How can I get through the challenging time of feeling underemployed?

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THE QUESTION

After a long period of unemployment and job searching, I took a menial, entry-level job because I needed the income. I’m continuing to apply for work in my field but it’s not looking great in this economy. It could be a while that I have to work this lower-level job until I can find something better. What’s the best mindset for me to get through this period? The work isn’t difficult, but I don’t love it and hate feeling like I’m not working to my full potential.

THE FIRST ANSWER

Erica Nye, registered clinical counsellor and career development professional, Connect Therapy and Career, Squamish, B.C.

It may help to think of this job as a bridge rather than as a measure of where you are in your career.

What you are describing is underemployment: being employed in work that does not fully use your experience or qualifications. That can be psychologically difficult because work is often tied to our sense of identity and competence. After a long job search, it is also easy to start interpreting your current circumstances as evidence about your professional value.

Your current level of employment and your actual level of capability are not the same. The experience and professional judgment you built before taking this role have not disappeared because the labour market has not yet produced the right opportunity.

I would also be careful about thinking of the work as “beneath” you. It may be below your level of qualification, but that is different. The job has an important function right now: it provides income and some stability while you continue looking.

It is also worth keeping some connection to the professional life you are trying to return to. That could be as simple as staying in touch with people in your field or keeping one professionally relevant activity going. You do not need to turn this period into another full-time job of constant upskilling and applications.

Use your energy selectively. Do the current job well, but do not feel compelled to prove your potential through it. Preserve enough capacity for the search itself and for the rest of your life.

A bridge job can be below your level without meaning your career has moved backward. Your circumstances have changed; your professional capability has not.

THE SECOND ANSWER

Bill Howatt, founder and chief mental health officer, Howatt HR Consulting Inc., Halifax and Ottawa

One of the most important things to remember is that your current job is not your identity. It’s a role you’re performing during a specific season of your life, not a measure of your value, talent or future potential.

Periods of underemployment can be emotionally challenging because the struggle is often less about the work itself and more about how we feel about the gap between where we are and where we hoped to be. It’s natural to feel frustrated when your skills, education or experience aren’t being fully utilized. The key is not allowing that frustration to become self-doubt.

A helpful mindset is to view your current job as a bridge, not a destination. Right now, the position is providing income, structure, routine and stability while you continue pursuing opportunities in your field. There is dignity in doing what is necessary to support yourself while working toward a longer-term goal.

Another useful perspective is to focus on growth rather than title. Every job offers opportunities to build transferable skills such as communication, adaptability, customer service, teamwork, problem-solving and resilience. These skills remain valuable regardless of where your career takes you next.

At the same time, don’t put your professional development on hold. Continue networking, learning, volunteering, pursuing certifications or taking on projects that help keep your skills current and your confidence intact. Progress does not stop simply because your current job isn’t your ideal role.

Most importantly, remember that economic conditions can create barriers that have little to do with your capability or potential. Avoid measuring your worth by your job title. Instead, measure yourself by the actions you continue to take. Persistence, adaptability and a willingness to keep moving forward often become the qualities that matter most during difficult career transitions. Sometimes the goal isn’t to love every step of the journey. It’s to keep moving until the next opportunity appears.

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