Do Times of Recession Mean Time to Take Any Job?

Is Any Job Better Than No Job?

Women in the workforce are constantly being urged to climb the social ladder and work in an industry that challenges them. After all, women deserve the same opportunities to work in a position and for a company that they love. However, this idea is slowing shifting—for both men and women.

In a bad economy, it is especially tough to find the job of your dreams. Everyone hopes to secure a position in a successful company where they can further their career and learn new business practices, but this is becoming increasingly difficult. More individuals are finding themselves in the situation of accepting a job that is unrelated to their work experience or field of study. However, as bills are approaching and interviews are decreasing, the prospect of taking any job seems more and more attractive; regardless of whether or not you can use the skills you have acquired over years of working and schooling. This led me to wonder: In this economy, should you settle for less than your best?

Before deciding to make a commitment with the first company that offers you a job, you should weigh the pros and cons of the decision:

Settle-for-Less Pros:

• Income: The most important aspect of a job is that you’ll have a steady stream of income. The more responsibilities you have, such as family, auto insurance, or loans, the more a stable income will be important.
• Experience: Any job, no matter what field or industry, will give you the chance to learn new skills and develop proficiencies. Even if the job you’re offered seems useless to your larger career goals, you may pick up experience that will prove useful in future positions.
• Security: Your income gives you stability in times of recession. In addition, there’s always a chance that your position may lead to promotion and therefore a more permanent position. Knowing that you have a job when finding a job is so uncertain will help put your worries to rest.

Take-the-Job Cons:

• Unrelated Field: Your job may not be related to your field of study or past experience. While it is true you may learn things that will help you in the future, there is a chance this job will teach you little. This may have a negative effect on your career path when you apply for future jobs; not to mention you may feel like you’re wasting your time with a job that will not help you get ahead. For example, my friend spends her days fixing business phone services when she specializes in selling health insurance. Needless to say, she isn’t thrilled.
• Dissatisfaction: If your job is not in your field of interest or does not pay you a comparative salary, then you may become discouraged and unhappy. Not only will you be unhappy that your job is not leading to better things, but doing the actual job itself is likely to be very uninteresting.
• Lack of Freedom: If your current position requires you to work a standard work week, then your ability to interview for other jobs decreases.  As you dedicate more time to your current job, it reduces the opportunities that you can apply for other jobs.

If you’re still confused about whether taking any job is the right decision in this economy, you should consider your situation and whether you have options that allow you to wait. Here are a few questions that may help you decide whether you should wait for the right job or get working immediately:

5 Questions to Ask Before You Accept Any Old Job Offer

1. Do you have any savings?

If you have savings that can last you one year, you can try to dedicate more time interviewing and looking for jobs that are related to your field. If you truly devote 40 hours per week to finding a job in your field, you are much more likely to find that dream job. Plus, your pay will likely be higher than if you were to take any old job offer.

2. Are you willing to travel?

You may have to travel further, or even relocate to work at a preferred job. Ask yourself whether or not this is something you are willing to do. If you are not willing to travel for a good job, then your options are much more limited; therefore taking any job might be the solution. After all, beggars can’t be choosers.

3. Are you looking for a temporary or permanent position?

If you are simply looking for a temp position, you may be able to struggle through working at a job that is not in your field. Jobs are now hard to come by, so unless you’re looking for something long-term, I would suggest taking an unrelated job if the opportunity arises.

4. Do you have any contacts?

One of the most common ways in which people find jobs is through networking. Ask everyone you know whether their company is hiring, and if they can refer you to a position that is suited for you. If you have a lot of contacts, your chances of getting that dream job are much higher, so it may be worth it to wait.

5. How badly do you need the job?

This question is ultimately a deciding factor on whether you should take any job in a recession. If you’re in a dire financial situation with no savings and desperately need a source of income, or if you have no family to give you a place to stay while you look for a job, any job will temporarily fulfill that need for an income. But if you can wait out a little longer, then you can continue to interview and hopefully land the job of your dreams.

Whether you are a woman or a man, finding that job is no longer an easy task. Weigh the pros and cons and ask yourself a few of the questions above before making any rash decisions. The important thing to remember is not to let your pride get to you. Thousands of people each day are accepting jobs which do not use their education or their professional skills. Everyone knows the economy is hard—just make the decision that is right for you.

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