Being judgemental is part of human nature, but making assumptions shouldn’t be.

Why should we base someone’s value on what they do or don’t do as a job? What gives us the right to judge someone’s worth on what they spend time doing?

When meeting a new person and making small talk one might ask what the other person does for a living. The individual that you are talking to might not feel comfortable in telling you what they do or don’t do for a job.

They might not be able to work because of their health. They might choose to be a stay at home mother or they might do a job they despise. Not because they want to but because they have to. Or they might be one of the lucky ones and actually enjoy their occupation of choice.

No matter what answer the person would give you, I guarantee you that you’ll instantly judge them. You might make instant assumptions on their level of education, social status, or their level of ‘skilled work’.

I dislike the term ‘skilled work’, if the last one and a half years has taught us anything … the idea of ‘unskilled work’ does not exist

Individuals are so much more than any of the jobs they’ll ever do. They have their own unique passions, interests, specialist knowledge and more.

So instead of asking someone what job they do, you might want to consider asking someone what they do in their spare time instead. This is a nicer question, and you are more likely to find out more about the person as an individual.

Be kind to people, always.

Credit to the photograph on this page goes to Priscilla Du Preez via Unsplash

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