A Doctorate in Mixology: How to Overcome Crippling Underemployment

“I need an extra shot of espresso in my latte” an impetuous woman barks. You flinch at her shrillness; her demeaning tone irks. Muttering to yourself, you add an extra shot of espresso for her iced latte. Maybe if she knew I was a (doctor, lawyer, accountant), she wouldn’t be so condescending, you think. The synapses are connecting in your mind. You are a (doctor, lawyer, accountant) and you are retrieving iced lattes in your local coffee shop. Whaaat? Welcome to America’s sobering reality. In the United States, underemployment hovers in the teens. The Gallup CEO estimated that as many as 30 million Americans are out of work or underemployed. Employability is central to our identity. It provides socialization, status, and financial security. Employability — particularly in your chosen profession — reaffirms social standing. And, more importantly, your value to society. There are irrefutable studies connecting unemployment and mental health. But what about underemployment? Yes, this hidden scourge is linked to depression, anxiety, and a general sense of unfulfillment. Underemployment, in fact, may be more damaging than unemployment. Imagine you have a PhD in chemical engineering. Substituting that chemical engineering degree for a Starbucks mixology degree, you languish in your local coffee shop. Here you are– an accomplished PhD — and your career has degenerated into preparing iced cappuccinos. Add a stifling environment, chafing...
Source: World of Psychology - Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Tags: General Happiness Industrial and Workplace Motivation and Inspiration Personal Self-Help Success & Achievement Career Change Cynicism Employability Failure financial insecurity Graduate School recession stalled career underem Source Type: blogs