I've been underemployed since I obtained my degree in 2011. I grew up and live in a rural area that isn't good for college graduates, but I'm afraid to move to a more lucrative market because all of my family and friends are here. I wouldn't know a soul if I left, even though I yearn to do so everyday. I still apply to jobs, most of which don't follow up with me. Despite my underemployment and poor mental health, I always do my job to the best of my ability. I have a good relationship with my employer. EDIT: You made excellent points; however, I think you should have mentioned something about geography as being a contributing factor to underemployment. We rural people and the challenges we face making professional connections and relocating are often overlooked.
Sorry to hear that. Yes, I agree geography is a major factor, especially if you hold a college degree. What's stopping you from moving to the city to find work?
@@DrJonTam The main thing that worries me is the high cost of living that exists in urban settings. The other issue is I don’t have connections in the city, so I’ll be totally alone for a period of time. A few people who I grew up with moved to the city, and with one exception, they aren’t doing very well. There’s also a cultural factor. I grew up with the perception that cities are bad places to live and should be avoided if possible, unless the job in the city pays enough to afford a place in an upscale area.
@@Derek032789 Yes, that is true. Urban settings do cost a lot more and are much more complex socially. I think the future trend of remote work is promising though. Is that a path you can explore?
@@DrJonTam I’d be a little skeptical working from home here. The internet service can be unreliable at times, and there are several neighborhoods in my area that don’t even have cell service.
@@DrJonTam I’m going to have to bite the bullet and make the move at some point. I’m hoping the covid situation continues to improve in the coming months. That’ll open things up a bit.
Yeah.. I've been underemployed for almost a decade now and I'm qualified but terrified to move on... but I'm not earning a living and it's had disastrous effects on my mental health. I'm excited to explore your channel.
Oh my god, your story line that starts at 2:40 is such a good representation of my career path... I naively considered the breadth of knowledge and experience I was gaining to be a good thing- because I was always growing in some way. But the sobering truth is that this path has set me back and my collage of experience seems to count for little to employers.
You are talking to me in this video.... graduated 6 years ago with a BA degree in Acturial ( applied math) was working in Fire safety since i graduated ( needed to pay rent + eat) I applied for the first 2 years after graduation and the last 4 it's like i was sleeping ... and woke up this year after catching and recovering from covid followed by a deep reflexion on my self... since i Redo my resume started reapplying but it's very hard. i don't get discouraged though this time....like i said it's like i woke and see all the mistakes. im stronger. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ANALYSIS in this video it's spot on
@@DrJonTam Well hear this. It is just as bad as you want it to be. I believe that the reason why people get trapped is because of their their lack of planning. You touched on some of the reasons why they get stuck and how they can stop being stuck.
Sounds like underemployment is the cause of our unemployment, and they continue to cut down because they don’t understand human motivation. Hope we get intelligent leadership like yours soon.
Thanks Alexandria, lots of people give up on work because of underemployment because they feel like they're not being used to their full potential in something that's meaningful
@@DrJonTam I spent several years doing customer service and administrative work. I finally became a team lead/supervisor 5 years ago, but I have the same responsibilities as people who have manager titles and higher pay. I am capable of doing more, but the opportunity and incentive are frequently not there.
@@rebeccajones9757 One of the main reasons for underemployment is a misalignment in what you want to do and what you actually do. What are you doing to ensure it's a fit?
I have tired so much praying so much and my life does not get better but get's worse and worse to the point am losing faith in God. I went to college well community college, while I really wanted to do Animation, and graduated in 2019 and started looking for a job as a graphic designer and a hotel did promise me a graphic design job but in day one they told me that role was gone and said I fit better in janitor....so fuck up, pandemic came in 2020 and save me from the stress of that but sadly I went back to the hotel in spring 2021, as a pool guy better than janitor but it was a nightmare. At the end I was doing the work for 5 people and it was seen as normal. Quit the hotel early this year and move to retail, better but still stressful , been looking for graphic design jobs in my town and I did found some, one asshole trick me twice saying I was prefect then to close the role a day later. This happen twice, and now I been applying every where here, big cities, remote nothing. I don't know what to do am so lost , my metal health is getting so much stressful anything but nothing it feels when I look up and pray it feels like am in hell where life get's worse and worse. I don't know what to do, my metal health is staring to lose hope in my future I longer have anything to look foward to, is it my major? unrealistic should I find a boring major?
Thanks for watching the video! Let me know your thoughts about this video in the comments below!
The burden on your mental health only compounds the problem. Good perspective, Dr Tam!
Thanks Danielle!
I've been underemployed since I obtained my degree in 2011. I grew up and live in a rural area that isn't good for college graduates, but I'm afraid to move to a more lucrative market because all of my family and friends are here. I wouldn't know a soul if I left, even though I yearn to do so everyday. I still apply to jobs, most of which don't follow up with me. Despite my underemployment and poor mental health, I always do my job to the best of my ability. I have a good relationship with my employer.
EDIT: You made excellent points; however, I think you should have mentioned something about geography as being a contributing factor to underemployment. We rural people and the challenges we face making professional connections and relocating are often overlooked.
Sorry to hear that. Yes, I agree geography is a major factor, especially if you hold a college degree. What's stopping you from moving to the city to find work?
@@DrJonTam The main thing that worries me is the high cost of living that exists in urban settings. The other issue is I don’t have connections in the city, so I’ll be totally alone for a period of time. A few people who I grew up with moved to the city, and with one exception, they aren’t doing very well.
There’s also a cultural factor. I grew up with the perception that cities are bad places to live and should be avoided if possible, unless the job in the city pays enough to afford a place in an upscale area.
@@Derek032789 Yes, that is true. Urban settings do cost a lot more and are much more complex socially. I think the future trend of remote work is promising though. Is that a path you can explore?
@@DrJonTam I’d be a little skeptical working from home here. The internet service can be unreliable at times, and there are several neighborhoods in my area that don’t even have cell service.
@@DrJonTam I’m going to have to bite the bullet and make the move at some point. I’m hoping the covid situation continues to improve in the coming months. That’ll open things up a bit.
Gosh such an underdiscussed issue underemployment is glad to find a video like this a mix of good advice and stern tough love
Yeah.. I've been underemployed for almost a decade now and I'm qualified but terrified to move on... but I'm not earning a living and it's had disastrous effects on my mental health. I'm excited to explore your channel.
I trust the tips here are going to be helpful Michelle!
Saaaaaaaaame
Oh my god, your story line that starts at 2:40 is such a good representation of my career path... I naively considered the breadth of knowledge and experience I was gaining to be a good thing- because I was always growing in some way. But the sobering truth is that this path has set me back and my collage of experience seems to count for little to employers.
Yes, the vicious cycle is so real and difficult to break out of.
This video was wonderful man..You've covered a lot of important things regarding under employment
Thanks!
@@DrJonTam welcome sir
You are talking to me in this video.... graduated 6 years ago with a BA degree in Acturial ( applied math) was working in Fire safety since i graduated ( needed to pay rent + eat) I applied for the first 2 years after graduation and the last 4 it's like i was sleeping ... and woke up this year after catching and recovering from covid followed by a deep reflexion on my self... since i Redo my resume started reapplying but it's very hard. i don't get discouraged though this time....like i said it's like i woke and see all the mistakes. im stronger. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ANALYSIS in this video it's spot on
Yes, underemployment is simply an economic condition -- it's also a state of mind.
Yes under-employment is a bad thing. You need to get busy. Good video Jon
Yes, we all know it's bad. I believe the question is "how bad"
@@DrJonTam Well hear this. It is just as bad as you want it to be. I believe that the reason why people get trapped is because of their their lack of planning. You touched on some of the reasons why they get stuck and how they can stop being stuck.
@@GoalInspiredCareerCoaching yes, I agree planning and positioning is such a major part of this
Thanks for the vids man!
Glad you like them!
1999=$1 2020=1.58 so $12hr job in 99 should be $18 today yet you get $15? BS
With the way they’re printing money now with COVID, it’s going to get much worse. Better put any savings you have in something that appreciates.
I am completely depressed that I never utilized my degrees.
The degree doesn’t matter, it’s the skill that counts. Build skills.
Sounds like underemployment is the cause of our unemployment, and they continue to cut down because they don’t understand human motivation. Hope we get intelligent leadership like yours soon.
Thanks Alexandria, lots of people give up on work because of underemployment because they feel like they're not being used to their full potential in something that's meaningful
I'm so happy that my dead end job got eliminated! Now I can finally move on to a job I love!!!
So what do I do if I am 39 years old and have been underemployed my whole career?
What do you mean by "underemployed your whole career"?
@@DrJonTam I spent several years doing customer service and administrative work. I finally became a team lead/supervisor 5 years ago, but I have the same responsibilities as people who have manager titles and higher pay. I am capable of doing more, but the opportunity and incentive are frequently not there.
@@rebeccajones9757 I see. Yes, that is the classic definition of underemployed. What have you done so far to change your situation?
@@DrJonTam I am applying for different positions.
@@rebeccajones9757 One of the main reasons for underemployment is a misalignment in what you want to do and what you actually do. What are you doing to ensure it's a fit?
I have tired so much praying so much and my life does not get better but get's worse and worse to the point am losing faith in God.
I went to college well community college, while I really wanted to do Animation, and graduated in 2019 and started looking for a job as a graphic designer and a hotel did promise me a graphic design job but in day one they told me that role was gone and said I fit better in janitor....so fuck up, pandemic came in 2020 and save me from the stress of that but sadly I went back to the hotel in spring 2021, as a pool guy better than janitor but it was a nightmare. At the end I was doing the work for 5 people and it was seen as normal. Quit the hotel early this year and move to retail, better but still stressful , been looking for graphic design jobs in my town and I did found some, one asshole trick me twice saying I was prefect then to close the role a day later. This happen twice, and now I been applying every where here, big cities, remote nothing.
I don't know what to do am so lost , my metal health is getting so much stressful anything but nothing it feels when I look up and pray it feels like am in hell where life get's worse and worse.
I don't know what to do, my metal health is staring to lose hope in my future I longer have anything to look foward to, is it my major? unrealistic should I find a boring major?
Negative and vague.
No there's no growth
Sobering
It is.... and it's really a difficult situation to break out of