Why “Just Get a Better Job” Is Terrible Advice
Whenever someone says they’re struggling financially, the response shows up immediately:
“Just get a better job.”
It sounds simple.
It sounds logical.
It sounds motivating.
It is also one of the most out-of-touch, lazy, and useless pieces of advice people give.
Not because better jobs don’t exist — but because pretending they’re easily accessible ignores reality entirely.
The Phrase That Ends the Conversation
“Just get a better job” isn’t advice.
It’s a conversation stopper.
It shuts down nuance, context, and actual problem-solving. It turns a complex system into a personal failure and walks away feeling helpful.
It assumes:
- Better jobs are everywhere
- Everyone qualifies
- Hiring is fast
- Pay increases solve everything
None of that is consistently true.
Better Jobs Aren’t Sitting Around Waiting
If “better jobs” were easy to get, people would already have them.
The reality:
- High-paying roles are competitive
- Many require years of experience
- Others require credentials people can’t afford
- Some only exist in certain locations
Telling someone to “just get a better job” ignores:
- Geography
- Industry saturation
- Age bias
- Gatekeeping
- Timing
Opportunity isn’t evenly distributed — pretending it is doesn’t help anyone.
Hiring Is Slow, Brutal, and Demoralizing
Job searching today isn’t walking into an office with a résumé.
It’s:
- Hundreds of applications
- Automated rejections
- Ghosting
- Multiple interview rounds
- Skills tests
- “Culture fit” nonsense
People don’t stay in bad jobs because they love suffering.
They stay because leaving is risky — financially, emotionally, and mentally.
“Better” Is Relative (And Temporary)
Let’s say someone does get a “better job.”
What happens next?
- Costs adjust
- Expectations increase
- Workloads expand
- Stress multiplies
That better job often becomes:
- The new barely-enough
- The next burnout
- Another temporary fix
Without systemic change, “better” just means less bad for now.
Not Everyone Can Climb Forever
The advice assumes infinite upward mobility.
But here’s the uncomfortable truth:
Not everyone can move up at the same time.
If everyone gets a better job:
- Entry-level roles still exist
- Essential jobs still need workers
- Someone still gets underpaid
The system relies on people staying where they are — but shames them for it anyway.
Education Isn’t the Golden Ticket It Was
Another version of the advice:
“Go back to school.”
School costs money.
Time costs money.
Debt costs future money.
Degrees don’t guarantee pay anymore.
They guarantee eligibility to apply.
Many people did everything they were told — and still landed in underpaid roles with debt attached.
That’s not a personal failure.
That’s a broken promise.
Life Doesn’t Pause While You Upgrade
Advice ignores timing.
You can’t:
- Pause rent
- Delay groceries
- Skip healthcare
- Freeze responsibilities
While you “just” get a better job.
People need income now — not after six months of job searching and hope.
The Advice Blames Individuals for Structural Problems
“Just get a better job” places responsibility entirely on the worker.
It avoids uncomfortable truths:
- Wages are suppressed
- Benefits are eroded
- Costs outpace pay
- Stability is rare
It’s easier to tell someone to try harder than to admit the system isn’t built for fairness.
It Also Ignores Burnout
People are tired.
Not “had a long week” tired.
System-level tired.
Burnout makes:
- Learning harder
- Risk scarier
- Change overwhelming
Telling exhausted people to reinvent their lives without support isn’t empowering — it’s dismissive.
When Advice Becomes Judgment
The phrase often carries an unspoken message:
“If you’re struggling, you must be doing something wrong.”
That judgment:
- Kills honesty
- Discourages asking for help
- Creates shame instead of solutions
Most people already feel behind.
They don’t need confirmation.
What Would Actually Help Instead
Better advice sounds like:
- “What skills do you already have?”
- “What options exist right now?”
- “How can you reduce risk while improving income?”
- “What’s realistic given your situation?”
Progress doesn’t come from slogans.
It comes from strategy and patience.
Why Side Hustles Even Enter the Conversation
Side hustles didn’t rise because people love them.
They rose because:
- Jobs stopped paying enough
- Switching jobs became risky
- Flexibility became survival
They’re not magic.
They’re not easy.
But they’re often more accessible than “better jobs.”
UglyBrokeSmelly’s Take
We don’t believe in telling people to:
- Grind harder
- Bootstrap endlessly
- Pretend opportunity is equal
We believe in:
- Honest assessment
- Realistic paths
- Incremental improvement
- Survival without shame
No empty phrases.
No moralizing struggle.
Final Thought
If “just get a better job” actually worked, nobody would be saying it anymore.
People don’t need slogans.
They need options.
And until those options exist at scale, blaming individuals for systemic pressure isn’t helpful — it’s lazy.
Welcome to UglyBrokeSmelly, where we stop pretending simple answers solve complex problems.
