Are Dirt-Church Jobs Worth Taking Anymore?

March 10, 2009 by sparktalk

By J.T. O’Donnell

A while back, a young job seeker contacted me with a very interesting problem. He was working in the corporate offices of a professional sports team that had just won the most coveted title in its league after many years of not winning. (I can’t tell you what team it was, but let me just mention I live outside of Boston. That should narrow it down a bit.)

His problem? After two years in the job, it was made clear to him by management that while he was doing great work, there was no advancement for him in the area he wanted to build his professional skills. So, he put together his resume and started applying for positions.

Well, he got plenty of interviews. In fact, he said almost every place he applied was calling him. However, their reason for contacting him wasn’t to hire him. It was to ask, “Why would you ever want to leave your current job? It’s got to be the best job in the world!” In fact, his own boss had told him that the reason he would never get a raise or promotion was because it was a ‘dirt-church’ job.

“A WHAT!?” I asked. He explained….

According to his boss, a dirt-church job is one where you are treated like, well, dirt, and toil away for six days. But, on the seventh day, you get to clean yourself up, go to church and proudly tell everyone where you work…making it all worth doing again the following week. In short, the prestige of the job is so huge that you are willing to put up with endless amounts of bad treatment, long hours and ungrateful management. Why? Because you are getting paid to do a job that, as they say in The Devil Wears Prada, “a thousand girls would kill for.” And in many ways – it’s true.

Let’s be honest, the mere listing of this team as a ‘current employer’ on this guy’s resume was enough to land him interviews. Wouldn’t we all like it to be that easy? Especially, in this economy! However, it was also a curse because nobody, I mean NOBODY, believed he really wanted to move on and advance his career. It was as if they thought he was flawed in some way.

With some strategic coaching on how to shift the perceptions of potential employers, he did land a new job. But, it begs the question: Is this kind of job still worth it? Years ago, I’d say ‘yes’ without hesitation. Now, I wonder? As a career strategist, I think I’d be inclined to evaluate the pro’s and con’s much more deeply before advising a person to take it.

What do you all think? Take the dirt-church job for a couple of years? Or, avoid it like the plague? Have any of you ever taken one of these jobs? If so, was it worth it?

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Filed Under: Career Advice (Articles), Job Search Tactics
Tagged: advice, Boston, career, church, dirt, job, league, professional, sport, team, work

Comments

Andrew Hennessy

Personally, if I had a job with a professional sports team, I would never leave them.

I think in today's economy, it might be more appealing to take the dirt-church job only because it may be the only job avaliable. To some it could be the ultimate dream job, but to others, it may just be a resume builder. However, if presented with multiple job offers, I think taking the job where there is a chance for advancement in the company may be the best call.

As a college student, I have not been in either of these positions but I'm sure I will in the near future.

J.T. O'Donnell

Ahh Andrew, spoken like a true sports fan!

Although, I have to tell you (and I hope some other readers chime in too), if you've ever been in these jobs, they are not fun! 12 hour days doing stuff you don't want to do takes its toll. It makes you loathe the very thing you were attracted to about the job. You become seriously jaded. And each time someone says, "You've got the coolest job in the world!" you want to pinch them.

I agree with choosing the job with advancement - that gives you something to focus your efforts on.

Thanks for commenting!

John

J.T. is right on this one. You think you can bear down and just do it for a while until it pays off, but you do start to become over-stressed and eventually jadedness creeps in. I've seen it in my co-workers who have been here for more than a year. Think of going through the motions of studying, going to class, and writing papers, only to find out there was no degree at the end.

Scott C Griffin

For one , if you NEED a job I'd take it (considering todays economic situation) but knowing that it is only temporary and that I would look for better to further my career. It is too bad that, in my opinion, many more managers, companies and organizations have such a distorted egocentric view of themselves - that they can treat anyone like dirt and get away with it!

It is a poor situation to be in where the 'outside world' has a distorted view of how great that organization is and why anyone would leave. It really sounds like they have a real good PR campaign system. What I suggest is to learn from the situation and piggy-back off the PR that they have and say something like "Yea, they are a GREAT organization!!! And I can bring with me some of that same greatness that I have learned to YOUR organization! How about it?!?" In essence, turn the focus off me and back onto the interviewing company and their needs.

I am assuming that is what the poor soul did when you mentioned that he was able to turn the situation around after career coaching. But I have to congraduate the person on his new-found position!

BenEubanks

When I tell people where I work, they often are very surprised, because I then mention that I'm looking for a new job. They say, "Why would you ever want to leave?"

Well, I'm a young guy with a lot of ideas, and I'm certainly not going to be able to realize any big dreams while I'm toiling away at a dead-end job forever. I guess from the definition that I'm also stuck in one of those jobs (although not for long!).

J.T. O'Donnell

I agree Ben! It is so tough to deal with the feelings that creep up every time some says that to you. How do you point out to them your aspirations when they've already decided you are foolish for wanting to look elsewhere? It's just easier to smile and say nothing. No point in trying to change them.

Good luck on your job search - I've got a good feeling about it this week!

Michaela DeRoche

Besides the fact that I am not interested in sports, I don't think I could go to a job every day and feel like I had no potential future. I'm with you J.T, it doesn't sound like fun! I believe rewards and potential promotions motivate people. I wouldn't be motivated to work harder and grow as a professional if I knew I was at a dead end. I have never been in a position like this before, but I will keep this post in mind in the future.

Carlyn

I am going through the same thing that this guy went through. When I tell people where I work, they seem impressed and always want to know more about what I do and the company.

Well, much like BenEubanks, who already commented on this wall and may have said it best- I'm a young professional with a lot of ideas and I'm not certain that I'll be able to realize my dreams here. This belief has lead me to question whether or not moving on is the right thing for me and has opened a whole new door of questions: What do I do now?

J.T. O'Donnell

Hi Carly,

Great question. I suggest doing some informational interviewing to seek answers to some of those questions that have popped up. Reach out to people in your industry, or the industry you think you might want to go into and see if you can meet them in person or by phone to learn more and help you make an informed decision.

Also, keep in mind that the average American will have as many as 9 careers in their lifetime with an average of 3 jobs in each one. The tagline 'Because EVERY Job is Temporary' really is true. So, don't over think the situation. If you can find a company and/or a field of interest that impresses you enough that it gives you the internal motivation to want to work - then you are on track.

Also, I suggest checking out the University of Missouri's Career Interest Test on their 'Alumni' page. It's a free resource that can help narrow down options. Here's the link: http://www.career.missouri.edu.

I hope that helps a little!

Meg Homan

This story and Andy's story from the movie The Devil Wears Prada both present an interesting dilemma. Personally, I think that to work in a "dirt-church" job that maybe a thousand other people would die for would be a good experience. It sounds like this job seeker, as well as Andy from the movie learned a lot about themselves and will never have a regret because they did have that so called "dream job" that turned out to not be as great as they thought. However, both of them have seemed to have learned a lot about themselves and can now add that experience to their resume.

Sheema

I think I would go with the dirt-church job, at least for a couple of years. I think it would be a good way to make contacts and learn a lot. However, I agree with Andrew- if someone got multiple offers, I'd go with the one where there was room for advancement. I think it really depends on what the job is- I'm a sports fan, so working with one for a few years would be fun for me, whereas for someone else it would be a nightmare!

juliaerickson

To me, the question is less should you take the job in the first place than what is your reason for leaving. Do you really think there is no room for advancement in the future? Are you being realistic about how long it will take to advance and/or make more money? Have you asked for a raise and been turned down? Do you know why? What do other people in the organization think of you and your work? Are you working with a mentor?

A woman I worked with at the NY Yankee organization was there for 20+ years and ended up as a very well-paid senior executive. She told me she started in a very low-level, low-paying job. Because she stuck around, she was rewarded for loyalty. My guess is that at sports teams, as at Bloomberg LP, once you leave, you can't go back. So be very sure you want to leave.

If it's your first job, and you apply and are offered the job, I think it's fair to take it and use it as a stepping stone. BUT: you will have to have a great story about why you want to move on. That could be anything from wanting to take the skills you've learned there to benefit other organizations, using the model of a sports team (frame it in terms of your having a long-term vision for your life). You could say you want to learn more well-rounded skills, etc.

I had a great job and people didn't understand why I was moving on, so I said I'd done all I could there and it was time to move on. That, people understood. Other reasons to leave are relocation, or family issues, or wanting to change fields. As long as you sincerely want to move on, you can be persuasive to any prospective employer. It won't work to be insincere and throw out a line that's not grounded in fact.

So before you take the job, be very sure you want to work for a sports team in the first place, or for any other organization that demands loyalty. If you don't have a passion for the work, the low pay won't be worth it regardless of the prestige. And you'll have the added problem of having to explain why you took the job in the first place if you didn't think you wanted to stay.

Josh Neal

Take the dirt-church job because it could be great to put on your resume. Then when potential employees see where you have worked you might stand out from the crowd. If you’re just taking the job to brag about where you work but you’re going to be miserable then I don’t think you should take the dirt-church job.

Bottom line if you’re taking the dirt-church job to build your resume then do it, but if you’re just taking it so people will envy you, your life, your job, then I would start to rethink your thoughts and motives. Be miserable or be happy? Your choice!

At the end of the day I’m not going to stay with a job or take a job where there is no room for advancement. I feel like it would be a step backwards.

CCGAL

That's a totally new expression for me, "Dirt Church" but it makes sense. Interesting article, something to think about.

nikipaniki

I agree with most of the commenters about taking the dirt-church job as a resume builder. I mean a lot of people think you've got the best job in the world only because they see a very small portion of your job scope. They see that it's glamorous and all that but I'm sure that if they do have a chance to be in a position as yours they would then realize why you'd want to leave it.

Living your life to impress others wouldn't make you happy in the long run. At the end of the day, you live for yourself, and if you're not happy with who you are, what you've become, what you're doing, etc, then you've failed. Besides, if it doesn't fulfill you, is it really worth it to stay?

Nancy

I think that these jobs are much more worthwhile at the beginning of a career. The problem is living down your departure, and not just in your professional circle but also your personal one. Early in my career, I went to work for a the local newspaper. Let's call it the Huckleberry Times. The Huckleberry Times doesn't serve the largest metropolitan area but has the highest market saturation of any newspaper in the country and is very well regarded both locally and in news circles.

The newsroom has earned their reputation. The problem was that I was in advertising support. I wasn't directly selling but had endless meetings on how to improve the performance of my team - myself and the fratboy outside rep I was saddled with. When things were going well, it was the market. When things went south, it was all my fault. The staff, management included, were a bunch of cannibals ready to chew their teammate's arm off if it made them look better.

After a year and change, one of my customer's started explicitly asking me to interview for a position with their company. Finally, I did. It seemed that much of my allure was that they were getting me from the *gasp* Huckleberry Times.

My mother-in-law still tells people when they meet me some 2 years after I left, that I use to work for the Huckleberry Times. I get questions that are tip toed versions of "you have to be crazy to have left!"

The environment was toxic, the management horrible, the opportunities for professional growth marginal, and the BS thick - but I am still glad that I took the job.

anon

such resonance! from a secretary at a Fortune 500 company!!

Mel

I'm currently in a dirt-church position.

I agreed to it for lower pay as well. The difference is that I am still in college, so I have the hope that once I graduate I can get the "real" job I want or move on.

Sometimes, you really just need fillers. Something that will provide some experience (even if limited) and accommodate what you need. In this case it worked for me, even though I have to swallow my pride almost everyday.

If I was graduated and could work full time, I would not waste my time on a dirt-church job. However, the major benefit is that now I can cross one career path off my life.

Anon

NOT WORTH IT. You live in misery for years, and the company gets annoyed at you when you show initiative. What the heck kind of company does that?! A prestigious one that you shouldn't bother wasting your time with. You spend so much time at work, make sure it is something you love.

Anon

NOT WORTH IT. I had one of these jobs and suffered every day, and it was impossible to find another job until the "prestigious one" fired me for showing too much initiative!!! You spend so much time in your job make sure it is something you love, not something that makes you admired among gossipy neighbours.

carolchristen

If someone has honestly answered the question, "Where do I want to be in five years?" accepting or rejecting a dirt-church job becomes easier. Blow the hype away. Will the dirt-church job help you or hinder you in getting where you want your life to be in 5 years? Get in the habit of asking yourself the question. It's the same criteria job seekers should apply to every job offer.

CAREEREALISM

I love that perspective Carol. People always look at their jobs in terms of, "Can I handle doing this the rest of my life?" Instead, they should look at it as you've pointed out. "What will it get me if I do this just a few years?" I also think people in these jobs don't focus on their next move to leverage it. They get caught up in the job and forget to invest time/energy figuring out what they will do with the experience. Sort of a 'Devil Wears Prada' approach. She ends up starting over, BUT does get the killer reference.

Thanks for stopping by and contributing such smart advice. I hope you'll come back again!

Are Dirt-Church Jobs Worth Taking Anymore?

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