To ask whether you judge someone based on their occupation?

[lushilaoshi]

I am sometimes judged (I think) a bit harshly based on my occupation. It can be a bit of a conversation killer, sometimes.

So without revealing yet what I actually do, if I were to say (for instance) that I am a City lawyer, what assumptions would you make about me? Would you take an instant dislike? Versus if I were to tell you that I am, for example, a languages teacher?

I think I can predict some answers, but I am curious about what characteristics are attributed to certain occupations, and whether justified. And in particular, whether gender makes any difference to your judgement?

As someone going to uni who quit a good job I work in retail to bring in cash and what is worse than the judgement you must be thick is when people bring their children in, teach them to be rude to you and warn "that's why you need to work hard at school. So you don't end up like this lady"

This happens at least once a week and aside from the fact I am off to study at a very good Russel Group uni on a very competitive course, chances are if you want your child to go to uni they will probably have to do similar themselves.

I don't get the whole 'judging is a British phenomena' thing. Surely everyone makes assumptions about people (not necessarily correct assumptions).

I get judged when people hear what mrtilder does (they assume arrogant arse),when I say what I do (they assume tropical sun). They are wrong (hopefully).

I guess when I judge or assume things based on something apparently superficial (such as a job or someones clothes) I'm looking for a common ground, a way to connect, a similarity.

I'm an artist and a SAHM, I make wedding bouquets out of felt, they take weeks to assemble and a lot of work goes into it. I feel judged all the time like I'm either too lazy to work and just sit around all day because I'm a SAHM or If people know about my business they think I just glue shit together and voila a bouquet

Actually no it's not like that at all! Embroidery and having the imagination to come up with original designs is an art! I spend lots of time with my children (one with sn) as well as doing everything around the house AND keeping up with my orders!

I also speak two languages fluently have a degree in HR and do a lot of charity work! Oh an I write fan fiction :/

I do a job that means I pretty much always work for investment banks. Like a lot of people I work with, I am politically left and socially liberal. I have never been judged for where I work and I wouldn't judge other people based on the work they do or who they work for.

I don't think I make assumptions about anyone from the job they have. There are a myriad of reasons people find themselves in a certain post and often those reasons have little to do with choice and more to do with opportunity. Most people defy stereotypes.

Coming to think of it: I tend to suspect anyone introducing themselves as either a business analyst or an IT project manager of being utterly useless until proven otherwise.

It's not a prejudice if it's formed after exposure to a large number of specimens, right?

I work as an IT project manager but I have enough technical knowledge to not be BS and enough knowledge as to know what the business needs etc. but some job titles I've had include scrum master/ release manager/delivery manager/ agile consultant/ IT consultant..

some people do know what they are doing but I do agree most PMs don't.

No worries, pookies those have been pretty much my roles. Not all of us are crap, of course.

My current PM, for instance is brilliant both as a professional and on a personal level.

Then again: he was brought in as a replacement for the guy who assumed that project managing consisted of demanding the test plan be re-printed in font-size 12 and got himself fired for sexual harassment.

yes exactly!
but that is why you and me get employed because we're not assholes. and we make an actual difference.

Love this thread . I am a banker in the city, get judged all the time. I am not on a six figure salary and I dont get a bonus.
I dont judge, I am genuinly interested in what people do. My dad who is the most intelligent person I know works in a shop and takes immense pride in that. He was born with a heart condition so could not go to school he is amazing and has taught me everything I know.
My mum is an hr director, famous in her field and hugely successful. She is also a narsc who takes no interest or pleasure in her work.
I can hand on heart say I never judge

I'm a scientist and about to go back to uni for medical school. Have not really gotten any negative comments, people just tend to be curious about my research.

Think as a few people said before the only people I may judge in a negative way for are things which I would regard as exploitative and potentially harmful to others, e.g. psychics, homeopaths and the likes.

Oh and Daily Mail writers. I judge them. My friend's daughter writes for them and I have never struggled to keep my thoughts to myself so much before.

I'm a sahm atm, and agree it is a conversation stopper.

I used to work in HR, and found that it was not well liked. HR, IT and Finance are generally the support functions that everyone loves to hate.

I remember years ago, I was in a post, single handed running a dept responsible for a huge (millions) corporate budget, but my job title still had 'administrator' in it. I've never been bothered much by titles, and never got round to changing it. The amount of emails I would send that got ignored (internally) or rude responses (externally) until I clarified my role and position, very annoying. Far too much onus is put on job titles IMO, but I have learnt the hard way, that you need something wanky in your title to get anyone to listen to or take you seriously

i have a degree and my OH has a PHD hes a lecturer at uni and im a cleaner for tgis but people assumptions would be that im a thicko who cant get a better job i choose toi do the job i do as the hours suit me

"...I were to say (for instance) that I am a City lawyer"

Well, for a start you might care to explain what you mean by that.

What city? What sort of lawyer? Has it really provoked a reaction when you 'reveal' your trade?

We need to be told...

:)

I judge traffic wardens and ballifs, I don't care if they are doing a job they are scum and I wouldn't give someone the time of day if I met them in a bar.
Anything else I give the benefit of the doubt, I really hate people who think they are better than you though or have control over you because of their job such as my neighbourhood manager thought he could talk down to me because I'm just a "council flat tenant" until I complained about him now he is scared to even phone me and only emails. Funny but sad.

The only times I've ever had much contact with HR is when there's been redundancies happening at work. It doesn't lead to happy associations when thinking about HR. Not terribly fair though, as the redundancies weren't HR's fault.

I'm a city lawyer and hate being asked what I do as I find people tend to make sweeping assumptions about me. The truth is I grew up in poverty and worked bloody hard to get where I am. I don't love my job but it's become so much a part of my identity that I can't imagine not doing it.

I don't judge others but am always secretly jelous of Dr's as I've wanted to be one for years but cba retraining.

When I tell people what I do I get lots of comments like 'That must be so rewarding' (which is true) and 'So you actually help people?' (I do). All most gratifying. They also assume that it makes me a nice person, when in fact I'm a flint-hearted bastard.

When I first finished my degree I worked at a large translation agency. I was a project manager, not a translator, although you generally had to have some facility in one or two of the languages to do the job well.

EVERY TIME people asked what I did, they would all start explaining why they never managed to master a foreign language.

People don't have a clue what I do no matter what I explain (academic research).
My dad was a criminal defense attorney so I respect them immensely.
I can't think of any (legal) job I would call someone scum for doing. :(
Thank goodness for traffic wardens, god knows where people would park without them.

I investigate complaints made against the NHS. Its never a conversation killer, in fact quite the opposite.

Agree that we need traffic wardens. Aberystwyth didn't have any for a year, and apparently motorists parking badly caused such chaos that the residents were welcoming the traffic wardens back

I've never understood why Traffic Wardens are so unpopular. Illegal parking is obviously something that needs monitoring. The vitriol directed at them is completely unwarranted imo.

At the moment I work as a lunchtime supervisor at a school. When people ask and I tell them, you can see them thinking 'aw she must be a bit thick'.

When I tell them what I used to do pre children, they genuinely look shocked. I actually prefer my job now but am certainly not thick.