6 Signs You’re Way Overqualified For Your Job
Franklin D. Roosevelt one said: “Happiness is not in the mere possession of money. It lies in the joy of achievement, in the thrill of creative effort.”
Are you truly happy with your job? Do you wake up feeling like your career isn’t all it was cracked up to be?
Moreso, have you ever wondered why you are feeling this way? It's possible that you feel so tortured because you are too qualified for your current position. These are sure signs that you're overqualified for your job.
1. You are bored outta your mind.
Being overqualified in your position translates to you not being able to focus on your work, simply because it doesn't require you to work hard or put your mind and heart into it. This is a major problem because this way of working just isn’t sustainable. Soon, you will burn out, start doing other things at work, or get caught up in your own head. Feeling satisfied with what you do isn’t too much to ask from your work. If you're feeling completely bored or unsatisfied, it's time to shake things up.
2. You could be your boss.
If your boss knows less than you do, can you really respect or tolerate the hierarchy in place? Probably not. Your boss is the captain of the ship, providing instructions for what needs to get done on “deck." This person should also be able to mentor you. They guide your professional future. Working without a mentor can make you feel stifled and lost in your own career. If this is happening to you, stop the madness. If you need to be the boss, but you currently don’t hold that title, feel free to make boss moves elsewhere.
3. You need more work to do.
If you can’t finish your workday without having to ask for more work to do or wasting hours away on your Facebook timeline, you have a clear problem staring you in the face. The typical work problem is not having enough time to get through your daily workload, not having too little to do. You are either too good at what you are doing, or your workload is inferior to what you are capable of handling. Either way, a change is a must for your ultimate peace of mind.
4. You can’t stay in your own lane.
Do you find yourself involved in the affairs of your co-workers? Do you find yourself being a mediator when things are less than cuddly at work? Why are you not staying in your own lane? There's usually 4 reasons for this.
- You love drama.
- You don’t have too much going on, so why not?
- You have the “experience” to help the situation.
- All of the above.
If you're too bored in your role to avoid the drama or you're the most mature person in your office, you're too qualified for your position. Get a new job rather than getting caught up in something that has nothing to do with you. Resist the urge!
5. You can see a bigger picture that others can’t.
Have you ever been accused of being too creative or being too “out-of-the-box?” Guess what? You don’t have a problem. It is those around you who are lacking vision and creativity. When you see a bigger picture for your company and you are told that is out of the realm of possibility, you have to wonder if you are really in the right place for your career. Forward-thinking should be celebrated, not silenced.
6. You haven’t felt challenged in way too long.
If you could practically complete your work with your eyes closed, you should question what is going on in your professional life. Your job shouldn’t be the equivalent of climbing Mount Everest (unless that is what you do). But, you should feel some type of pressure to figure out new problems, address new situations, and at the bare minimum, use a brain cell or two.
If you've gone through this checklist and arrived at the conclusion you are in a position that you are overqualified for, don't freak out. Knowledge is power. Now you can act. There are plenty of options for you to consider to move forward, including:
- Talking with your boss about a new position or developing a new position for you to remain in the company.
- Looking for opportunities outside of your job for a fresh new start.
- Pursuing opportunities where you can work for yourself or as a consultant.
- Getting into a new career that is different from your existing industry.
If these options don’t apply to you, there are plenty of other options that you can consider to improve your current predicament. The point is that you do something. Don’t waste away in a job you no longer care about or in a position that is taking your skill set for granted. Do something and move forward. I have full confidence in you. Do you?
--
Natasha Nurse started Dressing Room 8 to provide a web-based resource where women can gain personal and professional empowerment through her fashion and lifestyle focused blog. She is the Lifestyle Editor for Plus Model Magazine, a Program Coordinator for Long Island Girl Talk, and she co-hosts a podcast with her husband called WokeNFree. Follow Natasha on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, and Google Plus.
Why women love us:
- Daily articles on career topics
- Jobs at companies dedicated to hiring more women
- Advice and support from an authentic community
- Events that help you level up in your career
- Free membership, always