Overworked, Over Qualified and Underpaid

For as long as I can remember, I’ve been taught that, as a black woman, to get anywhere in the professional world, you have to work twice as hard. Throughout my career, that’s exactly what I did. My work ethic is impeccable, and going above and beyond became second nature. I was always told, “Don’t worry about what others do; just focus on your job.” And so, I did. I was recognized by the company and given more responsibility, but I remained underpaid. Despite doing more than twice the work of some colleagues, I earned the same as those doing far less. I was taught that this is just the way it is. But, oh hell no!

That is a terrible mindset. When Black parents teach their children to accept such conditions, it instills a sense of inferiority. What ends up happening is you become disgruntled, feel underappreciated, and believe that’s how it should be throughout your career. But that’s not true.

The first thing you must do is learn how to perform your job effectively. The second is to learn how to advocate for yourself. You can’t sit quietly and accept whatever is handed to you. No one should outwork everyone on the team without recognition. This creates resentment and dissatisfaction. Instead, take the skills you’ve acquired, update your resume, and prepare to find a place where your talents and efforts are appreciated.

Don’t settle for less. Don’t watch mediocrity be rewarded while you overwork yourself. This benefits no one but your employer. Remember, employment is a mutual exchange of benefits. One of those benefits should be feeling valued and being paid what you’re worth. Although, I’ll tell you right now, you will never be paid exactly what you’re worth. You’ve got to negotiate everything. Closed mouths don’t get fed. So what should you do if you’re feeling like your stuck in a company where you are undervalued?

1. Enhance Your Skills and Resume– Continuously develop your professional skills and ensure your resume reflects your accomplishments and capabilities. This will prepare you to seek better opportunities where your contributions are valued.

2. Advocate for Yourself– Learn to speak up about your workload and compensation. Don’t accept the status quo. Communicate your value and negotiate for fair pay and responsibilities.

3. Seek Environments That Appreciate Your Value– Look for workplaces that recognize and reward hard work and talent. Don’t stay in a position where you feel underappreciated. Find a job that offers mutual respect and appropriate compensation.

I can’t stress enough how important it is to negotiate your pay, Please do not leave money on the table. By focusing on these three things, you can shift from feeling overworked, overqualified, and underpaid to being in a position where your contributions are valued and compensated.