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Underemployed, and Hating it!"
Q: "I had a decent professional job until I was laid off 9 months ago. I thought I'd get a job pretty fast, but didn't. Soon, my unemployment compensation ran out and then, my savings. I accepted a secretarial job to tide me over, thinking it would just be temporary. A few months passed and the company decided to make my job permanent. I still didn't have any good job prospects, so I reluctantly agreed to stay....but I hate this job! I'm bored. I detest the brainless, repetitive tasks. I miss making decisions for myself. I'm afraid my professional skills will get rusty. Most of all, I'm afraid of being stuck in the secretarial pool, and never getting a job in my field again. I'm still job hunting but I'm getting to the point where I feel no one will ever want to hire me. As time goes on, I feel that I'm going to have to account for all the time I've spent as a secretary. I've I included my present job on my resume. Can you help me get out of the "pink collar ghetto?"
ALISON ANSWERS: I can understand that being underemployed in today's fertile job market is frustrating to you, but if you want to get back on track with your career, a change in mindset is key, along with a tune-up of your job hunting techniques. You may think you're hiding it, but the chances are that when you go to interviews you look and act as demoralized as you feel.
Most of us have had a friend who broke up with someone s/he was dating who laments: "I'm not meeting anyone new....what if no one ever loves me again?" It's easy for you to see that your friend is sabotaging his/her own best efforts in the dating pool because s/he is clearly demoralized and unhappy...and it shows. Possibly, your unhappiness shows when you're interviewing, making your job hunt even more difficult.
My first suggestion (t's hard..but you must) is to stop feeling sorry for yourself and re-energize yourself and your job search. Don't feel sheepish about being temporarily below your professional skill level or career goals. You are still the intelligent, motivated, professional you were before you left your last job. In fact, give yourself brownie points for sticking to the job search and doing what you have to do to pay your bills, even though the going is rough!
Take a different view of your situation and analyze what might be going wrong with your job search. The most common reasons job seekers might not be getting the results they want include:
*YOUR GOALS ARE UNREALISTIC: It's great to challenge yourself and scoot up the career ladder, but if you need a job and only apply for positions that are a big stretch, the competition will be greater and you will have to accept the fact that you'll lose out more frequently. Your search will take longer. If you're underemployed (or unemployed), consider a lateral move. If you're under-employed in a job you hate, apply for some professional jobs in your field that aren't as much of a stretch as you might like, along with those that are more risky. You will have an easier time being the perfect "fit" and once hired, you may find yourself quickly promoted up the career ladder. If not, you can always continue job hunting..and at least you won't be in the secretarial pool, if that's not to your liking.
* YOU'RE TARGETING THE WRONG COMPANIES (or the wrong people). Unless you're ready to make a career change where you'll go for additional training, or are lucky to get a job in a new area where you'll "learn-as-you-earn, " be sure that you target companies that need the professional skills you already have.
* YOUR RESUME ISN'T EFFECTIVE: Ask a few people to critique your current resume and cover letter. Make sure you don't have typos, and that your basic pitch is effective. Make changes to both your resume and basic cover letter, including several different versions that emphasize important skills for the different types of jobs you want to apply for. You might considering creatively changing your secretarial job title a bit (E.g. "Assistant ") if you've learned any new tasks that might relate to the professional jobs you 're applying for....but don't stretch it too far or you'll be sorry when the truth is discovered! You might also consider a functional resume where your skills, not job titles, will be the focus. This strategy will work well for you since you're not organizing by job title and that secretarial job will not, by default, be the first item.
* YOU'RE JOB HUNTING TOO SPORADICALLY: Job hunting is a "job" in itself! It's not enough just to answer a few classified ads once a week when you really want to make a move...fast! Do what you can every single day to move your job search forward. Write your job-hunting activities down each day in a list or on your calendar. When you look back over the past week you will feel confident that you've been working hard to make your dreams come true.
* YOU'RE JOB HUNTING TOO HARD: It's good to be dedicated to the search, but you can overdo it! You'll lose perspective and your enthusiasm if there are no interests or activities in your life besides job hunting. Set aside a reasonable amount of time each day to reach your career goals, do your work, then focus on something else.
* YOU AREN'T NETWORKING: Networking is the best way to find a great job in your professional field since many of the best jobs are never advertised. Most employers would much rather take a recommendation than plow through piles of anonymous resumes sent in from a want-ad. If there are professional organizations that are relevant to your work, make sure you join and become active. You'll make new contacts and keep your toes in the professional arena. Be sure to dust off your old Rolodex, make some phone calls and send some E-mails. Let everyone know what your areas of expertise are, and that you're looking for new opportunities . Don't let the fact that you're doing secretarial work stop you. If asked, say that you've opted to do temporary work so that you can take your time with your job hunt. You can and will return the favor for other people in the future!
* YOU'RE NOT MAKING A POSITIVE PRESENTATION: It's a challenge to feel enthusiastic, perky, and confident, when your ego is sagging along with your career hopes, but depressed, unhappy people radiate that feeling. Keep in mind that even if the competition is rough, the people who get picked most often as the top candidates are those who convey the feeling that they'd fit in, do well, and really, really, really WANT the job! You can't market yourself well if your head is hanging, your voice is a monotone, and you can't think of anything nice to say about yourself. To combat depression, take care of yourself by eating right, getting enough sleep, exercising, doing other things you enjoy outside of work, and reminding yourself often that you are far more than just your job title. Before you sit down to write a cover letter or go to an interview, spent a few minutes reminding yourself of all the good skills you have to offer by reviewing your resume. You will re-discover how amazing you are! If you don't feel all the confidence you should, you'll begin to get your strength back come interview-time as you dress professionally, arrive on time, stand tall, make eye contact, offer a firm handshake, research the company before you interview so you sound really interested and informed, and ask a few intelligent questions. If you feel really depressed, perhaps a support group or some professional counseling could help you feel better about yourself.
While you're working on reaching your career goals, there are easy ways to make life more bearable and make the job you have currently more appealing. YOU may feel underemployed in an administrative-level job, but keep in mind that there are secretaries of all levels. Most businesses would surely fail without the aid of intelligent, and motivated secretaries! Some wield tremendous amounts of power and make huge salaries...I seriously doubt they consider being a secretary a bad job in the "pink collar ghetto!"
Your boss is probably aware that you have done higher-level work but s/he might not realize you could use your professional skills in the job you have. Why not ask your boss if you can help out on some projects using your professional skills (to keep them sharp), after you've completed your secretarial duties for the day. Even if you're not paid at a higher rate you will make the day more interesting. While not all bosses are willing to let people work out of their job titles, most will see your enthusiasm as a good thing that makes you more valuable to the company. You can also keep your skills sharp by volunteering for a worthy cause after-hours. You'll feel good about "doing good" for others, and get a new set of like-minded people to network with (one might hold the key to your next new job). How about after-hours freelancing or consulting? You'll get new "professional" credentials to add to your resume, and the extra money can pay the bills, or perhaps purchase a few luxuries (e.g. some pampering at a day spa) to make your life a little more satisfying. Working on something that you enjoy is an energy booster! TRY IT!
Life throws each of us at least a few, unexpected turns. It's hard to remember this when the phone isn't ringing with offers and you don't like the job you have. But you are working and that's a start. Think of all the other people out there doing jobs they don't like to pay the rent (E.g. lots of actors, artists and entrepreneurs working on their dreams). Keep your courage and your spirits up! You have goals and skills and you will move out of the secretarial pool....it is just a matter of effort, attitude...and perseverance.
Alison Blackman Dunham, aka. "Advice Sister Alison, " is a life & career expert, online advisor, freelance writer, and creator of The Advice Sisters online publications. "The Advice Sisters®" are credited with bringing the advice genre, online. If you are seeking advice of any kind, this website is the right place! If you have a question, dilemma or problem that requires personal attention, consult Alison privately. Also check out The Advice Sisters Features Page with the latest additions to the site. Read the Advice Sisters Blog and enjoy the Bulletin Boards and Forums. For even more advice, inspiration and up-close-and-personal reviews, information and reports, get the free, bi-monthly AdviceSisters Enews by Email.