Are you committing career suicide?

[SoCalDem]

http://money.cnn.com/2009/11/19/news/economy/survival_jobs/

Are you committing career suicide?
Workers fear that settling for a survival job could hurt them when hiring picks up again.

By Jessica Dickler, CNNMoney.com staff writer
Last Updated: November 22, 2009: 7:42 AM ET


John Reh started walking dogs
to earn some cash while he was
looking for a job.
Now it's his full-time gig.


NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- The difficult job market has forced millions of workers to downgrade into a position they're overqualified for or take a survival job to make ends meet. And while riding out the recession might be a practical strategy for now, what will become of the underemployed when the dust clears and it's time to get back on track? There are currently 9.3 million underemployed workers limited to part-time jobs because they can't find full-time employment -- a record high, according to the Labor Department's October jobs report.

"If you are in a situation where you can't pay your bills and you are going to miss you mortgage payment and your kids need clothes for school, you are going to do what you need to do," said career expert for Glassdoor.com Rusty Rueff. But a smaller paycheck could push you back a rung in the in salary ladder, and make it that much harder to get back to where you were.

That's exactly what Dan Juan is afraid of. Juan, 25, is a sales coordinator at a shipping company in Cincinnati, Ohio and in order to stay employed, he has had to weather three demotions over the last year and half, all with corresponding pay cuts. "When future employers ask me what my salary was at my last job, I have to tell them that it's $34,000 instead of $42,000," he said. "I do worry that it may affect my long-term career." Some displaced workers who were forced to take temporary positions or seasonal jobs to pay the bills also fear getting back into their field with a big gap in their résumé.

John Reh, a 35-year-old former recruiter, found himself out of work midway through last year. Despite an MBA and nearly a decade of experience recruiting mid- and senior-level executives, Reh says the only jobs available were entry level "and a solid 50% to 60% less than what I was making." During his search, Reh started walking dogs to earn some spending cash, and as his job search went cold, he devoted more time to his pet project.

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[MilesColtrane]

1. I don't think the idea of a career applies to most people anymore.

That implies long term employment and steady advancement in position and salary.

[SoCalDem]

2. and many of the "former" jobs will never be back..

at least not for a very long time..

[Lochloosa]

3. I took a 20% pay cut for the same job position after being layed off in March.

At the time I told my wife that it was strange to think I would never make the same salary again.

I always assumed that at 52 these would be my highest paying years. Not going to happen.

[SoCalDem]

4. I know what you mean.. My husband's been lucky (so far)

and only plans to work until I turn 65 (4 more years), but anything could happen at any time.. & that's scary:(

[JCMach1]

5. Cath22 which looks worse underemployed or unemployed?

[Turbineguy]

6. Do what CEO's do.

Demand millions for running the company into the ground.

[elocs]

7. I've had jobs, and some good jobs, but I've never had a career

so career suicide would never be a problem for me. Now I'm coasting my 9 years until retirement.

[starroute]

8. Meanwhile these people are squeezing out the 20-somethings

My son is unemployed, and the last time he got as far as a job interview, the position -- which was about half a step above entry-level -- wound up going to someone who had a master's degree and 10 years experience.

My son would love to have a chance at those jobs that pay 50% of what the guy with the MBA is accustomed to -- but he's not getting it.