Is it only me that finds the term "low skill job" weird if not offensive/wrong?
In my country a waiter would be classed as a lsj, but I couldn't do it. I find it extremely hard dealing with lots of people with lots of different moods. I don't see that as a low skill...
I’ve forgotten the exact context, but low skill job could just be brutally honest. I do agree that waiters do have to learn tact to handle different moods, rudeness, entitlement, etc.
And some waiters are proficient to the point of being quite lucrative. Having said that, entry level order taking at fast food places, assembly line where you place a handful of parts into an overall assembly, lawn mowing…those are truly low skill jobs. Not that you would lord that over the people that did it, because that is rude, but it is also objective fact (in my opinion).
lawn mowing? I'd really like to introduce you to the greenkeeper of our local stadium. He has a university degree and earns the same as a software engineer... 😆
but I see where you are going.
Taking orders at a fast food place needs social skills too. Same as waiters...
I grew up in South Texas where a high school class held competitions on who could accurately identify grasses (I wasn't an Ag kid, by the way).
There is DEFINITELY a science to agriculture to feed people/animals...or groundskeeping for stadiums, golf courses, etc.
But that's a far cry from the guy on the lawnmower with his airpods in...just cruising (and sweating) while pumping out his 6-10 hours/day of work. It's honest work, but it is low skill.
Yes - any customer facing job requires social skills, but the ones with the highest knack for it will gravitate to waiting at nice restaurants where they are rewarded for those social skills...or they are moving up to higher pay and adding new skills to their portfolio.
Me, I never wanted to deal with patrons in a restaurant, so I swung a hammer in high school and college...until I got an engineering degree...then career-pivoted into software development and analytics based upon self-study and recognizing opportunity.
