Is my job looked down upon

[CoffeAndCakeAddict]

I’m a receptionist in a veterinary surgery.

It’s stressful and money is rubbish but I love my job.

When people ask me where I work and I say the vets, they say ‘are you a vet?’
When I tell them I’m a receptionist I’ve had some funny responses.
do you want to be a nurse or vet?
only a receptionist?

it makes me feel a bit rubbish.

honest opinion please.
what do you think of this job? Is it a type of job that’s looked down upon?

I did wonder about PDSA. I had to visit one when I was dogsitting away from home, and my own dog injured herself at a silly hour.
Perspex screen up in reception, and loads of signs about how being aggressive to staff wont be tolerated.
The staff made me feel like shit tbh. Only time I had a crap experience at a vets.

Oh my goodness, the receptionist at my vet's surgery is the nicest woman EVER! My normally aloof Shih Tzu boy adores her
The vets couldn't do their job without you, OP. I wouldn't dream of looking down on you in a million years

I used to work as a GP receptionist. When I recently worked as a veterinary receptionist, hired because well fundamentally it's the same job, I was told by my deputy manager that, "they are not the same, veterinary staff care about the wellbeing of the clients".

I don't work there anymore.

You sound wonderful and your job sounds just right for you.

You have managed to do something few people achieve - made life work for you.

ou have a job you love and are good at and an enviable family situation. Probably you are less stressed than many working people, not least because you work with animals.

Just ignore any disparaging comments - you sound as though you have a good life

No, it's a normal decent job.

Maybe say 'I'm a receptionist at a vets' rather than 'I work at a vetinary surgery' as the second naturally invites them to ask what you do there as you didn't answer 'what do you do' you answered 'where do you work.'

No, I don't. The receptionist at our vet is always lovely and pleased to see our furry boy.

I do know how you feel though. I used to be a PA and had a fair few rude comments.

"Have you got a lot of letters to type?"
When I said I was busy.

"I bet you've got nothing to do."
When my boss was out of the office/travelling.

"So you're a dogsbody?"
When I told someone I was a PA.

All of that and the general perception that people think you are a bit thick because you are JUST a PA.

The reality is I have a degree and the job is far harder and more complex than people could ever imagine. I've done a couple of other things since and my PA jobs were much harder yet I had much less respect. Probably because it is perceived as women's work.

It's horrible when you get people like your Mum putting you down. She should be your biggest fan! Next time, please pre-empt it by saying you're a receptionist in a vet and you really love it before she manages to get a word in edgeways.

Mind you, I got really fed up in one PA job and used to say I worked in cyber security. That was correct in as far as it was what company did. It did shut people up though!

I have two degrees (one from Cambridge) and I KNOW that I'd be a shit receptionist. I'd get myself into a total guddle
There is SO much more to these jobs than people think.

Don't worry about it OP.
I was a Veterinary Nurse for 15 years and I still got "do you want to be a Vet?" I think it happens to everyone who works in a Veterinary practice who isn't a Vet!

OP. You are doing a job that is adding immense value to others both the staff and the clients. No one I know would ever say x person is only a Y job. Every single job is needed, otherwise, why would it exist?
You do awesome work and are with people when sometimes, they are having a hugely seminal moment in their lives. They may forget the words you used, but they will never forget how you made them feel in that moment. Never doubt that.

If you want to have a bit of a laugh, you could have a creative job name game with yourself...you could be Central Optimisation Coordinator this week, Chief Communications Facilitator next 😀 if people treat you differently because of a job tithe...shame on them.

You get to see cats, dogs and other animals all day.

What's not to like? I'm only peeved that I didn't get an interview for a vets' when I was last looking for new job. OK, so I got a better paid job - but there aren't any puppies or kittens involved, so you're probably still getting a better deal than I am with just humans and the occasional spider rescue duty.

I think its probably an automatic question to saying you work at the vets asking if you are a vet rather than doing a different role.

Same if you said "I work at the dentists" I'd automatically ask, are you a dentist...just because its the most obvious job there really and not because I'd look down my nose at your job.

I'm an engineer and everywhere I've worked I've had a laugh and jokes with cleaners to highest management - I treat everyone with the same level of respect. That said...I'm female (it is relevant), in my job as its male dominated I say "I work at the Engineers" and they then say are you thd receptionist? In my current company most of my friends are mostly admin type roles. When I first started I was told its them (admin) and us (Engineers)...first thing I did was integrate with all the admin to prove a point.

I wouldn't look down on anyone for their job

I have 2 degrees, a degree in physics and a masters in engineering...I get the same from my dad..."I wish you'd done a PHD"...in all honesty I really didn't have more education in me at that point...but the most important thing. I'm happy with my decisions.

Good grief, no. It’s a job where you need empathy, discretion, the ability to talk to anyone and tact and kindness in the most upsetting of circumstances.

I thinks it’s a pretty rare person who can do all of that .

You work. You are a productive member of society who is providing a needed service. It is good, honest work.

The condescending hypocrits who would look down on you are arses. Being a receptionist is bloody hard work. A receptionist is a troubleshooter, sometimes a bit of a therapist, a diplomat and an office master. Facing the public, dealing with admin, multitasking like a goddess is all hard. I was a receptionist for 3 months in my 20s and left to do something else because I found it too stressful.

Receptionists are the gatekeepers to everything...be kind and respectful to them always.

Every job is a needed part of a funtioning society otehrwise it wouldn;t be a paid job...looking down on anyone who works or their position is ridiculous and a sign of an arrogant, short sighted idiot.

I work as admin in a school. Everyone always assumes I'm a teacher. But I do love my job so I don't really care!

Posted too soon. I've always loved vets receptionists. They've always been accommodating and especially kind when I've lost a pet. I think it must be quite a nice job to have.

I wouldn't look down on you at all, I think it's a lovely job.

I wouldn't look down on you at all, I think it's a lovely job.

How rude! I work in a specialist team in a school, with two admin staff. I couldn't do my job without them and anyone who would dare make them feel small about their role will feel my wrath. Their skills are second to none - they are people-orientated, patient, flexible, hyper-organised, intelligent, and both proactive and reactive. Don't listen to them. They may earn more money or have a "better degree", but their ignorance and rudeness is very unclassy and so completely cancels out any of their perceived superiority.

my vets' receptionists are lovely...very kind and patient as well as efficient. Not a job I could do.

Absolutely not. Any job that anyone actually works at is not to be looked down on, it's quite disgusting to think that a person who does a different job to you is lesser, work is work in my book.

Don’t let your Mums idiotic snobbery get you down. Never take on someone else’s issues.