Professional jealousy

Over the course of my career I have experienced what I like to call professional jealousy. Actually, I have experienced it and projected it – and when that happens it isn’t my finest moment to be sure.

It wasn’t until after I started writing this article that I discovered there actually is a psychological diagnosis of professional jealousy. Hmph. Imagine that.

That’s not the angle in my mind when I thought about this article, though. The gulf that exists between white collar and blue, engineers and skilled trades, management and field personnel; whatever you call it – it is that professional jealousy I speak of.

How exactly do we define professional jealousy in a skilled trades setting? What about examples of it in action?

Oxford dictionary defines jealous as “feeling or showing an envious resentment of someone or their achievements, possessions, or perceived advantages.” This hits the nail on the head.

Professional jealousy, then, would be jealousy exhibited in the workplace. Some examples would aid us in clarifying it.

I have seen guys in the field complain about a foreman who to them doesn’t do anything. That is, he doesn’t work in the gang with the guys. To them, he isn’t working.

Maybe they are right. Perhaps he is lazy, using his position to get out of performing work. In that case their criticism is warranted.

But in many cases the foreman has duties which prohibit him from working in the gang, from being a working foreman as it were. He could be scheduling with other foremen, other crafts, or maybe he is looking at work to aid in the bidding process. Whatever his reason(s) they are legitimate. Those complaining? Professional jealousy is at work.

Ever heard guys in the field complain about those in the office and how they don’t do anything? Not only is that not true but at the core professional jealousy is at play. It could be they wish they could be in a climate controlled building during weather extremes, they think they don’t deserve what they make, etc. The bottom line is professional jealousy is the likely culprit.

It becomes even more clear when the attitude of criticism is directed at co workers of old; those who have been promoted who we used to work with. Perhaps it is true but sometimes it isn’t. Again, at play in many instances is professional jealousy.

I have seen guys attacked for nothing more than being promoted – and they were clearly the best choice. I’ve seen others tarnished by guys for moving up the company ladder and they were younger than others thought prudent. Even still, I’ve seen guys loathed for their work as they create and maintain a stellar work ethic – they are the go to guys when something needs to get done.

I’ve even seen guys bemoaned because they took their job and reputation seriously, stuck with it, and they were recognized over guys who partied, slacked off, or just weren’t the most dependable. Attacked for doing things well – talk about a morale buster.

All the above and MUCH more takes place at job sites and places of employment all around this country, everyday. But even those examples above or new ones you can conceive aren’t exactly what professional jealousy concepts I envisioned I’d write about. I had something more specific in mind when I began this article.

Have you ever experienced an air of superiority from a project manager or engineer? You know the feeling: you aren’t smart or intelligent enough to do what we do?

Or perhaps you have thought those engineers or project managers are all book smarts and can’t do what you do.

This may be through the eyes of the skilled tradesmen but it can easily be through the eyes of the engineer: “those guys aren’t intelligent enough to be like me.” Or maybe you have thought those guys in the skilled trades get paid too much (I have heard this one myself).

All of the above are examples of professional jealousy at their core. Oh, and before I forget, I’m going to let you in on something: professional jealousy is exhibited both ways.

That’s right.

I have seen and heard many of my skilled trades compadres over the course of my career eviscerate those in traditional white collar roles. It’s nothing new to me. In fact, it’s merely par for the course at this stage in the game.

What’s relatively new, at least to me, is its reciprocation from the white collar role to the blue collar. I’m sure it’s as old as the jobs themselves, I just haven’t been in a position to see/hear it exhibited the whole time I’ve been in the trades. What’s more, it’s a great time to be in the trades and the increase in work/satisfaction/pay/retirement also increase the professional jealousy displayed.

I don’t necessarily mean the “they are not as smart as me” mentality; this is demonstrably false in so many instances. That level of professional jealousy is rather old. No, I’m referring to the belief from some in more traditional white collar roles that those in the skilled trades make too much; they should make less and I/we should only be making a decent living.

I have seen some very practically minded skilled tradesmen do/perform/create some amazing things to get a job done. I have witnessed others bring solutions to people’s attention – with an air of surprise, I might add. As if a skilled tradesman can’t possess and exercise cognitive reasoning. This act of professional jealousy has been around since the beginning of time.

What’s truly amazing is the thought that skilled tradesmen should make less. In many cases some think they should make much less. We already see it manifest in the formative years of one’s education: “you have to go to college to get a good job.” From there, scores of people fall for the lie, actually go to college, and some even manage to actually land a good job. Hey, even blind squirrels find a nut from time to time.

College – is it worth it?

At their core, though, they truly believe the lie that you have to go to college to get a good job. They went to college and therefore they should be the only ones with good jobs. So when tradesmen make a good living having gone through an apprenticeship (or worse, they merely acquired on the job training) it’s as if they are personally attacked. Their whole belief system is shattered. What do you mean they make that much for what they do? They didn’t go to college so how can they have a decent career? What do you mean they don’t have any debt from school? They should be collecting the scraps which fall from our table!

Why skilled trades have the best game in town

And to add insult to injury, I know plenty of tradesmen who make MORE than their white collar counterparts. Talk about an affront. How dare they? Who do they think they are?

You see, I’m convinced some of the professional jealousy I refer to is born out of bitterness and disappointment. Those who played the game like they were taught indoctrinated feel as though they were cheated. Well, that’s the matured form, anyway. Initially, they are frustrated there are some who, for many reasons, focused on a skilled trade instead and they have become prosperous. They are successful, enjoy their careers, have great benefits (especially retirement), AND aren’t saddled with often crippling debt that you can’t claim bankruptcy on. Their frustration with others being more successful than they are affronts their very belief system. As a result, they have anger below the surface, sometimes erupting in snide comments and statements reflecting the underlying beliefs. Is it little wonder, then, those who have been obedient discover they have been lied to and are bitter because of it? After some time, their bitterness metastasizes to include disillusionment and, to bring this full circle, allows them to display professional jealousy.

Perhaps this form of professional jealousy is new to you. Maybe you are a seasoned vet exposed to it or even participate actively. Whatever category you fall in I can say with certainty it’s real, distasteful, and corrosive.

I have written other articles detailing the shortage of skilled labor and its effect. Likewise, I’ve written about the saturation the labor market experiences with college degrees (see the above article). What has happened has been a fascinating outcome, one which could have been foreseen if we as a society had been willing. In the end we have to deal with our choices and those for a career are not exempt. The law of supply and demand is at work and those in the skilled trades are reaping the benefits while others bemoan and begrudge them.

Professional jealousy, exhibited in either direction is bad mojo. It’s almost expected from guys in the field (not that I’m excusing it, mind you) but when it comes from guys in the office; well, it’s surprising and sad all the same. Their entire work worldview has been challenged and is in disarray. If you haven’t been exposed to it or exhibit it I can think of only a few reasons why this is so. First, you could be lying. I mean, it wouldn’t be the first time, would it? Second, you earn enough money (think higher end of whatever your profession is) and you don’t see the success of the skilled tradesmen as a threat to your standing (because, quite frankly, that’s what it is). Third, and most likely the real reason, you have yet to run into and/or work with those in the skilled trades who, as the article posted below explains, have the best game in town.

Why skilled trades have the best game in town

When we distill it all down we should expose professional jealousy for the sham it is. It isn’t productive, it doesn’t gain us anything, and when we display it we don’t feel any better, either. It gives us nothing and demands a lot in return. Theodore Roosevelt is credited with saying comparison is the thief to joy and I agree with him on this. What we do is compare what we have to what others have and feel we are lacking. Never mind what we have that others don’t; no, we only focus on what we lack. We would do well to learn the secret to contentment.

Professional Jealousy is much more than most think – if it’s even acknowledged. Many have been exposed to it but because it hasn’t been named we don’t automatically call it what it is. Once identified, though, we can see how prevalent it is, that is is utilized in every direction, is detestable, and fosters bitterness and an inability to work together. Let’s call a spade a spade, recognize its abundance, and deal with it accordingly.