How would you take a co worker telling you your job was beneath you

26 comments

1. Depends very much on the inflection with which it was said. It’s either a compliment or classic British dry sarcasm.

2. That they think your talents are being wasted, definitely meant as a compliment

   Probably a bit true too, find something better out there and if a good position comes up for them then reach out

3. You should definitely take that as a compliment and even encouragement to do better because they think you’re bright, but if you’re doing what you enjoy and want to do, you can let him know you’re doing it for specific reasons

4. I’ve said something similar to a coworker once. His experience, education and talents were wasted in a largely dead-end job that didn’t treat us too well and I was trying to convonce him to go find a better job.

5. Just another lie disguised as a complement. Never believe any compliments

6. I’d take it as a compliment and look for a new job.

7. Total compliment. Well done for being great at it.

8. I would take it as it’s intended. I’m clearly able to handle a more “complex” job. I know that. I just don’t do it because the bullshit that comes with those jobs isn’t worth the money that they pay.

9. What did you say back to him?

   Hopefully, “In what way?” and then you’d get the context.

10. „I know, but I love it. That’s why I voluntarily went down one position.“

11. I’d be complimented

12. I’ve had bosses tell me this a few times in my life.
    My response was always the same, “Aren’t they all?”

13. Take it positively in the sense that you’re overqualified.

    Take it negatively in the sense that you could increase your ambitions.

14. They probably sound a bit bitter. They think that you are naturally talented at something or that you are far too smart to be doing whatever it is that you currently do.

    they are probably thinking what they would be able to achieve if they had what you have, and that makes them upset that you are wasting those gifts.

15. I’d take it as a compliment to be honest.

16. Thank them for seeing my worth

17. That’s a good complement. Also a suggestion to be more assertive in taking better positions in life.

18. LOL unless she’s a hiring manager, she’s not the queen of underemployment.

    Sometimes its just local economic cycle no individual’s fault.

    The only “creepy” part could be its a positive polite way to get you out of the way so she can take your position. Could you just, like, get a promotion or something, so I can take your job?

19. Its meant as it is.

    And it is a compliment. There’s people who are not qualified for a job and still get it and do shit… and then there’s people who excel in that job and who normally are even qualified for far complicated jobs (but have the problem to not get into that position).

20. [This scene](https://youtu.be/Xv7eeMikM_w) in Good Will Hunting says it all.

21. The song piano man made me feel this way

22. It’s a compliment but it always feels like there’s a fringe of annoyance when they say it. Not at you, mind. They’re annoyed that they don’t have the talent/skills you have and that you appear to be squandering yours.

    That said, do what makes you happy, mate.

23. Fix mental health to where I can get something out of it and introduce proper socialism, *then* tell me my job’s beneath me, Freud

24. Depends. Could be a compliment. Could be a wake-up call.

    Begin to reassess and reevaluate. Either back off the effort if it’s not rewarded and/or look elsewhere.

25. Depends on who the coworker was. If it was someone I couldn’t stand I couldn’t give two shits, I would be more curious as to why they thought that more than anything.

    If it was someone I actually respected then I would be flattered

26. I’d appreciate it. It means that they think I can do better