s talking about if you actually do want more.

i know it is a job looked down upon, but I love it, this thread has made me realise i wish i had gone to Uni.

My grandparents were European professionals who arrived here during the 2nd WW as refugees. Everything they had worked for was taken from them before they left, and they started working in a factory here. You never know someone’s history/situation.

I’m the same. I have a first class degree from a top university but now work in retail by choice.

You are the stuoid one if you think people in so called low skilled jobs are stupid!

I work in management. If money was no object I'd quite happily take a low skilled, low paid job purely for work life balance and mental health - and I'd think that was pretty smart. My sister works in retail. She's happy doing that job, she has never worked her way up because she doesn't want to. She's happy doing what she does and doesn't want to change it. I think it's smart to stay happy!
I earn much more in a professional job but I've just had to be signed off with stress and put on medication. Trading health for money. Now I'm thinking my career choices are less smart than those with much less responsibility!

I've known extraordinarily stupid Oxbridge graduates and highly intelligent retail assistants, so I don't think there's necessarily a correlation. It's mainly differences in life circumstances and different opportunities, different levels of health, responsibilities and different outlooks, different family cultures, as well as simply that different people like different things or can manage different things.

Most Managers I know are thick as pigshit and bad with people.

Im a self employed cleaner/pet sitter... I earn between £20 - £30 per hour... (pre tax)

Iv also been an area manager responsible for overseeing multiple sites, 80+ staff, hr procedures, operational standards, profit and loss amongst the long list of other things to do.... I got paid less for doing this highly stressful and thankless job....

Calling people stupid or low skilled in quite frankly disgusting.

different people do different jobs at different times of their lives.
during covid i saw people who couldn't work because they refused the vaccine join workplaces with zero checking.
people who work at the pharmacy because they have an education plan and are doing night courses.
i've seen healthy active seniors, retired from one line of work take on low stress mini jobs.
people who help run family businesses.
and lately adults who have paid off their homes switch to less stressful workplaces.
I don't really think too much about what circumstances lead people to work in entry level jobs, i just hope they are content.

I’m in retail, have been since I was 17, so 20 years. I’ve stayed because I care for DS and my manager gives me the hours I need. I can guarantee I’m one of the longest serving, and one of the most intelligent… because some of these kids we have coming in, going through uni too are not all that smart. I didn’t go college and I didn’t go uni.. got decent enough GCSE’s. I could have climbed the ranks by now, was actually offered several times but my kids are more important and DP has a good enough job.

no I’d think maybe they enjoy it, maybe it fits in with their family lives, maybe they just don’t want a stressful job. There’s something lovely about being able to go to work, do your job and go home and not worry about it until the next shift. He’s an arsehole!

I have to say, I am sat here and I feel awful about how I used to think that probably I was given a crappy hand in life when I had my health problems a decade ago.

I had a head injury and post concussion syndrome, and then suddenly found myself very unwell for a long time after being injured by an off label antipsychotic prescribed for severe insomnia and anxiety after my head injury. I now have a neurological involuntary movement disorder as a result.

Consequently I had to stop working as an magazine assistant editor and I had my two youngest children in the time that I took off not working. I remember feeling like I was worthless as my fairly well paid career and degree were seemingly going to waste. But I loved being a mum, so I threw myself into that role the best I could.

In my teenage years, I did waitressing and retail work, and found it much better in some ways than my office work, and harder too.

The time when I was off work over the past few years, sometimes wallowing in a bit of self pity and wishing I was working, made me think back to those jobs and how valuable they were. I very much wanted to work again, but my poor brain wasn't well for a long time. I've had a greater appreciation for work in general since having poor health, and am content to do a small part time freelance editor role from home that fits around my children.

The high flying corporate career may be behind me, but I don't think it's the be all and end all. Yes, i occasionally feel sad that my brain injury cut my career short in some ways, but it made me truly appreciate the work I could do ok and not feel overwhelmed or pressurised with too.

No job should be beneath anyone really.

This is the best answer here. 👍👏🏻

I worked in care and retail and now in a call centre
got all my GCSEs, a levels, a national diploma and a BA hons degree….

Sadly, no. For many, their lack of life chances traps them.

My mother had a choice between university and going to work. She chose work. Probably for financial reasons. Consequently, despite being highly intelligent, she got into a trap she was never able to escape from. A life lived in poverty when uni would have meant a profession.

I learned from her mistake though.

I've always done "low skill jobs" but have an IQ in the top few %.
I am far from stupid.

The thing people fail to understand is, some people want as little responsibility as possible. Not because theyre thick, but because theyre wise and know that life is not about money and "things". The happiest people in life need very little.