You're Overqualified -- Get Over It

The same recession that saw millions of Americans lose their jobs also saw many of those same people land new positions they're not exactly thrilled about.

People who lost a job during the economic downturn and then found a new position -- 26 percent of currently employed adults -- are less likely than other workers to say they are satisfied with their jobs and more likely to say they are overqualified, according to a recent Pew Research Center study (PDF) on how the recession has affected American life.

To those people, Bob Kelleher (pictured above) has this to say: Get over it.

Kelleher is a former head of human resources at a Fortune 300 conglomerate who now counsels companies on employee engagement. He says when it comes to being happy in your work or making the most of a bad situation, take care of yourself and don't count on your employer to do it for you.

Managers are more concerned with tapping into employees' potential to help the company's performance than with keeping workers happy, and rightly so, Kelleher says. After all, look what happened to companies such as Digital Equipment Corp. and Polaroid. "The last thing a company wants is a happy but underperforming employee. That's a terrible business model," he says.

If you feel like you have more to offer than what is being asked of you, the worst thing you can do is complain about the situation or constantly remind your boss or co-workers of your past accomplishments, Kelleher says. Instead, dive into your work to show an employer you're capable of more. It could be the deciding factor in whether your boss thinks of you for a promotion or gives you a glowing recommendation when good times reappear and you're ready to move on.

Here are some of Kelleher's other suggestions for what to do and not do if you're working in a position for which you're overqualified:

1. Be enthusiastic. Attitude is everything. If people see you as optimistic, you'll have a far better chance at getting back to where you were than if you're a sourpuss. "People want to be around positive people," Kelleher says.

2. Excel in the job you're in. The best way to show a boss you're capable of more is to be fantastic in your current role. Make yourself indispensable -- that's the kind of employee  companies promote, Kelleher says.

3. Volunteer for extra work, and don't ask to be paid for it. If there's a project underway and it's something that could benefit from your previous experience, offer to help out. Or do extra work on your own time. For example, if your company is considering a merger or acquisition, and you've been through one before, do some due diligence over a weekend and present the results to your boss or bosses. "They could sit back and say 'Wow, Frank did this on his own; this is really great,'" Kelleher says.

4. Be a team player. Putting in extra hours and effort to get ahead is great if you keep your achievements and aspirations to yourself. Nobody wants to work with a braggart, Kelleher says. "If you go about it in a boastful way, you'll create animosity among your teammates, like the smart girl in class who always raises her hand. Do it like you're there to help the team," Kelleher says.

5. Become a mentor. If you follow football, you may know that New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick calls Alge Crumpler one of the team's key players, not because of the time the veteran tight end spends on the field -- which isn't a lot -- but because of how he's mentoring younger players now starting in his position. "Some professionals take pride in working with the junior people on the team, and they become invaluable" because of it, Kelleher says.

6. Maintain realistic expectations. If you're in a job you're overqualified for, concentrate on the reasons you took the position in the first place. Maybe it's a chance to learn a new skill or work in a different industry. Maybe the only positive aspect is that the job is paying the bills and putting food on the table -- and given the economy, that's pretty important, too. "Like any successful relationship, it has to be mutually beneficial," Kelleher says.

As the economy picks up, companies are starting to hire again, albeit slowly. Maximizing a not-so-ideal situation is in your best interest, so that when you're ready to start looking again, you'll have something to show for yourself. "Be solution-driven, and not so negative," Kelleher says.