To think it’s ignorant to say “I’ll just work in Tesco”

[atmylowest34]

So I went to dinner with a friend who has according to her a demanding job (not saying she doesn’t but I don’t work in that field and have no experience of it).

And she’s said well I’ve considered quitting and just getting a job in Tesco instead but then I’d just get bored.

Aibu to think that it’s ignorant to think working in a supermarket is an easy and relaxing job? I did it as a student and it was horrible, people shouting at you, complaining, having personal comments said about my looks (both negative and positive), hours weren’t great. And that was all before covid and cost of living crisis.

Yes!! I always point out that the supermarkets have a rigorous selection process and are actually quite hard to get into. I stop short of saying 'Tesco wouldn't have you'

Yep, they’re not easy to come by and they probably wouldn’t employ her anyway as they’ll assume she’s just after a stop gap role before she enters employment that she’s used too, or returns to a wage that she’s used too.

Not sure. I was a waitress for a long time and individual shifts weren’t boring (and I really enjoyed it). But longer term I did get bored - not really using my brain in new ways, and not seeing much progression made my life boring if you see what you mean.

It's true, Tesco probably wouldn't hire somebody who considered the job beneath them.

Totally ignorant to assume that jobs at Tesco are there to be taken! They’re pretty sought after where I’m from.

I’m not saying she wouldn’t find it boring though. She might or she might not.

My aibu is about saying she’d work in a supermarket because she just assumes its just a nice and easy job. From my experience it wasn’t. She’s also had no experience working in a supermarket.

I think being overqualified for things like Tescos is a real thing and they won't hire people who they think will jump at a better offer. However while working in Tescos isn't a breeze, when people say things like that what they mean is they long for a job where you go in, do your thing, get paid, and go home safe in the knowledge that there is nothing to worry about or carry over till the next day.

Like your friend I similarly yearn back to the days I worked in a cafe when work is particularly tough, yes I wasn't earning even half of what I do now, but it was satisfying work that I enjoyed and I got a bit of exercise.

Your friend is telling you she is stressed, maybe focus on that rather than her likelihood of being accepted to Tescos.

If she thought the job was beneath her she probably wouldn't be very good colleague .

And she’s said well I’ve considered quitting and just getting a job in Tesco instead but then I’d just get bored.

Aibu to think that it’s ignorant to think working in a supermarket is an easy and relaxing job?

Boring isn't the same as easy and relaxing though. I imagine that a huge number of jobs are hard work, stressful and also intellectually boring.

I imagine I'd be tired and quite possibly stressed out at the end of the day in a supermarket job, as I sometimes am in my job (teaching). I found teaching interesting and stimulating though. Whereas I'm pretty sure I wouldn't find working in Tesco (in any capacity) interesting.

People keep saying that to me when I complain about my poor wages and treatment at the care company I’m with. ‘Why don’t you just get a job down the Asda or Aldi’? I went to apply on indeed once and couldn’t even force myself to sit through the application questions!

Completely agree - it really annoys me when people think they can just walk into a totally different profession without any experience just because the pay is lower. It's so arrogant. Most of the high earners I work with wouldn't last a week working in retail. The amount of stress is totally disproportionate to the salary.

I did supermarket work many years ago as a student (so not f/t). Whilst quite tiring and some customers' behaviour was bad at times, it was the kind of work I could leave behind at the end of my shift. I haven't had such luxury in any other job since then. In that respect it was certainly not demanding.

Yeah I agree with you or when people take the mick out of people who work in fast food restaurants! Every time I go McDonald’s they’re rushed off their feet.

People seem to think supermarket work, restaurants or retail are just beneath them when in reality it can be just as demanding or stressful.

Working in a supermarket is so much more than “stacking shelves” or being on the checkout. As with most jobs these days you have to be multi skilled and there is constant online training to keep up with because there are now so many more rules regarding health and safety and Challenge 25. The store will get fined if you don’t adhere to these. You have to have up to date knowledge about all the products, loyalty card scheme and in-store offers.

Not forgetting online orders, Click and Collect, Amazon parcel pick ups and Deliveroo which most supermarkets now offer. Customers are very demanding and rude. You have to work late nights, weekends and bank holidays.

If you’re looking for an easy ride don’t apply for a supermarket role.

I can see where she is coming from but maybe didn't word it well.

I have a very demanding job with enormous responsibility and stress. Sometimes I think it would be a relief to work somewhere without all that responsibility.

A job in a supermarket has different kinds of demands and stresses but certainly wouldn't have the responsibility load that my current job does.

And when I was younger I had jobs in shops so I do know what I am talking about.

Its not something I would do (because I would get bored) but I get where your friend is coming from when she voices that idea.

This isn’t about it being less demanding

So demanding that you find time to post on Mumsnet on a Tuesday afternoon?

Yes I think the appeal is not having to worry about or indeed work on your job outside work hours.
(probably could have been worded with more nuance though)

I suppose it depends, if they have a lot of responsibility and long hours then looking for a job with set hours and you can forget about after your shift has its appeal. But thinking it would be ‘easy’ is a different thing.

I also worked in a supermarket as a student and I found it to be mostly fun and not particularly stressful. Yes some people were arses...I used to cover the customer service desk first thing on a Saturday morning til management rolled in and that was eye opening but most could be defused easily enough.

I'd rate it on the easy side when compared to working in the civil service and working with Homeless families which is what I did after graduation. Certainly nothing kept me up at night or stressed me in ways that subsequent jobs did. Never found it boring though, I had my "regulars" who'd always come to me for a chat and there were always mini crises going on.

@sorryyoureonmute

So demanding that you find time to post on Mumsnet on a Tuesday afternoon?

Its 5pm

People don't think before they speak sometimes, she just stressed. Don't read more in to it than there is

I quit a more demanding job to work in TESCOs.
It wasn't hard to get the job. If you know someone who works there and they put in a word for you, you're guaranteed an interview.
The work is fine. My kids always want to know if I "had any Karens". Most of the time I haven't. People being wildly unreasonable is less common than the internet would lead you to believe.
I find shelf stacking less boring than tills. And weirdly satisfying. I can't make my life neat and orderly but I can sort out an aisle, look down it and think "There's a job well done".
Best of all, I can leave at the end of my shift and not think about it again until the start of my next one. I'm never going to wake up in the middle of the night thinking "Oh shit, what if someone wants biscuits and they're not on the shelf"

You don't just come in and do your shift then go home and have nothing to worry about. Maybe once that was true but not anymore. I am middle management in a supermarket and the level of MH issues amongst the staff is alarming. Every single day they are subjected to abuse, usually about something they have no control over. They have targets to hit and face discipline if the targets are not met. As to the being over qualified, I can only speak for our application process but it is all done on line and we don't see ages, qualifications or anything else. All we get is a list of names and numbers of those that pass the on line selection. They are then called in for group session where we see how they interact and that is what they are hired on.

It depends where she is coming from.
I understand because I work a govt job and it can be very stressful , there's also a lot more risk / compplications to it if you mess up or are not on game all the time. I've also worked in retain for 4 years of my life.
I could for example show up to my retail job with minimal sleep and get away with it, but wouldn't be able to do the same at my current job, especially when you have meetings and need to provide updates, or your role is more client facing .

I do however agree that retail jobs are very demanding, it's just in a slightly different way