To feel embarrassed about your occupation?

[Poppets14]

I’ve been a medical receptionist for 14 years. I really enjoy my job and consider some people I work with as friends.
It’s super flexible around childcare. I can also do my job blind folded.
The money is crap! Minimum wage.

Ive not got any skills or any qualifications to write home about so it’s not like I can just do something much different. I’m not the bread winner - it’s a part time job that fits in with the school run!

When people ask what I do I suddenly start feeling really embarrassed to tell them. Almost ashamed I’m not a’professional’
Some of my mum friends have been to uni and seem to have super flash jobs and I’m worried people look down on me for having a job so simple.

Anyone else feel embarrassed by their job? AIBU?

I'm a SAHM and I get this. I don't know any other SAHM's so when people ask me; I get embarrassed. Sometimes people think my DH and I are posh but we are far from it. We're from Essex!
I'm a qualified nursery nurse, I went to college, but have been at home with our children for 10+years now. Our youngest is only 2. Sometimes I wish I was still working. Sometimes I feel very lazy; even tho our children are a full time job.
I do t know what I will do when they're all grown up.

@Whu020

I thought you was going to say you were embarrassed about the fact you was a doctor's receptionist because most people don't like them!!

Nice

It sounds like the underlying problem is the implied status at work, which I think is really outdated. Newer, more innovative companies recognise that everyone is an important part of the team, regardless of pay/role.

I suspect your job will be one of the hardest at the practice.

I would sit back with a warm glow of satisfaction at how much your work is an essential part of the community. I'm sure there are thousands of professionals who feel secretly guilty about being paid more than some of the people who keep society running. Especially during and after COVID.

Plus - it's never too late to develop yourself to achieve a higher salary if you feel it's important. If you can do the job standing on your head, would you want to move into practice management?

Having said that, as someone who climbed the ranks higher than my level of confidence then left, I understand the decision to stay where you are for a simpler life. 😊

I'm well educated but only ever worked in simple jobs as I can't cope anywhere. Now I'm SAHM on Carer's Allowance (me and my DC are autistic) and I feel awful about it. I keep trying to get back to work and I fail every time. I hate this life and hate having to live of benefit top-ups but I also hate having massive panic attacks when I do try to work and making a complete tit out of myself in the proccess.
Of course, due to this, we are on our knees money wise all the time. I will never give up trying because the guilt is eating me away.
You are doing so much better than me, OP. Don't be ashamed of a job that works for you and your family. I wish I could do what you do. And I bet that lots of people with big careers that never see their children are wishing to be in your position as well.

Medical receptionist are extremely undervalued skilled job I would be proud of what you do despite society choosing not to pay a wage that values the skills you do have! I see ours making lists like suduko puzzles and councilling patients and staff alike. Organisation of the lists with the humanity needed to fit the Parkinson's patient at the correct time for them, the single parent who can still make the school pick up even if all runs late. The key to a good organisaed well run list is the medical receptionist and there is a distinct shortage of them atm! The problem is society does not pay people in the health and social sector enough for the work they do . Lucky people don't go into health and social care for the money! Keep up the good work take joy in the little wins! Be proud that one Person you go above and beyond for will appreciate it even if they don't always express it.

Also big shout out to the medical secatarys who translates "mumble mumble blah blah muffle cough mumble"(screech of chair) into. It was a pleasure to see Mrs Smith who came to clinic today for a routine xyz. Always impressed with those skills! 😀

I’m in the exact same position, although I have started to care less what people think. I always feel like I have to justify why I do the job I do. I’m a cleaner in a boarding house of a private school.
I’ve been a deputy manager and had all the stress of managing people, but this job now suits mine and my children’s lifestyle

I wouldn't say I'm embarrassed by my job - I'm quite proud of it as it was a long hard slog to get to where I am, but when I tell people I'm an artist it feels a little self-indulgent. In my mind people are judging me, assuming I'm a flimsy weirdo who wafts around in a tunic communicating with the moon when in reality I'm a very boring normal person who makes a living painting pictures. People also assume I don't earn any money and immediately either patronise me, or attempt to tell me how I could do better. I love my job and I think I'm doing alright!

@Labracadabradoodle

I'm a cleaner and have got used to people thinking I'm some sort of failure.. I'm not and neither are you. Job snobs are awful.

This!! I'm also a cleaner, I used to (and am qualified to work) in finance but was so so bored I decided I needed something completely different and that just happened to be cleaning. I have a fab boss, my hours fit perfectly around school run times and it keeps me fit! And job satisfaction, I love leaving clients homes all sparkling and smelling beautiful for when they get home. But yes, I know full well that some people do look down on me. I've learnt to not let it bother me.

Please don't be embarrassed by your occupation! I work in healthcare and I have so much respect for medical secretaries, literally nothing would ever happen or be organised to make sure everything goes to plan without them. If you're feeling you're being treated unfairly please move departments to somewhere you feel respected.
If it is a case you're embarrassed because you feel you're not challenged to your full potential and are bored then definately go for the next level!lots of apprentice opportunities and potential to have courses funded to progress.

I finished Uni at the start of the pandemic which made it really hard to find a job in my chosen field but I managed to find a cleaning job in a boarding school. I don’t think people should ever feel embarrassed by their job but it is hard sometimes when I’m surrounded by so many wealthy people at work. Many won’t even look you in the eye or bother to talk to you because we are ‘just the cleaners’.

@Poppets14

Patients are actually really nice most of the time and if they’re not it’s usually for good reason! It’s the nurses and some doctors that make our life so difficult and make us feel a bit worthless. We’ve got one doctor that will not socialise with any of the receptionists as she has told us she only socialises with professionals. She says it’s because our levels of intelligence doesn’t match and she would bore us all!! She wont even have us as friends on Facebook. Makes you feel a bit crap

Op that’s a lot more to do with her social skills level than anything else. She may be book smart but has very little emotional intelligence.

Bet she has a totally shit bedside manner as well.

I have always found people who put too much stock in their Job title are deeply insecure about themselves and what others think of them.

What about people who put too much cachet by their partner job?the 6 figure salary mn dp
He’s soooooo important that he requires a wife/partner, who must not cannot work, to maintain the home
It’s a mn perennial the high earning man and his not important job that means his partner doesn’t work to accommodate him

Can’t bear snobbery about jobs. Your job is important and vital, the nurses and doctors in your practice couldn’t do their jobs without you doing yours. You should congratulate yourself on maintaining a good work/ life balance that works for you and your family.

EspressoDoubleShot

My OH is like this- he tells everyone that will listen about my work- he is so super proud of what I do. I think people at his work must be bored listening to him!

@EspressoDoubleShot

What about people who put too much cachet by their partner job?the 6 figure salary mn dp He’s soooooo important that he requires a wife/partner, who must not cannot work, to maintain the home It’s a mn perennial the high earning man and his not important job that means his partner doesn’t work to accommodate him

I doubt that every single person who claims to have a high earning DP here is telling the truth - but I suspect this is to cover women’s own choice of wanting to stay home rather than deal with the stress of balancing everything. Perfectly fine if they owned it

People think I should be proud of my daytime corporate job, but it’s full.
I’m prouder yet more secretive about the life modelling I do! For obvious reasons ‘work’ can’t know but when I’m working at classes I’m earning very little but it feels more important? After all I’m the centre of attention for an hour!
I now because of covid also do remote online sessions where again I’m crucial- if anyone wants one let me know

I am very happy

This is the bit that matters!

If you are starting to feel embarrassed when before you didn't used to, just try to identify, is it internally motivated, as if there's something missing that you want to try and achieve or something you want to do but aren't realising?

Or is it externally motivated, so you see other people being rude about your profession and get upset with them, or people bragging at social events, or social media.

If it's external, then I think ignore the other people as much as you can, concentrate on the fact you're happy and enjoy your life!
If it's internal and there's something you want to do or achieve that you feel like you're not achieving, it's worth spending some time looking at your interests or hobbies and seeing if there's something that you want to pursue and haven't yet. Maybe you can take up a new hobby you've always wanted to or a project, or do part time study if there's a subject you're particularly interested in.

Also remember there are people in high powered jobs who are thoroughly miserable and long for the simplicity of a flexible stress free job!

I think many celebs feel this way, they long for a more mundane life!

I put up my hand and admit it: sometimes I look down on people.

• For having no sense of humour.
• For being boasty.
• For swearing in front of young children.
• For being catty about other mums.
• Even for being boring.

Honestly no one cares what your job is there are too many other things to think about!

I get abuse largely from older people in public places,because I work as a substitute teacher in Belfast.This job is despised.It is important to build up resilience against the bullies.

I have often felt like a failure. I went to University and got a 2.1 but it didn’t translate into a ‘career’ for me. I have had a lot of different jobs in life and have found it hard to settle. The job I am doing now I have been doing for 7 years which is the longest I have ever stuck with one particular job. It isn’t highbrow or impressive and it isn’t particularly well-paid, but I absolutely love it and I’m really good at it. At my age (late 40s) I have finally made my peace with that and see how lucky I am. I do still feel inadequate when I meet women with amazing careers, but I give myself a talking to and remind myself how lucky I am to work PT in a job I love.

But to add- I have never felt judged by anyone for the job I do. If I did, I would conclude that they were not people I want to spend any time with.

You admit you look down on people for certain things, so nothing stops some people looking down on jobs.