Underemployment sucks in a few ways. As family and friends remind you the gratefulness you ought to have a job, you feel enslaved. Sometimes, it’s torture. Other times, it’s depressing. There is no shortlist for the range of emotions you feel from day-to-day. It’s frustrating, hurtful, and downright depressing.
You used to laugh, find fun in doing extra work and fostered meaningful relationships. Now you feel like an outsider. Perhaps your peers moved up or moved on, and you’re here.
Did you take this position as a bridge job? Did it have the schedule for you to be home more with your family? Did it provide some insight into future career goals? Whatever your reason you are over it now, aren’t you?
Here are three signs you’re underemployed and what you can do to ease the pain:
Any bit of enthusiasm for this job has dissipated
Depressed? Maybe not, but you are not happy and finding fault and shortcomings in the real things. If people are initiating lunches, casual conversations, and after work sets less could be a sign of your lack of positivity.
TIP: Start being intentional in finding and speaking positively about people who have stood out accomplishments either business or personal. You don’t have to be the cheerleader, but try being the noticer. Not only it could change your outlook on the job, but possibly bring you positive visibility.
It is as stressful as anticipated divorce
You want to leave now, but the job search is slow for your desired industry. You have bills to pay, and it’s tough to make it through the day. Some days you just want to quit. What’s worse– you can care less about what anyone associated with that job thinks about you.
TIP: Leave work at work. Leave the problems at work. Don’t try to overcompensate for uncompleted work not done during regular hours unless you’ve committed it to a deadline.
You’re always thinking of ways to escape
You can’t stop checking the schedule daily published a month ago. Are you thinking of ways and reasons to call off? It’s stress. It’s boredom. You have the “Cheshire Grin” just like the cat from Alice and Wonderland. You call off of work with no regard for the consequences.
TIP: Time off has its proper place, but it tips off your employer you’re unhappy and looking for a job. Even worse, you are unavailable for critical assignments and projects. In most cases, you want to leave on your terms.
Are you a loyalist to everything including friends, relatives, former girlfriends/boyfriends, former teachers, and neighbors. With employers in 2017, you can’t be sentimental.
And believe me, you’ll set yourself up for a lifetime full of regrets.
About Mark Anthony Dyson
I am the "The Voice of Job Seekers," career consultant, job seeker advocate, career writer, and founder of this award-winning blog. I help the employed, unemployed, underemployed, and under-appreciated find jobs using job search strategies to navigate the new job market. I aim to give a safe place online to those with different needs, cultures, and ethnicities to find their voice in the job market. Thousands have read my career advice throughout the web as I write about everything from job search strategies to the mobile job search. I have published more than 400 articles on this blog and some of the largest career sites such as Recruiter.com, YouTern, and Come Recommended. I've been quoted in major online publications such as Monster, TIME/Money, Fortune, Business Insider and MSN. FlexJobs, JobMonkey, Aerotek, Career Pivot, and CareerSherpa listed my podcast as one of the top podcasts to help your job search. Love for you to sign up for the weekly newsletter. I share the latest articles I've written, new podcast episodes, and answer any questions you may have. The new job search is scary and if you need help, I am here for it!