Page 6 | Does anyone else have an unpopular job?

TheWayoftheLeaf · 29/06/2022 23:04

JaniceBattersby · 29/06/2022 22:47

Im a journalist. It’s absolutely fine to attack us 😅 Happens on here every day completely unchallenged.

“Another lazy journalist looking for a story..” etc etc

We even have our own #scummedia hashtag!

Every single journalist I know is a decent person who wants to improve the communities they live in and hold those in power to account. Yet everyone thinks we all work for the Daily Mail and spend our days chasing Prince William around the countryside. Only 0.1 per cent of journos in this country work for the tabloids. The rest of us are a pretty nice bunch (and even some of those at the tabloids are, heaven forbid, decent people)

I'm on tabloids. Many of us at the big, bad red tops are normal people (overwhelmingly lefties tbh) who also just want to hold people to account with some fun stories thrown in.

Original poster

Wednesdayafternoon · 29/06/2022 23:04

@AmericanStickInsect ermmmm am I?
You have absolutely no idea what I've been through in my life and unless you've worked in insurance claims for 15 years and have an idea of the calls I deal with and the situations I deal with (which you quite clearly have absolutely NO idea) you are the one who is being very f**king unreasonable to tell me what triggers me! See ya! 👋🏼

OP posts:

Justanotherlurker · 29/06/2022 23:05

Mine is considered more sinister on MN as I crunch PetaBytes of data daily and build and tweak the algorithms for one of the big 4 tech companies.

I don't think jobs are unpopular, it's a mixture of people not understanding what you do with a mixture of people who clearly have a limited knowledge and try and come across as an authoritve figure.

There is some shocking takes from a few users on here regarding IT who just post Register articles that they have clearly just googled. I'm sure it's the same for what ever sector some are in

ellieboolou · 29/06/2022 23:06

@RosesandMoonshine this response is exactly what the op was trying to highlight.

saraclara · 29/06/2022 23:07

I used to be a teacher working in a specialist facility with severely learning disabled and/or autistic children. I got a lot of undeserved kudos for that.

Now I work to help and support traumatised people who half the country wants to go back where they came from ( if they were Ukrainian or course they'd be opening their homes to them, but hey, they're the wrong colour).
Anyway suddenly some of the people who thought I was an angel in my old job, are quite openly showing their disapproval of my new one. But I don't give a damn.

Original poster

Wednesdayafternoon · 29/06/2022 23:10

@Workinghardeveryday ahhh no it doesn't begin with an M 🙈 But I'm wracking my brain thinking of an insurance beginning with a M now 🙈

OP posts:

Suzi888 · 29/06/2022 23:12

Housing manager now so not so much, but previously worked in benefits and fraud…

genuinelyunpopular · 29/06/2022 23:12

I don't think jobs are unpopular, it's a mixture of people not understanding what you do with a mixture of people who clearly have a limited knowledge and try and come across as an authoritve figure.

Agree. I think the worst combination is a job where people don't understand what you do but also have some tangential exposure to it in their lives. e.g. people use Facebook/Twitter and have heard of "algorithms" being bad therefore every data scientist is corrupt...

I'm a consultant who recommends firing people based on boxes on PowerPoint slides but probably get less flack in real life than people in call centres.

SheSaysShush · 29/06/2022 23:21

Calmestofallthechickens · 29/06/2022 21:18

I’m a vet. The amount of abuse we get for ‘being in it for the money’ is unreal. Yes, I get paid to come to work…. So does your paediatrician and you’re not berating them about it.

Eternally amazed at the loathing pet owners have towards the cost of veterinary care. You know, for their beloved pet who they would do absolutely anything for.

Horriblewoman · 29/06/2022 23:24

genuinelyunpopular · 29/06/2022 22:08

I'm a management consultant and I specialise in advising private equity companies who are looking at buying and selling companies, including for mergers and acquisitions.

It's basically the centre of capitalism, although we are a relatively small part of the process.

We interview management of the target companies and write reports to our private equity clients advising on their strategy after they purchase the company. For example, should they replace the C-suite, should they cut a division, should they merge departments to realise cost synergies (read: cut jobs). We are sort of a detective agency: we phone around and talk to former staff and customers to get the inside story on how the company is run and whether the investment is worth it.

It's an interesting job. It's a world where even CEOs are considered part of a disposable working class (management is not the same as ownership).

I think consultants in general probably aren't loved by the general public. We get paid well enough that I don't feel a need for public sympathy, though ;)

I would LOVE to do this!

I'm in corporate Comms in banking, banking is obvs frowned upon and Comms is a nonsense profession but I earn well!

PrinnyPree · 29/06/2022 23:27

Hey OP just wanted to say the few times I've had to claim on home insurance (burglary, broken pipes etc) the call centre staff have been super helpful during a really stressful situation and resolved my issues fairly either arranging tradesmen or compensating fairly for stolen/damaged items. I wouldn't for one say you were a hated profession.

Unsolicited calls from ambulance chasers or any profession that makes its bread and butter from targetting vulnerable people however...

HazelBite · 29/06/2022 23:27

I spent a good deal of my working life as a civil servant (several different departments) people have the idea Civil Servants sit about drinking tea all day and have wonderful pensions.
My pension is quite meagre,
When people knew I worked for the tax office they would be on their guard when talking to me

tulippa · 29/06/2022 23:32

I used to be a debt collector. I hated telling people what my job was.

PUER125 · 29/06/2022 23:41

Fraud Investigator with the Department for Work and Pensions.
Contrary to popular belief on Mumsnet, benefit fraud is theft, and should always be reported.

juggleit · 29/06/2022 23:43

Livestock farmer- just relentless. The government policy now coming through is too little too late. We will import more and more of our food. The next generation of young people do not want this kind of job.
long hours - 7 days a week . No guarantied income or pension. Smelly shitty dirty work. Not for the faint hearted. All hail to the supermarket workers but we hardly got a mention during the pandemic. It was without doubt the worst time of my career for many reasons.

Shunter350 · 29/06/2022 23:46

Wednesdayafternoon · 29/06/2022 20:20

And is just sick of the negativity towards it?
I've worked my way up to a decent position in a call Center dealing with home insurance (for a global company) and worked there for 15 plus years.
It's obviously not the most exciting job in the world and certainly isn't where I saw myself working when I was little, but hey ho, it suits my life!
We actually work extremely hard at our place. Dealing with all sorts of situations which can be triggering and unpleasant, dealing with all types of customers who can be verbally abusive.... more often then not!
Home insurance usually peaks in the winter, I've had my Christmas holidays cancelled and been under the most pressure around the holidays pretty much every year. It's hard, really really hard.
But when do you actually hear anyone say anything nice about us poor buggers answering the phones? Dealing with 20+ claims/customers every. Single. Day.
Heaven forbid you say something negative towards the NHS or a teacher on here (not that I do I will point out, but seen it time and time over) and the Mumsnet brigade comes out on full force. Why do people in these jobs only seem to get recognition for working hard?
I worked through the entire pandemic. Until all of our WFH equipment was set up (which took a while) we were going into office every single day with 200+ people... didn't matter whether you were vulnerable or not! Not a single hour was lost.

Anyway I am rambling. I just find the "free pass" for certain jobs tiring. Anyone else feel the same?

I think folk that work in call centres get a rough deal, dealing with the Great British Public who want everything for nothing.
I always make the effort to be pleasant. I've no idea what personal issues or MH problems they maybe wrestling with.
Good on you OP. I definitely appreciate your work.

SliceoQuiche · 29/06/2022 23:55

I’m an auditor. I spend a lot of my working life feeling like a huge pain in the backside- nobody is every particularly pleased to see me. People can be quite rude about it, and if they aren’t it’s usually because they’re nervous or scared to meet me. Does wonders for your self esteem this role!

ChiefWiggumsBoy · 29/06/2022 23:56

I used to work in the complaints team (in a contact centre) for a large high street bank, I started there as the mortgage market crashed, PPI mis selling became a thing and then when the LIBOR scandal happened.

It was horrible. So many people who just have no idea that the person on the phone has literally nothing to do with any of the things they're upset about, and are simply the receptacle for their horrible comments.

It's nothing like face to face abuse thank god, but it can be pretty upsetting at times.

JorisBonson · 29/06/2022 23:59

Foreverlexicon · 29/06/2022 21:56

Police officer.
Can’t do wrong for right most of the time but hey ho, is what it is and I try to remember why I joined.

🙋🏻‍♀️

ImJustNotMeAnymore · 30/06/2022 00:01

juggleit · 29/06/2022 23:43

Livestock farmer- just relentless. The government policy now coming through is too little too late. We will import more and more of our food. The next generation of young people do not want this kind of job.
long hours - 7 days a week . No guarantied income or pension. Smelly shitty dirty work. Not for the faint hearted. All hail to the supermarket workers but we hardly got a mention during the pandemic. It was without doubt the worst time of my career for many reasons.

I don't understand why our farmers get so llittle vocal and financial and general support from Joe Public and the government, I really don't. People can't eat if the farmers don't grow but why should you when some are so ungrateful.

PlanetNormal · 30/06/2022 00:10

MrsJackRackham · 29/06/2022 21:03

HMRC, worked right through lockdown and was heavily involved in the Eat Out to Help Out and furlough schemes. Long days ensuring people were paid out and kept the economy going. All the hard work everyone in HMRC did has barely been acknowledged. I clapped for me 🙂
I also never tell people where I work, you either get grief or asked for advice on something I don't deal with.

Thank you.

I work in the aviation industry which was completely decimated overnight by the pandemic. I was furloughed for a total of six months. Many of my colleagues were furloughed for longer. Without furlough, the entire U.K. passenger aviation industry would have collapsed within weeks.

jessyjo2 · 30/06/2022 00:13

I would say im in an unpopular job. I work every bit as hard as other people but nobody seems to understand or recognise this outside of work. In social settings everyone asks my teacher friends lots of detail about their jobs. Nurse friend the same. Possibly people can relate to their roles better or understand what they do etc. Very rare someone takes interest in my job. Then comes the Christmas tips/presents. U buy for bus drivers, teachers, people that provide services directly to you. However what about that random person that works behind the scenes working every bit as hard but never ever would b given tip or a thank you by customer as they hardly know u exist. Think of say an education auditor type role. When everyone thinks front line teachers doing all the work, a stressed out auditor is identifying potential problems and assisting with maintaining high educational standards.

Amybelle88 · 30/06/2022 00:16

Journalist...

When people ask I always say "but I'm a nice one!" - I don't do tabloid work etc etc and have strayed more into PR.

I don't lurk on Mumsnet for stories for the daily fail either 😂🤦🏻‍♀️

wheresmymojo · 30/06/2022 00:21

genuinelyunpopular · 29/06/2022 22:08

I'm a management consultant and I specialise in advising private equity companies who are looking at buying and selling companies, including for mergers and acquisitions.

It's basically the centre of capitalism, although we are a relatively small part of the process.

We interview management of the target companies and write reports to our private equity clients advising on their strategy after they purchase the company. For example, should they replace the C-suite, should they cut a division, should they merge departments to realise cost synergies (read: cut jobs). We are sort of a detective agency: we phone around and talk to former staff and customers to get the inside story on how the company is run and whether the investment is worth it.

It's an interesting job. It's a world where even CEOs are considered part of a disposable working class (management is not the same as ownership).

I think consultants in general probably aren't loved by the general public. We get paid well enough that I don't feel a need for public sympathy, though ;)

I'd love to do that...how does one get into this line of work?

What kind of role would I need to Google?

MsOllie · 30/06/2022 00:31

Contact centre. I do about 180 calls a day but apparently nobody is working because we are all at home watching TV instead of working and that's why nobody is answering the phone
We are just BUSY

Tip - don't ring on a Monday morning unless you need to!
People that ring on a Monday, complain there's a queue and then you find out it's something to be done in September are my pet peeve at the minute