"I don't work here"

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This is light-hearted. I am just curious if this happens to other people too.

I worked in retail and hospitality for well over a decade so I have permanent smile on my face even when I am angry, can orient myself in any shop immediately and I guess I have something else too, because "Sorry, I don't work here" is a sentence I end up saying quite often!

The best example. Went to John Lewis to look for some inspiration in a home department. I was switching cushions on one sofa, where my DH sat, to see which colours and patterns work best together. I had to pop into a nearby aisle few times to get different cushions (I put them all back after, I am not a dick).
3 separate people asked me "Excuse me! Where is x?" They all "Oh! I thought...", apologised and thanked me (all very polite) when I said I don't work there, but it's x aisles down. All in a span of 15 min.

I had no uniform, clothes didn't resemble JL in any way. It happened in other shops too! Once I ended up helping lady in Debenhams chosing a colour of a coat she wanted. She was lovely though.

Is that it? Is the retail and hospitality worker in me forever and so strong that people just can tell?
You know, like in a movies where people can easily identify cops or former cops?

I am retraining to a non retail/hospitality management position.

Firstly, AIBU to worry they will all just think I am a lost shop assistant who accidentally entered their offices?😂 It obviously "shines" from me.

Secondly, AIBU to be curious if this happens to other people from other professions too?

You must radiate warmth, approachability and an air of purposeful competence!
It never ever happens to me, shops often give me heart sink. I have to man up to go into Debenhams .

You must give off a vibe of being at home retail.
I’m sure you can transfer your skills well though op, because being adaptable and capable must be part of it.

I've never worked in retail and have had this quite a few times. I'm quite young looking though and it always tends to be older people in the shops that employ 'younger' staff generally and don't have uniforms.

I also get it when I'm wearing my work lanyard even if the shop I'm in has nothing like the same colour scheme as my workplace it even got me NHS staff discount in the cafe when I went for a scan when pregnant so I won't complain

It is also the case that there are not as many staff on the John Lewis floor as there used to be. It can be really hard to find help when you need it.

I get this - and also used to work in retail. My DH says I have a friendly face.

I get asked for directions a lot - which is not good as I have an awful sense of direction

@MidniteScribbler I think it's more likely that they assume you know how to take a decent photo.

I went to an art gallery on my lunchbreak, didn't take a bag, just my phone. I was wearing a skirt suit and walking quickly as I'd only gone to see one specific painting. A lady stopped me and said "the gallery is fantastic, well done"

It happens a lot to my DH. When he's in shops, he always strides about with a sense of purpose, so people think he works there, especially if he's wearing a white shirt.

I get it occasionally - most recently in a garden centre! Bloke was very apologetic but I ended up helping him anyway because I love gardening and I know that centre really well.

I always get this lol

Happens to me too. I’m always in black. Once a lady told me off for not helping her - after I said I was not working there!!

I never get asked in shops but I used to get asked for directions AAALLLL the time on the street, including people in cars pulling over to ask me. Which is unfortunate, because I have absolutely no sense of direction whatsoever and the very words "excuse me, can you tell me where..." is some kind of magic spell that makes the name of every street and landmark I ever knew instantly fall out of my head.

I think it's because I'm tall and, before I developed a limp, used to stride along quite confidently (it rarely happens now that I'm slower and lamer) so probably looked as though I knew where I was going, whereas in reality at least 75% of the time I was probably styling out having taken a wrong turning myself!

I get it all the time, plus some pretty rude responses when I say I don't work there! I rarely wear a coat-maybe that's why I get asked a lot?

Nah, it's just laziness on the part of other people. They know full well you aren't in the shop uniform etc and don't work there but they can't be bothered searching for something by themselves so they ask someone who looks slightly more alert (or someone who they can take advantage of) to join in their search. They won't say "I know full well you don't work here but I CBA to look around when you can look for me".

I waited for a friend at a tube station once and in the15 or so minutes that I was there, I helped no end of people asking if it was the Westbound platform or not. I was standing by the tube map . Perhaps they thought that I was in undercover clothing.

I worked in high-end hospitality for 17 years. I am very smiley and good with eye contact. I also am very 'customer service' even with strangers - I get asked things a lot!

I used to get it in a hotel I regularly stay in. Whenever I went down for breakfast the greeter would direct me to the BA cabin crew table. I was quite flattered as I am not nearly as groomed and glamorous as they are. It stopped when I grew out my ‘mum bob’.

I think retail workers move differently to non-retail workers.

I get this too, my first jobs were in retail so I wonder if it does have an influence. I always seem to end up helping them too!

Visit r/idontworkherelady which is full of such tales, and stories of people who refuse to believe they are wrong and escalate the situation...

I have resting bitch face and I am frequently mistaken for shop staff, even in places where they have a distinctive uniform or I'm "actively" shopping myself.

People have got quite pissed off with me as well, as it it's my fault they got it wrong!

My husband used to work in Tesco's. He loves the weekly shop and will go to 3 or 4 different supermarkets in a row to get the best prices. He is always getting asked where things are, and will help fellow shoppers. He's a teacher now and normally has his lanyard still round his neck, I think people think he's one of the managers.

When I was at school (a VERY long time ago) our summer uniform resembled that of the Boots workers. Whenever we went in there in our lunch hour we were forever being asked where stuff was. It was upper school uniform so we'd have been 14-16. We achieved a great working knowledge of the layout of Boots (shame that wasn't on the exam timetable).

I used to work in my local Tesco and still get asked where things are when I'm in there, usually my older ladies. I generally just show them as I know the store pretty well. I always wonder if they just recognise me from years ago. My Dad gets it all the time in B&Q but he'd live in there if he could so always looks like he knows where things are and what DIY jobs need what etc.

Yes. Wherever I sit on a bus I get the "Bus Loony" sitting beside me.

I get that too. Always attract the unstable and unpredictable. Always men and usually reeking of booze. I was on a bus replacement the other day when my train got cancelled (oh yay) and as I sat down, a man halfway down the bus turned around and started a conversation with me - shouting halfway down the bus to speak to me! The bus was packed so he was surrounded by much-nearer people to chat to but decided on me.

I must give off 'SPEAK TO ME' vibes. Weird thing is that I'm really very comfortable by myself and don't crave attention from randomers/company at all.