to not want to work in a supermarket ..

[Lola528]

Yes, it is very snobby of me I know, and especially right now it’s a “needs must” situation when so
many are being made redundant and don’t have much choice. The only jobs where I am right now seem to be in a supermarket or cleaning houses or offices (I’m a rubbish cleaner).

It may be petty, but I don’t want it on my CV amongst the other jobs I’ve had (aviation/travel working with major players of the industry) to then have “Asda” or equivalent as my most recent job. I just feel I have so much more to offer but nobody in my industry of choice is hiring right now (understandably).

AIBU to think this will go against me for future job opportunities? Or will future potential employees understand this is a blip of “COVID times” and not see it as a negative? Am I just being stupid?

I spent 5 years working at a small independent supermarket during my university days and the skills it gave me were so helpful in so many areas of life.
Customer service skills- the ability to stay calm under pressure from rude customers or long queues.
Ability to work quickly and thoroughly, pay attention to detail, notice and improve upon routines etc.
Ability to observe, analyse etc so that stock levels were always maintained
Ability to multitask, delegate etc.

At its most basic, working on a checkout might not look like much of a difficult job, but there are some very transferable skills. Plus it shows a willingness to work, a lack of snobbery and a flexibility that could be talked up. Personally now I wouldn't judge anyone who had supermarket work on their resume.

Maybe if you stopped thinking of it as a useless job you might change your attitude. I've worked I. Hospitality and retail and they have been harder work than any of the other industries I've worked in. So yes you do sound like a massive, ignorant snob.

*I've worked in

@Winter2020

You are not above this job and unless you have savings for a couple of years of outgoings you can’t afford to think that you are.

Tesco/Asda/Sainsburys money is as good as anyone elses. Unless you think that benefits will cover your needs?

I’m glad you are taking the job. You have no idea how long it might be until your old sector is back in action.

This. I work in a supermarket and have done for quite a few years now. There is absolutely nothing wrong with it at all and is better than a gap on your CV with no explanation for it

Worked in supermarkets all my life, basically, and there's nothing wrong with it. If you don't want it, give it to someone else who does actually want it and deserves it!

I've worked in supermarkets and it's a slog. I am fortunate to be in (relatively) safe employment but I know nothing in infinite. If I was binned off and a supermarket job came up of course I'd take it. I don't think someone with few transferable skills can be picky tbh.

My dp has a PhD in a very difficult and well respected scientific field and travelled the world working for universities as an academic. Then he lost his job and spent about 6 months working for a high street retailer. Let me tell you, he applied for a lot of retail jobs before he got it, they're way more competitive than you'd imagine, especially if you don't have any recent experience. Then he found his current job which is a senior position in the civil service. The 6 months in retail didn't harm his CV at all. I'd just given birth at the time so couldn't work myself, and honestly if he'd refused to earn money any way he could to provide for his family because he felt he was too good/educated for it then we would not still be together. So basically, don't be such a snob, and don't assume you'll even be able to get the jobs you think are beneath you.

I left school in 2008, so also in a recession. I couldn't find a permanent job for love nor money and so the first few years of my CV are a mess. Short-term temp contracts and a mixture of financial services, hospitality and retail. It looks like I had no idea what I wanted to do between the ages of 18 and 21 when in reality, I just took whatever someone was willing to give me. I've been able to explain that period well to employers and it hasn't gone against me because it shows I'm willing to put in the work.

My early CV entries might be a mish mash but there are no gaps.

Sorry OP, should have rtft before posting. I see that you've been offered and are accepting the job. Good for you, you've made the right choice. Best of luck.

I did retail work after Uni as it was all I could find during the last financial crisis. I had bills to pay so took what work I could find.

It both worked in my favour and worked against me.

Some employers refused to interview me because of it, a number of recruitment agencies said it looked bad as it showed I couldn't afford to do an unpaid internship or wasn't committed to my intended career path. One agency asked me to lie and say I'd been travelling in Australia for 6 months instead of working in a shop!

The first graduate job I got said part of why they chose to interview me was because I had done retail work to support myself whilst seeking a graduate job - they felt it showed a good work ethic.

I don't think I would want to work for anyone who looked down on me for working retail jobs when looking for the type of job I normally do!

any company that sees a CV with a load of interesting, varied positions displaying obvious career progression that has "Shelf stacker" anywhere in that list, especially if post 2008 or now and automatically rejects the candidate isn't worth working for.

Frankly, i really don't know that it's still a thing. (may be, I'm not sure)

The answer, of course, is to tailor your CV and leave it out and then find a plausible explanation for the gap. Or leave it in and if they question it, the simple answer is "needs must"

I wouldn’t worry about 2020 on your CV...it’s a complete car crash of a year and many, many people will have a gap or a stop-gap job.

Make sure your CV is tailored to highlight your professional experience and skills rather than just your current job. You can still call yourself an experienced travel executive or whatever in your title so people know that’s what you usually do.

Good luck, I’m sure many recruiters will think positively of you.

"Any" job is better than no job and a gap on your cv. Everyone knows about 2020 and whether it's GCSE/A level results, a supermarket job, or whatever, future employers will be more impressed with how you dealt with your challenges in 2020 rather than just doing nothing.

I've got numerous clients who are currently working in supermarkets or driving for Amazon. These are people who were previously self employed, including guest house owners, an interpreter, a film/tv producer, a driving instructor, events organiser, photographer, etc. They will all be back to their usual work as soon as we're out of covid, but in the meantime, they have to do what they have to do to put food on the table (most have been excluded from the Govt s/e support schemes!).

@Forgetmenot157

Don't put it on your cv then if you don't wNt Tom.. I worked high up in finance and am now slogging to work nights in asda to keep our family in the green... My partner has told me she has never been prouder of me for doing it for the family....

This. 100%

Why do some people think they are 'above' others. If it pays the bills for the short term I think great. It shows strong character to just get on with it.

I'd be massively pissed off at losing a job in an industry I'd loved and been passionate about for 15 years but if I'd shovel pig shit all day if it meant putting food on my daughters plate 🤷🏼‍♀️.

@AgeLikeWine

If I were hiring and I saw a highly qualified applicant who had taken a job in a supermarket to make ends meet during a pandemic when work was unavailable in their ‘normal’ field, I would be very impressed and look extremely favourably on their application.

Absolutely this.

A gap in a CV looks shit. Appearing resourceful and having an excellent work ethic looks great.

This makes me laugh

"Even if I had to work in McDonald’s or clean pub toilets." Some people really do look down on others or do these jobs.... why are cabin crew/booking holidays at a desk all day or similar jobs seen by some to be 'better' - they aren't they are just different.

tbh there are some jobs i won't do but that's not because they're beneath me, it's because i just couldn't. For example i couldn't work in a slaughterhouse or meat packing factory.

On the other hand ask me if I'm still looking this time next year and you might get a different answer.

Ofc there is nothing wrong with a supermarket job, but if you have 10 years of education or 30 years of experience in a niche role it’s soul destroying to go into a role like this. What you have given up to get where you are feels so pointless, when you could have had this job without all those sacrifice

Rubbish. I spent a lot of time and money on my education and then had a career in financial services. I now work in a supermarket. Yes I earned more 20 years ago than I do now but it feels neither pointless or soul destroying.

It just seems bizarre to me that now, in a time when it’s shown more than ever how vital supermarket staff are, some people still think it’s “beneath them”.

I mean, I can't deny it's miserable (fucking cat-litter) - and even when I had a broken arm they wouldn't let me be off sick (put me on the basket till instead, and I had to ask customers to help out!) - but a job's a job, at least it has a chair, unlike when I was in one of the tech shops and had to stand all day.

And yes, just don't put it on your CV - as long as you have some other way to explain the gap. It's not on mine any-more as it's fallen off the bottom (along with my GCSE results, because who cares after nearly 30 years)

If it is a choice then stay home and let someone else have a job that they need.

As many others have said the competition for any job is crazy at the moment. There was a dispatches (I think?!) documentary recently showing the stories of some of the applicants for a restaurant job. You would be lucky to get through the application stage especially with the attitude that it would be a temporary job that isn't good enough for your CV.

Just heard on the radio that easy jet has made a loss for the first time in its history of what will possibly be £800million.

The aviation industry will take years to recover and if the op has worked for 30 years then she is of an age where she could possibly never return to her previous type of job. And yet still have 20 years before retirement.

I think it shows strength of character and resilience. It would increase my respect for a candidate as a hiring manager in a professional field. I would be impressed and would want to know what skills/ behaviours you’ve learned

I've seen some very strong CVs that begin with a short opening paragraph: it outlines that person's career trajectory so far and objectives moving forward. It's very possible to include a mention of a supermarket stint within that, summarise the lessons learnt through the real, and chart your goals as you seek to re-return to your preferred field of employment.