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?

@Dustballs

Bloody hell - I hope no one who actually works in a supermarket is reading this.

I mean there is a very high chance that there will be supermarket workers here on Mumsnet OP!! ... Had you not thought about that?

Perhaps you don't care what your snobbery might make them feel.

I do! I took voluntary early release from the civil service, and when a new supermarket (Waitrose, not that it matters) opened here they had 900 applications. It was whittled down to about 400 actual interviews for about 150 vacancies and I luckily got one. This was way before the pandemic. We've got ex police, accountants, civil servants, hairdressers, all sorts working at our place.

I didn't want to work on the tills but that was what I was offered so I took it and I've never looked back, I really enjoy it. There's plenty of opportunities to progress, not that I want to but others do and have done. It's hard work and the behaviour of the public over the pandemic has been at times "challenging" but I'm not planning on leaving there until I retire.

@Tenyearsgone

I wish the OP good luck with her supermarket role and I hope that she has fun doing it

You think working in a supermarket is fun? People like you who think it's a silly little job is why people will forever look down on supermarket workers.

I don't think this is what the poster was saying.

@Cheesypea

A gap on your cv will look worse. A willingness to take any job shows your a grafter. Most employers will hire someone whos in work rather than someone who is out of work.

I don’t believe this for a moment.

OP, your best bet is to take the supermarket job for money but try to do something relevant in your field in your off hours that can be put on the CV, you can always try to big it up as experience or do a course to update your skills in your off hours and pass it off as full-time study.

I think you sound awfuI. I work in a supermarket and feel very insulted, by what you have said. Don't take the job and let someone else, who wants and deserves it, have it. We have all been working hard throughout this pandemic. Retail staff don't get enough credit for doing a difficult job, especially at the moment.

I wish the OP good luck with her supermarket role and I hope that she has fun doing it

(Me, in an earlier post)

You think working in a supermarket is fun? People like you who think it's a silly little job is why people will forever look down on supermarket workers

(Another charmer, upthread)

You really are scraping the barrel for something to be upset about, aren’t you? Would you have been happier if I’d said “I hope the OP experiences the pain and suffering that is the daily lot of heroic supermarket staff and has no fun at all”?

You can save the self-pitying outrage, by the way. Show me one post of mine where I’ve disparaged supermarket staff or said that it’s an easy job. You won’t find anything.

I suspect you don't really know much about the OP's field. What you say may be true in your field, but from what OP has said I highly doubt it will have a negative effect should she wish to get back into aviation, or probably any other field that she may consider on the basis of her employment history.

I’ve worked in aviation in the recent past. Sorry to burst your balloon. The OP clearly did at least a semi-senior role. At that level, taking an in-between job to keep some money coming in is commendable but it’s not CV enhancing.

I find this thread very offensive, who the hell gives you or anyone else the right to look down on people making an honest living for themselves and their family? How do you know that the supermarket is going to employ you in the first place? They don’t employ just anyone. I think your trying to get a reaction on here as you know fine well mumsnet is made up from all walks of life.

This thread reads like a virtual stoning.

I expect OP was hired because she came across as pleasant and balanced - as she does in her posts here. Much as people are falling over themselves to describe how her horrible, superior attitude must has shone through, it's quite clear that she is doing what she needs to do. So there's no need for the repeated sanctimonious posts about putting food on the table or the outrage at someone expressing in very mild terms that they aren't so happy with the turn their career has taken.

As for those posters salivating over OP becoming homeless or whatever, just remember she lost her job. Very stressful for anyone. I'd rather be the worst snob than fantasising about someone else's misfortune.

How do you know that the supermarket is going to employ you in the first place? They don’t employ just anyone.

She's been offered the job, she's taking it and she's putting it on her CV.

If supermarket work is so menial then why are so many people shit at it? It's not as boring as you think, it's quite fun and interesting in parts. Lots of problem solving in certain areas, very sociable.

We've got some extremely interesting people working in my store from all walks of life.
All with varying levels of education

Aah right, didn’t have time to read through all the posts. In that case, if you feel it’s beneath you, don’t take it. Someone else would gladly take the role. I’d hate to work with Someone Like you in my job.

My friend is a recruitment person for some luxury private airline, she just hired the lady who is working in Wilko after being laid off from Virgin Atlantic, she said it showed she's willing to do anything and has a real work ethic.

I work in a large retail store and it’s full of all different people. Some have degrees, some traveled, some only there as it fits in with school hours.

@Lollypig I could say the same about you and all the others who have called me various adjectives in their responses, but I’m actually quite happy to work with anyone but still whilst being considerate of their current thoughts and situation.

As I’ve said, it’s not a case of looking down on anyone (though you’ve happily done this to me) it’s a case of not being happy to be thrown into my current situation and out of my comfort zone a as well as the impact this diversion will have on future roles in aviation for me.

I’ve taken the job, and like all jobs I’ll do it to the best of my ability, but thanks for your feedback - good to hear all views, right or wrong.

@Byllis thank you so much for taking the time to get where I’m coming from, it is appreciated and I agree with all you’ve said!

My friend is a recruitment person for some luxury private airline, she just hired the lady who is working in Wilko after being laid off from Virgin Atlantic, she said it showed she's willing to do anything and has a real work ethic.

The candidate will have been hired because of her track record at Virgin Atlantic. Not because she has ‘proved that she is a grafter’ by working at Wilko.

If she had omitted Wilko from her CV I doubt that it would have made any difference to the outcome.

At a more senior level, which I surmise that the OP is at, it’s not about ‘proving that you are a grafter’ or ‘showing that you can roll your sleeves up’ etc etc. Your CV showcases a set of skills relevant to the role. That is what recruiters look at.

I went from managing the South West area with 300 staff to cleaning toilets, if anything, it only made my CV look better, but then again I’m not shy of getting my hands dirty

@pompey38

I went from managing the South West area with 300 staff to cleaning toilets, if anything, it only made my CV look better, but then again I’m not shy of getting my hands dirty

How did it make your CV look better?

@Iamthewombat your assumption is correct. I am prob mid-senior Management level but have worked across all touch points if the customer experience, from reservations to arrivals and everything in between. I have also worked in three different countries which had given me some unique experiences that lots would not have on their CV.

I thought supermarket staff were keeping the country going during lockdown when everyone else was scared and staying home. How soon we forget! It says more about you tbh.

Wow!
Take your head out of your arse OP!

Good luck and well done, OP!

Why do you think you above working in Asda?

I think you're jumping the gun a bit as people with more relevant experience will probably apply and what makes you think Asda will even want you??

Can we create a bot to respond to every post accusing OP of thinking she's above the job, or telling her she might not get it, to state yet again that she's had the offer, she's taking it and she's putting it on her CV?