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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Subjective jobs

64 replies

Ninjafox · 17/01/2019 22:28

Just wondering what winds you up about people's reaction to your job?

My role is design related which I've done for years. It really winds me up when people assume a job 'shouldn't take me more than 2 minutes' I've had that quite a lot, and also when they start to tell me how to redesign things like I have no clue how to do my job. Just fancy a big vent!

OP posts:
FrankiesKnuckle · 17/01/2019 22:35

I'm a paramedic.

I get the question often - what's the worst thing you've ever seen/been to?

They really don't want to know what the worst job I've ever been to is, it would leave most sobbing and rocking in a corner somewhere.

They've no thought for my mental well-being if I had to constantly tell the truth.

So I usually regale tales of objects stuck in arseholes or something.

Original poster
Ninjafox · 17/01/2019 22:38

Oh Frankie, that's awful! Def point made well, will never ask that

OP posts:
Sparklesocks · 17/01/2019 22:40

I’m a PA and some people think I just make tea and coffee all day and arse about on the internet, when I actually deal with a very complex diary, have to sort awkward travel arrangements and meetings across multiple time zones and generally be level headed and calm when my chaotic-but-brilliant boss has one of his freak outs.

Disquieted1 · 17/01/2019 22:46

Everyone thinks that they have a good sense of humour. Everyone thinks that they're open minded. Everyone thinks that they're balanced and reasonable.

I have one of those jobs that everyone thinks they can just do instinctively.
NO YOU FUCKING CAN'T, SO JUST FUCK OFF!
It took me decades to develop this level of empathy.

GrapesAndCheese · 17/01/2019 22:46

My job is also creative but one of those things that people think they could easily do. So I get a lot of 'oh I've thought about being a __' which, rightly or wrongly, makes me feel like they're devaluing my job which takes a certain talent (plus loads of boring, self-employed spinning plate type stuff on top).

It's a bit like doing some local am dram and then proclaiming you could be on the stage at the national theatre. Ain't gonna happen.

GrapesAndCheese · 17/01/2019 22:48

Cross posted @Disquieted1!

Zamolochikova · 17/01/2019 22:48

That we all make buckets of money, faff around doing nothing, deliberately drag the process out, monkeys could do it etc etc.

I'm a conveyancing solicitor and work every file as quick as possible, but some properties/transactions really are very legally complex and some just take longer to deal with than others, not everything is within our control. I also definitely don't get paid as much as people seem to assume!

Original poster
Ninjafox · 17/01/2019 22:49

Disquieted1 I am intrigued as to your job!

OP posts:
FortunesFave · 17/01/2019 22:50

I'm a copywriter and specialise in scripts for promotional vids. People think they can ask me for a 2 minute script and pay a hundred pounds because "It's only 2 minutes"

If it's only 2 minutes and it's that easy, write it yourself you fool.

BringOnTheScience · 17/01/2019 22:53

I'm a teacher. EVERYONE has a view on how the job should be done... esp on here Sad

Belishaa · 17/01/2019 22:53

I'm a political analyst - as in, I work out what is happening/ could happen, and businesses and investors factor that into decisions. It's complicated and I know A LOT.

But it means that everyone I meet wants to tell me their badly informed, subjective view on Brexit.

God it's irritating.

Original poster
Ninjafox · 17/01/2019 22:55

Belishaa I'm intrigued for your view on Brexit

OP posts:
Disquieted1 · 17/01/2019 22:57

I empathise with teachers. I hear politicians saying that schools should be run by business people, charities, chambers of commerce....everyone but trained educators! Grrrrr.

topcat2014 · 17/01/2019 23:00

@FrankiesKnuckle - a similar reason why I never ask DBil (A firefighter) about his job..

Madein1995 · 17/01/2019 23:00

I work for DWP - not in any kind of important role, am on the phones. Customers seem to think I am stupid and unaware of the real world, are under the impression that I make and whole heartedly agree with the rules, that it is perfectly acceptable and in fact encouraged to shout and be abusive towards me, and that I can wave a wand and make things better.

However I do understand their frustrations sometimes, but society's reactions wind me up. When I told family and friends my job, at first they looked taken aback and from then on its as though they can't trust me. As though they think I'm big brother, and that I'm Very Important and as though doing the job is somehow wrong or evil. Or I get comments / justifications about previous interactions with the department and how wrongly they were treated

Seriously though, I feel afraid sometimes to mention who I work for - people's attitudes towards you automatically change, eg if you're at a party or something making small talk. At best you can see the cogs whirring, at worst you get people aggressively quizzing you over government policy, again as though you have any say in it. It's quite sad really, but I've taken to telling acquaintances that I work in Tesco or a kids home (my previous jobs)

secondhanddreamsdealer · 17/01/2019 23:01

I manage large programmes that deliver data for decision making m in financial services. This means nobody asks me what I actually do because it's too boring/complicated/impenetrable/all of the above

But the annoying part is: why does it take so long to do X. As if collecting and collating data which you'll then use to make decisions that'll cost you millions if data is wrong, is a piece of piss.

ICouldBeSomebodyYouKnow · 17/01/2019 23:02

Happens within the same office too. Yesterday a colleague told me how long I would need to do a handover to a new member of staff, and that I wouldn't need a meeting room for an hour 'just to talk about it'. The task is entirely my responsibility, we needed to not be disturbed / disturb other people (open-plan office) and the colleague knows nothing about it, what's involved etc. Sigh.

Pardalis · 17/01/2019 23:05

I work in IT. I usually get treated like a freak of nature - 'why would you want to do that'

Also expected to be a computer whisperer

Belishaa · 17/01/2019 23:09

Ninja I don't so much have a view, as a mahoosive flowchart of all the possibilities (which keep multiplying) , and % likelihoods against each one.

It's really, really interesting if you're a parliamentary geek. Not so much if you're normal. Grin

Awyeah · 17/01/2019 23:18

Same OP. I think most clients regard me as just a mac monkey to realise their brilliant ideas. Actually I might have a bit of an idea what I'm talking about Hmm

LaurieFairyCake · 17/01/2019 23:21

I'm a counsellor/psychotherapist- loads of people I meet think they can do my job

"Don't you just tilt your head and go hmmm and ask them how that makes them feel"

Nope, listen to rape and historic child abuse stories for the government task force Hmm

I usually just nod and say they should definitely consider training

StowawayJo · 17/01/2019 23:28

Astronaut.

All I get asked is have I met Neil Armstrong. So annoying.

Pardalis · 17/01/2019 23:31

Isn't meeting Neil Armstrong part of the training?
He is the only person who has been in space.
It's like shadowing someone who works on a till Grin

whitehousemum · 17/01/2019 23:33

Musician here, I frequently get asked what my day job is and also many people insinuate I shouldn’t get paid for what I do as it is enjoyable.

TiptoeThroughTriage · 17/01/2019 23:44

You lot think you've all got problems-I'm a Health Visitor! Don't even go there.....😆