There are people in the job market who will tell you that getting any lousy old job isn’t good for you. Beside who wants to accept a lousy job? However, there are others who would disagree. They think that in this economy accepting any job, even a lousy one, is better than being unemployed. Who is right and who is wrong?
Is Unemployment Better than Working in a Lousy Job?
There’s a grand debate going on as to whether or not job seekers should take what they might term as a “lousy job” just to get re-employed. In fact, the June 6, 2010 New York Times article, “Is Any Job Better Than No Job?” asks eight experts to give their point of view on the subject. The result is a mix of yays and nays. Seems even the experts can’t agree.
According to the paper, “The psychosocial quality of work determines whether employment has benefits for mental health: results from a longitudinal national household panel survey,” even though unemployment can cause serious mental health issues, poor quality jobs can also have a negative affect on your mental health.
Based on a national survey of 7,155 working adults in Australia, the survey results suggest that employment is associated with good mental health because paid workers have access to resources, support and social networks. However, because the “psychosocial qualities of jobs vary” the “high degree of depression” associated with unemployment is associated with poor quality jobs as well.
On the other hand Suzanne Lucas, lovingly known as the Evil HR Lady, wrote in her August 12, 2011 blog “Should You Accept That Lousy Job Offer? Yes,” that even though other experts suggest it’s okay to say “no” to unacceptable jobs, it’s time to stop whining and man up. She says it’s called work for a reason. If it were fun, everyone would want to do it.
She’s right on some level. Reject a lousy job now and there is no guarantee that something better will come along any time soon. But there’s a lot more to it than that.
Turning a Lousy Job Offer into a Great Opportunity
Before you finally decide to apply for and accept a position that you’re not over-the-moon about think carefully as to whether you’re wasting your own and the employer’s time. Then if you decide that you have reached a point in your job search where you are willing to compromise and look at opportunities that don’t exactly match up with your wish list, there are ways to turn a lousy job into a better opportunity.
First, any job offer can be a boost to your ego. It can add that extra spark that may have long ago faded due to a long, drawn out job search. Enjoy the feeling of knowing that you’re skills and abilities are still appreciated and use that renewed sense of self-worth to shine at your next job interview.
Now that you realize that you still have skills to offer employers, don’t immediately reject the idea of taking a less-than-ideal job offer. You may be able to turn it into something a little more to your liking through salary negotiations.
Career expert Donald Asher, author of 11 books including Who Gets Promoted, Who Doesn't, and Why and the white paper “The Ins and Outs of Salary Negotiations,” suggests that negotiating for salary should be an “emotionless process. It’s not personal. It’s a business process.”
He has a great tip for those who are unemployed and feeling like they need to take the next best offer that comes along. “If you’re desperate, you’ve been unemployed over a year or you’re out of resources, than by all means take a position if it’s offered,” says Asher. “But even then, at least say, “I really had in mind more than that. What can we do?” That’s the softest, win-win negotiating language you can use. Everybody should at least do that.”
Finally, don’t just look at the position in the short term. Consider what else the company has to offer and any potential future opportunities. Maybe the job is within walking distance of your home or offers a benefit (like tuition reimbursement or flexible work schedules) that is important in your life right now. Perhaps the company can include a sign-on bonus to help get you back on your feet or expects to expand in the next few years meaning potential new opportunities. Keep a lookout for alternative perks.
Every job, even your dream job, is liable to have some negatives that go with it. However, if you take the time to look at what a lousy job can offer, you may find that it’s better than no job offer at all.
Sources:
Asher, Donald. Personal Interview. August 22, 2011.
Butterworth, P.; Leach, L.S.; Strazdins, L.; Olesen, S.C.; Rodgers, B.; Broom, D.H. “The psychosocial quality of work determines whether employment has benefits for mental health: results from a longitudinal national household panel survey.” January 26, 2011. Accessed August 23, 2011.
“Is Any Job Better Than No Job?” Room for Debate, New York Times. June 6, 2010. Accessed August 23, 2011.
Lucas, Suzanne. “Should You Accept That Lousy Job Offer? Yes.” BNET. August 12, 2011. Accessed August 23, 2011.
Deborah S. Hildebrand - Deborah S. Hildebrand is a freelance writer & HR consultant with 20+ years in human resources & a Bachelor's degree in Business.
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