Overqualified? Yes, but Happy to Have a Job? Or maybe not so happy?

My first permanent job at a stable company since 2000 (that had its best year ever in 2009, BTW), was outsourced to some lovely folks on the subcontinent (e. g. I didn't work there any longer than I had at my last three temp assignments). And then, of course, the company realized that no one knew how to do not only my job but also the jobs of half of the other people who were downsized (oops, no one knew how to update the ecommerce site!).

Anyway, I'm using it as an opportunity to redefine myself yet again and try to get a new career in social media marketing/community management (yes, you can work as a moderator-type person for an actual salary). Not easy to find work but I am networking up a storm. An SM/CM (social media/community manager) role tends to be one for a more mature organization. So startup guys like me but have nothing for me. But they might in 3 - 6 - 12 months or so. Hence I hang in there and keep networking.

I've heard of a lot of people who remain (and not just at the place I was outsourced from) who are dissatisfied. It's not just overqualified people, it's also overworked people. Gee, what a big surprise. Give people three times as much work to do at the same salary and they're pissed off and depressed? My God! Why aren't those people ecstatic to be working at all???

This is great!

I was thinking no one was going to respond to this thread. (Maybe my questions were a bit on the nosy side, I wondered?) Anyway, it's so interesting to read all your different responses ...

all i want form a job is a paycheck, in return i will do the job required (and usually a bit beyond, sometimes to the extreme)

i'm not interested in being head of a department, steady work, check at the end of the week

i've never defined myself by my job

Hey Olga -

But when I think about some of the people I know and how they went 8 months without a job - some still do not have jobs...well - all I can feel is relief

I am a music teacher at a preschool three days a week...and I love it, couldn't do without it, but I am having to pick up other jobs along the way. I now will be teaching art / art history classes to elementary age children for 5 week sessions. It is mostly homeschooled kids. And I am substitute teaching at a few of my local schools. With three of my own children and baseball season here (they all three play)...I am exhausted

Do you think your husband will become frustrated if work opportunities in his field remain so scarce for quite a while yet?

My view was that since I had been an assistant editor, I had management experience. My ex insisted I work only in NH, not in MA, only two miles away. Driving home from an interview to serve as former Gov. Meldrim Thomson's press secretary, I saw workers hanging a marquee on a new employment agency.

I called immediately. The woman who answered identified herself as the president of the new firm. After I capsulized my C.V. for her, she told me that I was virtually unemployable. I said that I had been employed since graduation and her response was: That was in the Midwest. Here, in New England, we have standards.

... I earned a second masters from one of the traditional Ivy covered towers. Since then I have earned less than $20,000/annum, temping, substitute teaching, retailing, shelving library books and more.

I work six or seven days a week for this small amount of money so I have neither sufficient money nor time. On the other hand, I love my community college teaching post. . . one of the top three jobs of my life and one for which I am totally qualified . . . the problem is one three hour class pays $2,500 for the 16-week semester.

.... I'm lucky enough to not NEED to work (though we would have a lot more financial breathing room if I did -- we have enough on E.G.'s salary but not much more than enough), but I really enjoy working. I've had or have looked at jobs that I'm way overqualified for, some were OK, some were galling. I just don't really have the time to do the jobs I'm qualified for, though. Typically they'd be full-time-plus -- jobs that are nominally 40 hrs a week but in actuality stretch to 50, 60, 70.

My family is important to me, and my friends and relative freedom too, and so I'm not sure when I'll go back to work. I keep an eye open and every once in a while something ever-so-close lands on my lap. At some point, if nothing has presented itself, I'd probably go ahead and try to create the sort of job I want, with grants and such.

Hubby is currently working without pay (has been for over a year). He is paid on commission and has made nothing in over a year. He was let go a year or so ago from the company he was working for - since he was paid commission, he did not receive any unemployment benefits or pay. We have been without his income for over a year. He is working for another company from home, but so far no commissions.

I've been "gainfully" employed - survived the layoffs. I'd like to be laid off (if hubby was earning). At this point ironically, I've thought of going your previous route msolga and teach and I'd also consider a financial planner with the right company (kinda a teaching role in a different compacity). I am not 100% dissatisfied with my job - I like it, but with good and bad days - and like jespah said overworked because of layoffs. But some good news we are expected raises this year, although high end is 2% so I may have an increase of $20 or so a month.

I love overqualified workers. They don't stay as long, but they tend to be great when they're working for me.

You can call me Missy

he is actually loving the lack of stress and the extra hours he gets to be able to come home and read. He is an avid reader. We have book stacks all over the house.

After working such a high stress job for so many years, while I stayed home with the kids, I am just glad he can take a break.

But the house - oh the house. Such a mess - I resist it. I wish I could blink my eyes and it be miraculously in order.

Trade offs - it's all about trading off. Finding a way to get happy where you live.