"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?

Years ago I was treated to a lovely lunch at a very expensive 3* restaurant. Full of wine, I popped to the loo before leaving. A man came into the vestibule from the terrace just after I emerged and we made eye contact. He looked briefly uncertain before asking for a couple of coffees. 'Certainly, Sir', I replied. He went back out and I dashed off to join my friends in the taxi waiting outside. I wonder how long he left it to ask again?

MadMadMad

“DH is a retired police officer and so often people just seem to recognise that he is either ex police or ex military - I assume it is just a vibe he gives off.”

It’ll be the way he stands/carried himself. Anyone who has been taught to parade carries themselves ‘properly’. Usually those who have been taught to parade are/have been in the military or police. My DH is the same and can spot a fellow police/military person a mile off

Happens to me all the time too, OP. I've worked in retail, and currently in a public facing role in the public sector.People always stop and ask me for directions too, at home, abroad, makes no difference. I reckon I give off 'approachable' vibes.

I am a senior professional and always get asked for help and directions, even when I've been somewhere for five minutes. Take it as a compliment - you are friendly, approachable and fit in anywhere!

I'm another constantly asked for directions and it's not because I"m a harmless, pleasant looking middle aged woman (so safe) because I've been asked regularly since I was about 15. People constantly stop cars to ask me the way to places.

I've had it in multiple foreign countries too! I must always look like a local!

I've never had this happen in a shop, but it happens to me all the time in university libraries. I've been mistaken for a librarian since I was a first-year undergraduate (although I was a comparatively elderly one, in my late twenties). I usually know enough to help people find what they're looking for, so I don't mind too much. The strangest thing was when I was in the cafe attached to a library and was asked if I wanted a staff discount.

I'm in hospitality and I do get it a lot, but more frequently after a shift when I'm still in 'work mode' and walking round the shop smiling at everyone with a cheery "Good Morning!". I called the checkout guy Sir the other morning, and I've also torn the first receipt off, taken my card out, printed the merchant receipt and handed the cashier my card and receipt 🙄
I think maybe those of us in retail/hospitality just go on automatic pilot sometimes, make eye contact and smile which leads people to approach you.

I was once stopped on the Metro in Paris by an English guy who asked , in English, how to get somewhere. I was flustered and said in French without thinking " I'm English, I don't know". (I don't know why I sad it in French, my French is pretty basic and he spoke in English! ) at which point he said " I know you are, that's why I asked you" .huh. So much for me blending seamlessly into smart Parisien society, looking chic and smelling wonderful. I look and smell like and English tourist. Sad face.

I can still give an effective hard teachers stare at unruly children, it works on ones aged up to about 8 , but what with the general decline in parenting skills and respect for authority ( ) it no longer works on older children.........

I used to think it was something to do with a career in education; all those years scanning the room and noticing, but perhaps it's 'smiley resting face' as suggested upthread. I definitely have this! 😊

I used to give off 'sympathetic listener to elderly drunks' vibes. Ok in the street when they tell you how lively you are then you get on the bus and leave them behind, but not so great when they trap you in the pub and tell you their life story

Happens to me in JL too. And I had my supermarket uniform on once ha

I have the opposite problem. When im at work people walk past me confused then eventually ask "do you work here?" Even though its freezing outside and im walking around in a shirt and no bag or coat or anything with me when everyone else has hats and coats and bags. 😂

I've been told the fact I'm a nurse 'oozes from your every pore' - I'm not sure what that says about me!

I just have people glance in my trolley and ask for the gluten free aisle then of course I end up swapping tips and recipes with them 🤦‍♀️

viques, he knew you were no Parisienne because you weren't staring intently at everyone. He knew you were English because you weren't making eye contact.

I find I'm checking my reflection in shop windows whenever I'm in Paris, wondering why people are staring. 😉

I've had it happen too, but usually in garden centres, surprisingly! Dunno why.
I did work in a shop when I was a teen, but not since and I'm not known for my brilliant smile or engaging personality, so I have no idea why people approach me!

I've had it happen too, but usually in garden centres

Me too! However it did make sense because my work uniform had been changed and was exactly the same colour as the local garden centre employee uniform. So when I went in my uniform I was always asked if I could help someone with the plants.

Dh has been barked at by pensioners in our local pub. They assumed he was a waiter because he was wearing a white shirt and black trousers and were not impressed when he wouldn't clear their table.

When I was 12 I was browsing books in the local WHSmith, I was wearing a bright blue t shirt and someone stopped to ask me where they could find x book, had to say sorry definitely don’t work here!

I have the opposite. Apparently I look quite scary, or on a mission or aloof or something.
It has been said more than once "you're actually quite nice".

At community events I seem to get a gaggle of kids round me and listening when I'm asking them to stop pushing, stand back from edge of water, or can't find shoes.. I'm a Cub leader. Some of the kids know me, then the rest follow their lead. I then have to escape!

I’m a social worker.

The things people tell me, total strangers giving me unsolicited and highly personal details about their lives... it’s happened countless times.

Used to happen to me before kids. I probably looked quite together then. Hasn’t happened in many years now.

There's an excellent Oscar-winning short film about just this. From 1989 - with many familiar faces:

I've been mistaken for a staff member in Ted Baker and Karen Millen in the past, which makes me think I must have looked like a cross between an Essex girl out up West and Cynthia Payne's daughter.