I was working on an article today about the concept of underemployment, and I thought it must be so relevant for quarter-lifers. After all, not everyone is unemployed; but many people that do have jobs are underemployed.
Actually, I felt underemployed at times during my first few years at work. I knew I had to do my time, but sometimes I was bored to tears and yearned for something more engaging. As a reporter at a small-town newspaper, I was told to drive around and "look for news." My boss actually condoned this! And while it was cool to make a coffee stop during the few excursions I took, it was really disheartening to not be doing what I loved, which was writing and reporting. I'm pretty sure I would still have some level of boredom had I not started my freelance business. This isn't the right choice for everyone, but for me, it keeps me on my feet and never fails to challenge me.
But for recent grads that are feeling unchallenged and bored at their jobs, it can be difficult. Especially now, when everyone tells you that you're "lucky" just to have a job. Yes, you are...but at the same time, when you're not feeling like you're living up to your potential, it can leave you feeling desperate. You may not have enough work to fill up an eight-hour day, may be doing work that a fifth-grader can do, or you may still be fetching coffee alongside the interns. What situation are you in?
I would love to hear your questions and comments about being underemployed...would you mind leaving a comment? If you'd like I will respond to your question with some tips or insight to hopefully help you through it!
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8 comments:
First, the official definition of "underemployment", according to the US Dept. of Labor, is part-time or contract workers who would prefer to be full-time, but can't find the hours of shifts. Recent grads can definitely fall into this category, especially in fields that lend themselves to freelancing, such as writing, graphic design, photography, video editing, etc.
However, the colloquial definition of underemployment works just fine for most people.
The question then becomes more about "when are we too old for internships?" Pay aside, for a second, when does it become insulting for someone with skills, talent, and experience to do menial work simply to pad the resume. I'd like to think that once we step across that threshold and receive that Bachelor's degree, we should at least be able to join the entry-level ranks of a company.
What you're describing is both despicable and remarkable. I can't, in all logic, conclude why a company would keep hold of an employee, and pay him/her even an entry-level salary to do work that barely makes a dent in the day-to-day business. In this wacky economy, it seems strange that they would keep that employee on staff, when they could just as easily fire him, and hire an intern who expects fully to get involved in such menial work.
It is, unfortunately, very easy for recent grads to get stuck in shit jobs in general. That's a whole other discussion. It all comes back to the big question — does one _need_ to go to college? If companies understood on-the-job training, and how to spot talent, the hazing rituals of interning (and entry-level schlepping) would vanish overnight. No?
I am definitely underemployed. And, to some extent overeducated.
My problem is not a lack of hours, between my two part time jobs I usually average about 40 hours; my problem lies in the fact that I'm working two part time jobs, low wage jobs with a master's degree.
After earning my degree in English in 2007 I had the opportunity to get my MBA for free. I knew it wasn't the ideal timing (I would have liked to have gained some work experience first) but I hoped future employers would regard it as a "good business decision." I graduated with my MBA, concentration in Marketing, this past May.
It took me three months to find even a retail position, and another month after that to find the job that (kinda) pays my bills.
I feel underemployed because I'm not utilizing my talents, my degree, or my work experience in either of these positions and am actually making less per hour than I did at the job I held during college.
It's frustrating to be doing a job I don't even need a high school diploma for when I've spent five years in college institutions.
And while it was a relief to finally find employment after graduation, it has done little to remedy this feeling of inadequacy and jealously of my better employed peers.
I know I'm worth more than this, I just can't seem to find the opportunity to show it. The economy makes things hard. I've been to the second round of interviews multiple times, and I keep hearing "You're a great fit for this position, and if we had two openings you'd be hired...but we've found another candidate who is just a little more experienced."
It's gut-wrenching and unbelievably frustrating.
Maybe I'm just using this space to vent, but I graduated from an Ivy League school and I currently work 40 hours a week at a suburban Starbucks. I lost the job I had at my university after I graduated because of some technicalities due to a hiring freeze, and I spent time in two different major cities over half a year looking for jobs in the arts without luck. By the end, I wasn't even aiming high. I applied for jobs in museum gift shops and was rejected. Finally, I was forced to move home -- where the arts practically don't exist -- and take the first job that would have me.
The problem with being a recent grad is that so many far more experienced people are out of jobs and competing with you for entry-level positions. Not to mention, at least for those who were humanities majors, the shrinking budgets of museums, arts foundations, newspapers, magazines, presses, etc. mean that large parts of the job pool have ceased to exist altogether. Not only am I "underemployed" in the colloquial sense, I'm in the WRONG FIELD. I'm not getting the experience I need. Upward mobility at Starbucks isn't something in which I'm interested, no offense to anyone who works for the Starbucks Co. At this point, I feel that literally the only option for me is to join the Peace Corps/Americorps/Teach for America or apply for grad school (which I wasn't planning on doing for some years). That's the only way my skills can be used at all and my goals can be even remotely met.
I am underemployed in both senses of the word. Not only am I one of those stuck with a useless liberal arts degree who is unable to find any relevant employer interest, but I am working part time hours at very low pay in a retail situation. I have been forced to move in with my ex-boyfriend because on top of student loan and credit card debt, I cannot afford even the lowest rent available in my city.
Though I am now as accepting as allowable regarding my current work/living situation, what frustrates me most is the lack of attention the media gives to the underemployment problem in general. A "college education" is still pushed by parents, teachers, and politicians as the ultimate educational end. We have a financial/service economy now, which means that unless your degree involves the practical application of computer, technologies, programming, or finance, you are most likely not going to find work to which your art history/sociology/gender studies degree applies.
Why isn't vocational education esteemed and encouraged? There are hundreds of clerical jobs that pay good money to be had, but because I have a "generic" degree, or am "overeducated", or do not have "direct experience", I, and many others who could handle those jobs with no problem, are not candidates.
That's just one example of the mismatch between the reality of the economy up against the outdated and irrelevant educational system we still ascribe to in this country.
I've definitely been underemployed - it's so awful feeling the boredom from day to day & makes work weeks seem like months :(
I know I’m underemployed. I started college right out of high school but had to work at the same time, and as a result it took me 14 years to finish. Since I was gaining work experience, I figured I’d be ok even though I could not intern anywhere. My last job was for a management company where I worked at a condominium complex. I made $12.50 an hour which wasn’t great but want bad for someone who was in school. I was there for 3 year when the bottom fell out of the economy. As a result the building owners decided to rent instead of sell the units. The problem was the company I worked for did not manage rental properties so as a result everyone lost their jobs. I was unemployed but figured it wouldn’t take too long to find a new position since I had never gone very long without one before. Almost two years and several unemployment extensions later, I was still unemployed. During that time I had four interviews, most of which did not come until I finished my BA in business communication in August (none in my field). I decided to go back a get a master’s degree because that’s what most companies are looking for and got hold of my old manager, and long story short that’s how I ended up with the job I have now. I am back with the same company making less money per hour and I’m part time. I am completely miserable. I wake up and go to bed crying; something that is completely out of character. Plus, now I have the added issue of someone else sticking their neck out for me making it harder to quit if I get a better job.
I spent all that time in school because my entire life all I heard was if you went to college you could get a better job and a better life. It’s all bull! I was the first in my family to go to college and spent a lot of time telling the younger kids in the family to do the same. Now, I have nothing to show myself or them. I am deeply in debt with student loans that I can’t pay and an education that is worthless. College is over rated because most of what they make you take you will never use. My uncle went to trade school and make 70hr. My suggestion to anyone contemplating college is don’t do it. It’s just a worthless piece of paper. You will still end up working a job you hate and come home with your feet bleeding to a bill from the government loan program that you can’t pay. It’s better to not have that bill.
Oh, FYI I saw a job posting the other day for a receptionist. One of the requirements was a masters degree. Seriously!
I know I’m underemployed. I started college right out of high school but had to work at the same time, and as a result it took me 14 years to finish. Since I was gaining work experience, I figured I’d be ok even though I could not intern anywhere. My last job was for a management company where I worked at a condominium complex. I made $12.50 an hour which wasn’t great but want bad for someone who was in school. I was there for 3 year when the bottom fell out of the economy. As a result the building owners decided to rent instead of sell the units. The problem was the company I worked for did not manage rental properties so as a result everyone lost their jobs. I was unemployed but figured it wouldn’t take too long to find a new position since I had never gone very long without one before. Almost two years and several unemployment extensions later, I was still unemployed. During that time I had four interviews, most of which did not come until I finished my BA in business communication in August (none in my field). I decided to go back a get a master’s degree because that’s what most companies are looking for and got hold of my old manager, and long story short that’s how I ended up with the job I have now. I am back with the same company making less money per hour and I’m part time. I am completely miserable. I wake up and go to bed crying; something that is completely out of character. Plus, now I have the added issue of someone else sticking their neck out for me making it harder to quit if I get a better job.
I spent all that time in school because my entire life all I heard was if you went to college you could get a better job and a better life. It’s all bull! I was the first in my family to go to college and spent a lot of time telling the younger kids in the family to do the same. Now, I have nothing to show myself or them. I am deeply in debt with student loans that I can’t pay and an education that is worthless. College is over rated because most of what they make you take you will never use. My uncle went to trade school and make 70hr. My suggestion to anyone contemplating college is don’t do it. It’s just a worthless piece of paper. You will still end up working a job you hate and come home with your feet bleeding to a bill from the government loan program that you can’t pay. It’s better to not have that bill.
I saw a job posting the other day for a receptionist. One requirement was a master’s degree. Seriously!
My work load is heavy. My pay isn't that much. I don't know if I should consider myself underemployed? Or I am just an over-utilized employee? I am enjoying my job though. But there are times when I feel like I should be paid more with the long hours I have been spending in the office not to mention the days off that I need to report to work and the unpaid overtime hours. Are you also experiencing the same?
Cheers,
Natalie Loopbaanadvies
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