Will working a low wage job kill your career? No!
Filed under: Career
In a fairly idiotic bit of tabloid-style hysteria, CNNMoney asks the question "Are you committing career suicide?" by taking a low-paying job because you can't find anything better.According to staff writer Jessica Dickler, many laid-off workers are taking steep paycuts to make ends meet, often working at entry-level or menial jobs to put food on the table: "But a smaller paycheck could push you back a rung in the in salary ladder, and make it that much harder to get back to where you were."
The problem is that that's just not really true. What you will be paid in the future will be determined based on supply and demand, and the value you can add for your employer -- and how much he'll have to pony up to avoid losing you to someone else.
And in the worst job market in decades, no one is going to look down on you for doing what you had to do to live to fight another day.
Back in March, I interviewed career expert Lindsey Pollak about the issue of recent graduates taking low-paying jobs. "I've spoken to many recruiters and no one is going to fault you for what you need to do to get through this," she said.
The more pragmatic issue is this: If you need money, you gotta do what you gotta do. if they're about to turn off your lights and repossess your car, you have to get whatever job you can get -- your career can figure itself out later.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
11-21-2009 @ 9:53AM
Don said...
This is an excellent opportunity for employees to improve their work habits and put themselves in position for future success. Strive to be the best employee in the company. People have taken entry level positions and moved to the absolute top over time, sometimes even in short time.
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11-23-2009 @ 8:33PM
tastee4d said...
I am not sure about you but if I lose my job, i will take any job i need to to support my family. I would try to look for a job similar to what i lost but when all else fails, I would take whatever I could get and keep looking for more.
Today, no one can afford to be too picky.
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11-24-2009 @ 12:32AM
Liz said...
I see nothing wrong with it. Just about any job can be beneficial to an individual & not just based off pay. I was in the army & I am college educated. I go to school & for fun I work about 16 hours a week as a hostess at a very nice restaurant. I picked up the job for many reasons although it required very little skill, a lot less then what I have to offer but my reasons were: I needed to get out of the house, something else to do besides school & the number 1 reason is networking! You never know who you may meet at the "little low wage" job, just may be someone who is looking to hire someone like you! I'm in the music in. & the networking is paying off for me!
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