"I don't work here"

[SafetyAdvice0FeedWhenAgitated]

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?

It happens to me all the time. I can understand when I am suited and booted for work but last week in M&S wearing denims and a t-shirt I apparently still looked like I work there!

This happens to my mum all the time. She's been a carer for adults with learning difficulties all her working life.

If there's a person with learning difficulties within a half mile radius of my mum, they'll always find her and strike up a conversation.

As a kid, I was so embarrassed because these conversations are often very loud and a bit odd. Not odd but, for example, we were once in the supermarket and a man came over chatting very loudly to my mum about how he'd caught the bus there and was going to buy chicken. As a 14-year old, I just wanted to die.

My mum has perfected her polite way of getting away though if she thinks people are confused or distressed or alone, she can be there hours

when we are out playing pokemonGo around the park, I often get people approach me and ask why so many people are wandering round the park staring at their phones, its difficult trying to describe a virtual creature and why we are catching them

I once saw a man in a yellow shirt and jeans in IKEA.... I doubt he made that mistake again

I used to be a university lecturer and there must be something about the way I would explain things to people - pretty much all my friends' kids had me nailed as "a teacher" within minutes of me opening my mouth.

Whenever I’ve been in Italy I’ve always been stopped for directions! By tourists and by (I’m guessing) locals as they start speaking Italian to me and always look so surprised when I apologise and explain I’m an English tourist. I’ve no idea why it happens to me but it’s only ever in Italy never happened anywhere else. I’m very fair skinned and blue eyes so not text book Italian appearance

It does happen in other professions.

I work for the NHS and although I'm no longer clinical and no longer wear a uniform I do go on the wards and I'm always approached by patients and relatives.

I think it's a confidence thing; if you look like you know what you are doing people will assume you do.

Mine seems to be emergencies weirdly I don't panic worked as a dispatcher for a decade
CPR, blood pouring etc... it's me people seem to find. I walked in a shop and a guy stopped breathing in front of me. Wasn't even meant to be going in that shop but something made me!
I don't panic which is maybe why? Something breaks in the house and I will cry/fume, but if you're in dire need of an ambulance I turn into this completely calm person

Yep, happens to me often. No idea why.

Many years ago, I was at a toddler play session With my 2 small children at a leisure centre near to our town centre, and as we were leaving a woman I had never seen before came up to me and asked me if some particular event was on In the town that weekend.When I said I didn’t know she seemed really annoyed, I don’t know why because even if I worked there why would I be expected to know that? Perhaps she thought she knew me! Strangely enough about a year later She moved in next door to me!
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I ask people who look friendly. I don't usually think they work in the store.

I did ask a woman a question about where a Lego toy in box was located. It was in her hand, she had to know and she was quite indignant!

"I DON'T WORK HERE!"

No, but you're a human, on planet Earth, Princess Haughty McHaughtiness. .....it's not an insult to be asked.

Much worse, dh and dc were Christmas shopping with me in dept store, I paused to look at perfume counter. After a few minutes I looked for them and I noticed they were being followed by security. Dressed nicely, no bags. No idea why they were considered potential shop lifters.

I texted them...I still wonder why they were singled out.

@ClientListQueen
Me too! I am calmness personified for my dc or dh but recently in minor car accident alone and I was so shocked that I didn't notice my car was damaged and I cried. I never cry.

Yes I'm a carer and anytime I'm in a hospital, uniform or not, I end up helping people.

I think it’s almost always how you’re dressed actually. And whether you’re wearing a coat/carrying a bag.

Sorry to burst your bubble OP but I think it’s just because you had put your coat and bag down or weren’t wearing them.

I have often mistaken women without hand bags for shop staff and when I haven’t had a handbag I’ve also been mistaken for shop staff.

Of course if this happened to you with a coat and handbag then maybe you do give hospitality vibes.

About 10 years ago,my DD (who was about 25 at the time) was mistaken for a member of staff in Wilkinsons. She was wearing a red T-shirt,which is their uniform colour,so I suppose I can understand the mistake. The customer got quite arsey with her,as he'd asked her if she could get a suitcase down from the top shelf. When she said 'No,sorry.....' he butted in and started telling her off for being unhelpful,before she could finish the sentence and say 'I don't actually work here!'. He didn't even apologise for being rude once he'd realised his mistake!

Ok then figure this.
I am always the person people ask for assistance. Recently I was in the ladies changing room, naked showering after a swim. Someone come and asked me advice about their pension.

Before I graduated university I was a supervisor at Topshop. At the time I would get this in other Topshop stores depending on what I was wearing.

I definitely had that “thing”, where random people would ask me for directions or where X is. Now that i have been an office worker for years, I can definitely say that random people don’t do this anymore! Unless I’m in London - people always ask me for directions there.

Yep happens to be too. Especially if I wear my red polo to target or our local supermarket (both have red tops for uniform). Plenty of other stores too, but I do like to straighten shelves etc when I’m in stores and mutter about bad merchandising displays. I’ve never ever worked in retail and would be terrible at it, I’m not a people person.

I always get asked for directions in the street, which I don't understand. I think I've got a Fuck Off Face.

I was at IKEA recently and someone was wearing a suspiciously yellow t shirt - they basically looked like IKEA’s staff. I just thought it was a humorous outfit choice for an IKEA visit, they must have been constantly approached by other customers who thought they were staff! Especially as there was barely any actual staff present.

My Dad was regularly asked for directions wherever he went, including when we were away on family holidays!

But then at Church events he was often put in charge of managing the car park, he was the Treasurer in various societies etc so he definitely gave off a vibe!

No, it's being female. I had a man in a shop repeatedly aske me where something was. I repeatedly told him I didn't work there and why didn't he ask someone who worked there.

I think it was just 'the women will serve me' attitude.

I get asked for directions in the most random places, in Berlin, Paris, even Moscow. Fortunately I do have a good sense of direction and a very good memory for transport networks. But I am the most titchy pale faced looking Scot you can imagine, I have no idea why people always think I’m local.

My dad used to always get stopped and searched at airports for looking dodgy.... Not quite the same x