Comments on: Why Being “Above” A Job is a Dumb Strategy

By: bindu

bindu — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 13:35:13 +0000

I work as a dental assistant and in my present job, which pays higher than the previous one, my boss always gives me shit not for my dental assisting skills,but my garbage removal skills and not so perfect English.(English is my second language. I am thinking about resigning my job, but keep going because of the present situation.

By: Monroe on a Budget » Tips from the money bloggers Jan. 12

Monroe on a Budget » Tips from the money bloggers Jan. 12 — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 01:12:40 +0000

[...] Advice presents Why being “above” a job is a dumb strategy: “I

By: threadbndr

threadbndr — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 18:54:20 +0000

My grandfather was a banker at the start of the Great Depression. By the time it ended, he was a rural mail carrier and grateful to have a steady job.

He used to say, “there’s no shame in being a ditch digger. So long as you are the BEST damn ditch digger out there with a shovel.” Anything that is legal and moral to do is worth doing if it keeps a roof over your baby’s head and food on the table.

That attitude of entitlement and credit is a big part of what got us into this mess to start with, neighbor. Wake up!

By: H.T.

H.T. — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 02:30:51 +0000

I agree that one should do what is necessary. I also do not believe that working in the fast food or menial jobs is a negative of one’s resume. In fact, I would put that there and it will make me stand out enough where the hiring company will ask questions.

It will also show to any hiring company with half the brain… A prove that person is “willing” & has the ability/capability to do what it needs to get done. It shows a hard-worker, not a self-entitled dreamer.

By: fathersez

fathersez — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 09:45:10 +0000

Youyr neighbours need to have their thinking seriously examined. He is getting deeper into debt and putting his family in grave risk.

I,too,am now jobless, after long stint as a so called bigwig. I have joined a MLM company and started selling an educational product that I can truly endorse.

I don’t feel that this is below my station at all. In fact I think I am now genuinely adding value to people’s lives.

By: Sylvia

Sylvia — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 13:29:01 +0000

Thank God my husband doesn’t have that attitude. After being a minister for 20+ yrs (and with a Ph.D) he found himself unemployed. He took day labor jobs for us to get by. Not easy for a 55 yr old man used to office type work to do labor with strong 25 yr olds used to labor jobs. I can’t work due to MS and collect no disability. We also had 4 kids at that time to raise. Ya do what ya gotta do has always been our motto. That was 4 yrs ago and he now works 4 jobs for us to just survive. And this looks like the way it will be. We were raised middle class with the idea that any job that took care of your family (ie:food/shelter) was a “good” job. And what really amazes me are that these are the same folks who complain about Mexicans, etc taking “our” jobs. Yeah right, like it is keeping them from working a labor position. Unbelievable how we have become such an entitled nation. Entitled to only do what we want to and think is not below us.
“Pride cometh before a fall”

By: Julie

Julie — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 13:02:37 +0000

I have to disagree with the thought process that if you take a “job beneath” you that future employers will view this negatively. My husband lost his job several years ago when working for an IT firm. He swallowed his pride and worked 3 jobs one of which was at a local restaurant. After six months he was able to find a much higher paying job with a Fortune 500 company. I am lucky to have a husband whose main concern was providing for his family

By: tynana

tynana — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 02:43:33 +0000

Give me a break. I quit a high paying job to stay home and take care of my elderly mom who had a stroke. I was making very good money when I left and had 20 years in with my company. Now that mom is doing better I am back on the hunt for a job in this tough economy. I have an interview tomorrow paying half of what I was making and I am thankful to even get an interview. My DH is facing the prospect of losing him job due to the problems in the Auto industry. He has been telling our friends he is not to proud to ask if you want fries with that or whatever it takes to support his family. You can ride that high horse latter. You are not going to “lose your skills” by taking a lower paying job. Remember Pride is one of the seven deadly sins. Might want to review all the deadly sins at this time. It might just change your way of thinking.

Let me just close by saying I had to vent a bit. Hope I did not offend any one.

By: Michelle

Michelle — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 18:40:31 +0000

I currently work two jobs to pay off my credit card debt. I’m probably the only person who has a college degree out at the cab company where I answer phones, but I gotta say – working there has been a very strangely fulfilling experience. It’s amazing sometimes what you’ll find when you search “beneath” you.

By: Kathy

Kathy — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 18:26:06 +0000

I took a 50% pay cut out of necessity, just because there was absolutely nothing in this area remotely close to my old job.
Sometimes that’s what you have to do, but I wouldn’t necessarily recommend it. It does cause you to lose confidence in yourself. And employers read on your resume that you did this and assume that it was intentional. It kills future chances, in more ways than one.

So I wouldn’t be too hard on the guy, he’s not all that wrong.