Does a Dead End Job Offer More Than Low Wages?
Posted: Saturday, September 05, 2009
by Gerry Charbonneau
http://nibblednews.typepad.com
What is the currently popular definition of a dead end job?
Opinions vary as to what truly constitutes a dead end occupation.
Essentially, a dead end job is bleakly defined as a terminal position offering the employee no prospects of promotion, no pay raises, no responsibility, no health care coverage and no future. This type of employment situation leads essentially nowhere.
Does a low status job offer an individual the most important work experience in their employment history? Are there lessons to be derived beyond the mere mechanical performance of the job and the adherence to the requirements of the job mandates?
Is there a strategy or strategies a person in this position should employ to reap the intrinsic benefits their current jobs offer them and not merely continuously focus on the negative aspects of their work?
A recommended way to remain gainfully employed in a dead end job is to focus your mind on the day-to-day issues. Keeping yourself in good standing even in this type of situation makes good economic sense.
Many young people in today's job market are quickly realizing that they do not have to derive their personal worth from their job titles or the amount of money they receive for their efforts. They realize that the size of the paycheck is not a measure of what they are worth as individuals.
Many successful individuals in corporate positions today began their careers as janitors, bus boys, waitresses, and part time mail delivery personnel. They mastered the immediate requirements of their jobs ar the time and years later applied the lessons they learned to their future careers.
Working as a waiter in a restaurant taught one person important lessons in diplomacy customer service and humility. The job was demanding but they did their level best and learned valuable lessons for the rest of their lives.
Many employers today will scrutinize a young person's resume to verify if food service experience is listed in their employment history. These employers feel that work experience and training received at even a Mac Donald's restaurant is valuable in helping the applicant appreciate customer service and good work habits.
A dead end job is truly not the end of the world, It gives you the opportunity to meet new people, improve your work skill set, and gain valuable work experience. The money you earn also helps pay the bills, meet your financial responsibilities and keep yourself afloat until another job opportunity comes along.
This type of job is not a career graveyard. During this period you have the time to decide for yourself what you really want to do with your life, the career path you wish to follow and what additional training you want to receive to make yourself a more marketable and valuable employee.
This Article has been viewed 2,272 times. (Not updated in real-time.)
Top-level comments on this article: (2 total)Great article. Well done.I don't mind a dead end job as CEO of the company. But as for having a dead end job in the respect you are talking about. No chance.Thank you Connor for your comment.Often time in the employment market a person is forced to take whatever is there at the moment.When I was in university I was a waiter, bus boy, truck driver, janitor and taxi driver. I knew at the time the positions were part time but I needed the cash to survive and did learn a lot about myself and customer service.
Many fellow students I knew refused these type of employment opportunities. But that was there loss and my gain.
Gerry, what can I say? This is a good read for me. Some of our parents use to say, "if they hire you in the back room do front room work. If they keep hiring people over you then that is a dead end job...Take that experience out to another location. Thanks for the articleThank you Dr Rucker for your comments.I am glad you enjoyed the article.Sometimes the lessons we learn in life are appreciated much later on in our total career path and not in the moment we are experiencing them.
Many times our thoughts can blind us to the real opportunities and blessings sent our way each day.
We want your comments! If you can read this, you don't have javascript enabled, so you can't use this comment system. Please enable javascript.