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?

Its completely standard to miss things off a cv - mine would be 15pages long if i listed everything and at least 50% of it is irrelevant to my 'career'.

Take the job. Leave it off your CV if you feel more comfortable, but it’s likely you’ll be asked at some point what you have been doing most recently.

Yabu.
And a snob.

I worked in a supermarket for a bit when I was at Uni and it was fucking tough going. Very high expectations of customer service and productivity. It taught me a lot about efficiency and learning to bite my tongue and be professional. It’s on my CV and it’s never been looked on unfavourably, probably because anyone with half a brain can see it’s a job that requires a panoply of skills that transfer into lots of different roles.

It’s a good opportunity to diversify. Supermarket retail offers great progression routes and job security. When I left uni, people were fighting tooth and nail to get into supermarket and McDonalds’s graduate schemes. I failed to get on with Morrison’s and ended up being a teacher, which I really regret.

Due to me being a carer for my disabled daughter who regularly can’t manage full days in school and has lots of appointments, I decided to be a dinner lady as I figured it’s better than a huge gap on my cv when the time comes that I can work more hours. “Asda” is definitely nothing to be ashamed of and shows a willingness to work. Plus you will probably get a discount !

And I think this thread is a great example of the type of wishful thinking that is so common in our society about class and position. Kind of “a job’s a job” and “If they care, you don’t want to work for them.” If, in two months’ time, the OP is going to be trying to get her CV to stand out to a recruiting manager or an agent or a HR manager, it is completely reasonable for her to think this job might not be helpful to her. That doesn’t make her a snob. It makes her a realist. Perhaps the line manager might be a snob, but she has no control over that.

For those saying leave it off your CV - dont!

If you do get a job, don’t mention it and then a P45 turns up from your previous employer (the awful supermarket that you don’t want to admit to) you are going to be questioned by your new employer as to why you missed it out and your cards will be marked as a potential liar.

Especially as there is no shame from an employers perspective that you had to get a job in these times.

I've seen supermarket jobs on many a CV of managers/senior managers - when hiring I always count it as a plus as to me it shows a person who will be flexible and gets the job done rather than obsessing over titles. It's much better than an unemployment gap.

In the current climate, all sorts of people will be taking jobs that are outside their usual industry - even if, in normal times, a supermarket would look out of place on your CV, I don't think it would now.

Personally I'd do whatever l can for the immediate future to stay financially secure and worry about long-term plans later....

if retail is beneath you then don't take the job and carry on living off of your own land.

do come back to let us know if it makes a popping sound when you get your head back out

@Lola528

Thanks everyone.

If I offended you I apologise, it was not my intention.

The industry I know and love had been decimated so I guess I’m in mourning for that too. I promise I don’t see myself as “above” working in retail, it’s just such an unexpected diversion after 30
Years.

I’m taking the job and I’ll out it on my cv with pride :)

Good decision OP . I hope it goes well for you .

Let’s face it , the industry you love and have worked in for 30 years may take years to recover and you probably won’t be at the top of the pile due to your age when it takes off again - pardon the pun .

Pride doesn’t put food on the table.

Can’t believe the hard time OP is getting. Some posts are extremely vindictive. Telling her load of other people are working in supermarkets who don’t want to but getting on with it (her situation too from everything she’s said) so she doesn’t deserve the job. Obviously this supermarket disagrees since she was offered it.

Good luck with your new job, OP!

Hadn’t thought about the P45 thing. That’s going to be a bit of a giveaway isn’t it?

She is getting a terribly hard time. I suspect it’s because some people dislike the idea of being judged for working in a supermarket, rather than because they don’t think this happens.

But you arent HIDING the supermarket job, you just arent putting it on a CV because it isnt relevant to the role; if specifically asked, definitely mention it and you get to whip out the grafter who's making ends meet line.

@Lola528 - go for it

@flaviaritt - whatever

When I was in the same situation in May I couldn't even get an interview for supermarket jobs so well done for getting the offer.

It's a no brainer, you really should take it and embrace the opportunity to learn new things and work with different people. The only alternative is to have a big gap in your CV which is always the worst option.

My Linked In feed is full of people who have been made redundant from top jobs proclaiming proudly that they have got jobs in supermarkets, hospitals etc doing very low level jobs but they are so proud to be working. They get lots of replies praising them to the skies for their work ethic. Many of those replying will soon be recruiting for those top jobs.

It seems to me you are reluctant mainly because of being nervous of jumping into a completely new environment. That's understandable, admit that to yourself and resolve to jump in and embrace everything that comes as a learning opportunity.

Good luck OP

For me it shows you are a grafted and willing to do what it takes.

Can you add something in to your CV to say something like "stop gap job due to CV-19" ?

Anyone who would look down on you for keeping money coming into your bank account is not someone I'd want to work for anyway! Says more about them than it does you.

You will be a highly valued key worker. I know the pay isn't great and I know not everyone values supermarket workers but I do

I've went from HR/Finance manager to being made redundant during maternity to working 16hrs a week in a supermarket. U might find the change quite good in the short term. I'm a month in and really enjoying it.

Many many people will be in your situation. I'd leave it on your cv.

As someone who regularly is involved in recruitment, I would not see it as unfavorable at all that you have done what you needed to do to keep afloat during COVID. Sometimes you just have to go outside your usual field of work and this is such an occasion.

We have an airline pilot locally working as a delivery driver for a farm shop. He has been in Facebook clips etc advertising what they do and seems v happy to be in a job - he’s happy to say what his real job is but how he’s glad to be where he is for now.

So you would rather have a gap on your cv than admit to working in Asda? Surely it shows your flexible and willing to turn your hand to anything if needed by taking a job in a lower paid role?

A job is a job, I would happily work in a supermarket or as a delivery driver.