5 Ways to Deal with Underemployment

December 20, 2012

Many of us are familiar with unemployment, but how many of us understand what it is to be underemployed? When a person is underemployed, he or she is working at a level far below his or her skill set and experience. In today's economy, espcially for Gen Y workers trying to break into a full and competitive job market, underemployment is a valid concern. How can you deal with being underemployed?

According to the Associated Press "about 1.5 million, or 53.6 percent, of bachelor’s degree-holders under the age of 25 last year were jobless or underemployed, the highest share in at least 11 years.” This means that one in two new graduates are underemployed or jobless, the AP says. With odds like that against you, how can you cope?

GoGirl Finance published an article recently, outlining five eays to cope with undermployment. Some of our favorites include the following:

Know the difference between underemployed and paying your dues. To get the career you want, you may have to start at the bottom of the food chain. If, however, your current position has nothing to do at all with your ultimate career goals, you may be underemployed. For example, if you want to be a marine biologist but your current job finds you folding shirts at The Gap, you might want to look into internships.
Network like crazy. In today's competitive job market, finding the gig you want is often more about who you know than what you know. Take advantage of social media, attend networking events in your chosen field, and get your face out there.
Volunteer in your chosen field. If your dream is to be the social media manager for a large brand, start small. Offer to set up the social media for a local company or a small business just starting out. Build your skills on the side and keep your resume updated.

Read the article for the rest of the tips. And don't worry. Underemployment isn't the end of the world. With a few tricks up your sleeve, you might just find yourself on a higher rung of the career ladder in no time.