5 Surprising Ways a Bad Job Can Be Good for Your Career

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• December 22, 2014
• By Michelle Kruse
• 6 Comments

Bad jobs come in many classifications. Perhaps your manager is unprofessional or you’re grossly underpaid or you’re surrounded by catty coworkers. A bad job can make it difficult to keep a smile on your face when you head into the office each morning, but take heart: Something positive can come from your negative experience.

Keep these things in mind when you’re feeling defeated, and stay strong until you find something better. (Click here to tweet this bit of inspiration.)

Your resume will thank you for it

Future employers won’t see all of the dirty details of your bad job — nor will they want to. They’ll see the name of the company, your title and your list of responsibilities. By achieving as much as you can in the position under the circumstances, you’ll be rewarded with an impressive entry on your resume.

Tempted to talk smack in future interviews? Bite your tongue and focus on the positive aspects of the position. You have the power to make that bad job look good.

You’ll learn about leadership

In many cases, a bad job comes down to the boss. Whether they’re disorganized, disconnected or unpleasant, a bad boss can have a negative impact on every level of the company. Rather than relegating yourself to cursing management under your breath, watch them closely and recognize what makes them so ineffectual and how their bad behavior impacts those around them.

If you find yourself in a leadership position in the future, you’ll have a clear idea of the kind of boss you want to be — and the kind you don’t want to be.

You’ll clarify your career goals

Bad jobs can have the unexpected result of giving clarity to your career path — but only if you don’t get so mired in the negativity that all you can think about is getting out. Having a job that makes you unhappy will cause you to consider the kind of job you really want. This is something you may not think about as much in a job where you’re merely satisfied.

Define what you want in a job, then keep those characteristics in mind as you work toward your next step.

You’ll get better at confrontations

No one likes confrontations, but in a bad job, you may have to stand up to coworkers or your boss if you strongly disagree with how a situation is being handled. This might cause anxiety and unhappiness, but look at it this way: You’re learning to handle disagreements in a calm, professional and democratic way.

If you’re sparring with someone who can’t be reasoned with, keep your cool and refuse to stoop to their level. Knowing how to remain calm and collected under pressure is a great skill to have.

You’ll build your network

No matter how bad the job, you’re bound to cross paths with the people you work with in the future. You may bond with coworkers who share your frustration with the company, and that’s a strong connection you’ll always have — even years later when you’ve all moved on to better positions.

And the employees who gave you the most grief? They could be useful contacts to have in the future, so be sure to leave in a polite, professional way — no dramatic exit required.

The key to any bad job is to stay optimistic no matter how difficult it gets. By keeping the positive aspects of the position in mind, you refuse to allow a company’s negativity to influence you, and you’ll move on — and you will move on eventually — unscathed.

Know this: As soon as you walk out that door on your way to something better, that bad job will be nothing more than a memory. Who knows — you may even be able to laugh about it one day.

Michelle Kruse has more than 10 years of hiring and recruiting experience and a background in coaching and leadership development. At ResumeEdge, Michelle recruits and hires resume writers, provides training and ongoing support, manages strategic partnerships and serves as a subject matter expert on the job search process.

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