By Melanie Wanzek
CTW Features
Against the backdrop of a high, unyielding national unemployment rate, many jobseekers are more willing to apply for and accept positions on lower rungs of the job ladder than they might like. But after the initial feeling of thankfulness for landing any sort of job fades, other feelings crowd in. Extended time in a job that isn’t quite right can leave people drained and discontent.
“During a recession, people often believe they don’t have options or that there are no jobs out there,” says career counselor and psychotherapist Arlene Hirsch in Chicago, Ill. “As a result, they feel trapped in jobs they don’t like.”
It’s always possible to stay selective and continue the job search. Hirsch says people really are finding jobs during the recession; it is just a matter of being patient and smart about how you look. However, it’s also important to make the most of the time you have in your current situation.
According to Brian Golter, CEO of a contingency search firm in Mountainview, Calif., and author of “Your Right Job Right Now” (Ambassador International, 2009), the first step is simply to acknowledge your frustration and disappointment. Stuffing it down deep will soon take a toll on you, your productivity and on your employer. Hirsch says you need to be aware of how your feelings may affect your performance and work to minimize those effects. “While you may feel overqualified or underpaid, you agreed to the terms of compensation and job responsibilities. If you want to stay with your current employer, you have to be a team player,” she says.
Next, spend some time thinking about what is really important to you. This, Golter says, is where people have a lot of choice. Try to think about what this job means to you and for you at this point in your life.
“If nobody wants to hire me as a career counselor, but I can get a job making hamburgers, it depends on what I make that mean,” he says. “If I make that mean the world doesn’t appreciate me and no one respects me, it’s going to be tough. But if I make it mean that my children get to eat, go to school and have clothes, then it can still bring me meaning and purpose.”
Even if you don’t feel the job description allows you to reach your full potential, Hirsch says there are many ways to be challenging yourself while still in the position. Volunteering for assignments outside of your regular responsibilities, taking special courses or attending seminars, participating in professional associations and building your network of contacts all can offer mental stimulation and growth.
“Take responsibility for your career,” she says. “If your employer can’t offer you challenging assignments, look for outside activities that will.”
While the work itself may not feel challenging, Hirsch says you still have the opportunity to develop your “EQ,” or emotional intelligence, by growing in patience, tact, communication, self-motivation and leadership through how you handle yourself. Growth in these soft skills can be just as valuable as growth in tangible hard skills and abilities.
“This skill set includes the ability to manage yourself – staying motivated, keeping your emotions in check, developing a positive attitude – as well as interpersonal relationships, like being a team player and developing good relationships with bosses and co-workers,” she says.
Laura Sterkel, director of programs and coaching at the Career Transitions Center of Chicago, adds that job seekers can be encouraged knowing that about 70 percent of workers “stumble” into their careers through these bridge-type positions. “The traditional model of one career for a lifetime is clearly no longer the case for most professionals,” she says. “In fact, it can also result in a feeling of being trapped.”
Rather than focusing on discontent, she says to be open to what you might learn at your current job and think about your long-term career strategy. For those underemployed in the current economy, she says the best advice may be to hold onto what you have while charting a course for the future.
“It’s possible to be open to and striving towards future possibility while fulfilling responsibilities of a current job that serves practical financial requirements, like paying the bills, rent or mortgage,” Sterkel says. “And with a focus on a new horizon, we might be able to find authentic appreciation for the activities and relationships that enhance our present job.”
Ultimately, keep in mind that you are not defined by your job description or current salary.
“I think people fall into the trap of believe you are what you do, you are what you have and you are what other people think of you,” Golter says. “But times of adversity can be opportunities for lasting growth, like in character. Where you are can be the right job for you right now. Bring your best in any circumstances, whether you’re unemployed, overqualified or underpaid.”