Being underemployed can be a frustrating experience,considering someone
is not given work or responsibility commensurate with qualification or
experience.But there are ways to get around it,as Writankar Mukherjee suggests.
1 Identify the Reasons
Do some stock-taking on why you are not given work.Is it because the boss
likes or trusts someone else Or,have you done something unacceptable Take
responsibility rather than asking for it.If bosses see that you really
want to work,there will be no dearth of assignments, says Jindal Steel
and Power executive director Manish Kharbanda.
2 Upgrade your Skills
This may be the perfect time to enroll for that part-time professional
course or go in for a distance-learning one.However,this applies only if
you are underqualified.If someone is overqualified and underemployed,they
can improve their communication and influencing skills by enrolling in
a workshop or training, says Angel Broking senior VP (HR) Dhruv Desai.
3 Opt for Challenges
The best way to get noticed by the bosses is to opt for a transformational
project within the company.Contributing to cross-functional projects is
another good option,says Ikya Human Capital Solutions MD Ajit Isaac.This
could be projects around quality enhancements or product development.It
could be a fitting way to prove ones worth, he says.
4 Think before you Quit
A person who is underemployed can be desperate to make a switch.But it
is always better to mend relationships in the current job,create a positive
image and then look for a change.Otherwise,there are possibilities of a
negative comment by the boss during reference checks.Any role or job has
its own dimensions,at times not optimally exploited by the professional.One
can try and take a re-look,and this can be more satisfying, says says ICICI
Prudential Life Insurance HR head Judhajit Das.
5 Skip Online Games
The worst damage to your image could come from playing online games or
being on Facebook the whole day.Spend your spare time getting to know about
the company,reading about the industry and competitors.Build a relationship
with other colleagues.Or do constructive jobs like working on CSR projects.