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?

There’s another option here. Take the job at the supermarket then also do online courses relevant to your profession. So if you’re in marketing your CV could say;
Asda, Stock Assistant
Team work
Inventory etc

Career Specific Extra Training
X marketing course
X SEO course
X digital analytics course

Shows you’re a hard worker and still keeping skills up to date

@CoronaIsWatching

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??

Probs the fact that she's been offered the job, which she's decided to take? Y'know, that little fact you find out from reading the OPs post.

Wouldn't worry too much about what people say on here OP. Some love to stick the boot in on AIBU and unfortunately your post is handing them an opportunity on a platter. Best of luck with the job. It's not what you'd be ideally doing - of course you'd rather have your old job - but that doesn't mean you are looking down on it in any way.

I’m sure there are stressful times but I imagine it being quite laid back as long as you get your job done. My DH works in a supermarket. He likens it to working in a bear pit.

It's not what you'd be ideally doing - of course you'd rather have your old job - but that doesn't mean you are looking down on it in any way Her first sentence of her first post is admitting she doesn’t want to do the job because she’s being snobbish. Do you really want to pretend she doesn’t think it’s beneath her?

@CoronaIsWatching

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??

Well, they clearly do want them, as they were offered the job.

@PrincessNutNut

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?

all o those things not in the op

all o those things not in the op

They're in an update. Use the "see all" function in the OP.

I’d personally take the job in current circumstances but YANBU at all for feeling a bit down about having to take such a different path, especially after so long in your original field. I really hate this idea that we should all be grateful and uncomplaining for the chance to work in low-paid, unskilled jobs that are often exploitative and precarious, all because some people have it worse. It shouldn’t be a race to the bottom.

In these time it will be more respected by a prospecting employer that you worked, achieved employment.

It's not snobby to say you don't want to do a job, it's snobby to look down on others that do that job.

Thanks everyone 😊

Best of luck, OP.

I think accepting the job (any job) and having it on your CV in future is better than having to explain during an interview that you could have worked but just didn't want to. I see you've accepted the job now, and good on you for that.

Incidentally, after being made redundant I went and got a job in an entirely unrelated field. One that previously I'd never have considered but for the fact I drove past their "we're hiring" sign daily and I really needed the money! It's no understatement to say that it totally changed my life and I'm now on a very different career path to what I once was.

Good luck.

@JemimaDuddlepuckkk

It's not snobby to say you don't want to do a job, it's snobby to look down on others that do that job.

Have to say I agree with this. Let's be honest, the average solicitor is not going to be happy stacking tins of beans whatever anyone says.

maybe he used to be a solicitor but now, if he's stacking beans, he's a beanstacker

My dad always used to say that no honest work was beneath anyone.

It is true. Nobody is too good to earn a living by taking whatever job they can. You need to change your attitude imo

She doesn’t think that it is beneath her. She has taken the job.

Why do you feel that you have to stick the boot in? The OP is perfectly entitled to be sad that she has been made redundant from her senior role in the aviation business and has had to consider different, lower paying roles to keep an income coming in. Do you expect her to rejoice?

I suspect that many of the sour remarks on this thread come from a place of envy. How dare the OP have had a high flying career? How dare she make other posters insecure with her success? She should be glad to clean toilets and perhaps she will love working in a supermarket so much that she won’t want to go back to her own industry etc etc etc.

The poster upthread who referenced a race to the bottom had it right.

Take the job and include it on your CV. I personally would much rather hire someone who has taken a lower paid job outside of their industry to keep afloat, than some feckless wonder who thinks certain jobs are beneath them. I have worked in retail in the past and can tell you it’s 100% harder than an office job and even more so in covid times I’d imagine.

I suspect that many of the sour remarks on this thread come from a place of envy. How dare the OP have had a high flying career? How dare she make other posters insecure with her success? She should be glad to clean toilets and perhaps she will love working in a supermarket so much that she won’t want to go back to her own industry etc etc etc.

Yes, I think this is it, plus the flipside of the usual MN classism. How dare YOU have reservations about a job with less pay and social status (rightly or wrongly), even if you're qualified, experienced and senior in something else entirely! I noticed several posts had been removed when I first looked at this thread, and I reported some myself because they were just horrible. Name calling and bad wishes and all.

Supermarket work is crucial (how could anyone not agree after this year!), not easy and the staff absolutely deserve a lot of respect. But do people really, honestly believe that it enhances a CV for senior roles in aviation? Better than, well, senior roles in aviation? I've done equivalent work and would do it again but I can't say I think it proves anything other than that I needed money after losing my job in the last recession. It didn't prove that I was better suited to my usual job in Industry X than all the other candidates. That's basically why I left it off the CV. I'm not ashamed, why would I be? But I actually thought it might show poor judgement if I didn't realise that it just wasn't relevant as a showcase of required skills and achievements for something else.

I really am a bit "hmmm" at all these people claiming it isn't just a commendable thing to do (which it is!) but actually makes you look BETTER when you're applying for something completely different, would actually give you an EDGE over other candidates. I'm very sure it's not the case in my field. Obviously that's different if you want to work in retail or something connected.

An honest wedge. Your job doesn’t define you unless you think it actually does. If you can afford not to work then just don’t. If you can’t, then try and get over it. I never worry about my CV, you can spin that time in a favourable light, but only you know if you can get over working at something you feel is beneath you. I would in a heart beat if I had to. Every experience brings something new.

If I was interviewing you I’d be impressed that you were prepared to do what you had to do.

I would see it as a positive

I wouldn't want to either. But it won't go against you with any decent future employer, no. I'm dealing with it daily. It won't be an issue.

I'm a geologist... But right now I work in a supermarket. Why? Because I gave my career up to have a baby. After being off on maternity leave for a year, working offshore for 2 weeks didn't exactly suit my new life. I gave up everything and work part time just for extra money on top of my husbands wage.
Why be snobby? Half the folk I know in a supermarket or at university or finding it difficult finding work from graduating.
Personally, I think you're punching abit high thinking your travel job in aviation is better... I wouldn't say it was that good. I would also say that doing nothing and sitting around looks worse on a cv than doing some voluntary work or any work like Asda. I've known Dr's less snoby than this 🤦‍♀️

"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."

This comment all day long.

It shows you have absolutely no side, are flexible in terms of acquiring new skills and can basically turn your hand to anything without turning your nose up.

Your current attitude makes you far more unemployable.

Some of these attitudes are disgusting. People who work in supermarkets should be proud and not looked down on. What kind of country are we living in? I've worked in supermarkets and met many highly intelligent people ex bank managers etc and everyone treated everyone the same. I have a law degree but I would go back to work in a supermarket if I had to in a heartbeat.

@Justmuddlingalong

I had hoped that retail staff had gained some respect after they worked tirelessly through lockdown. Hopes dashed.

Nope!

Supermarket manager here and I can honestly say it’s a hard job but I have worked with some of the best people you can meet.

Never in all the years I have worked in food retail have I or my team ever been more abused verbally or physically than we have this year.

The idea that we have gained respect for working without any PPE or for hours / days on end when most people were at home just isn’t true I’m afraid.
I love my job but this year has really tested my resolve to stay sadly

It made the papers......