Much like how a woodworker carefully selects lumber based on its grade and intended use, we should thoughtfully evaluate our jobs' quality and purpose. Just as lumber grades range from rough construction material to premium furniture-grade wood, jobs exist on a spectrum of quality that determines their best use in our career journey.
Understanding Job Grades
Like construction lumber, which ranges from economy grade (think basic framing) to select grade (fine furniture), jobs typically fall into three distinct quality tiers:
Economy Grade
Like lumber destined for basic framing or temporary structures, these jobs provide fundamental support but little else. You'll recognize them by close supervision regardless of performance, disengaged teammates who treat work as mere transaction, and high turnover that mirrors the shallow grain of quick-growth timber. Decisions flow down rather than up, and innovation is often seen as disruption rather than improvement.
Standard Grade
These positions, like general-purpose lumber, are serviceable and reliable. You'll find some autonomy in your daily work, decent relationships with management that occasionally venture into strategic territory, and a mixed team of engaged colleagues and "settled" long-term employees. Innovation happens, but usually only when specifically requested – like a board that's straight enough for most projects but might need some planing for finer work.
Select Grade
Premium positions, like furniture-grade hardwood, offer the best foundation for crafting a meaningful career. They feature high autonomy, strategically-engaged leadership, and a culture where innovation flows as naturally as grain in well-seasoned wood. Fear of failure is low, allowing for the kind of experimentation that leads to mastery.
Grading Your Current Position
To assess your job's grade, look for these key indicators:
Is there a clear growth pattern through your department?
Are decisions made thoughtfully with input from those affected?
Does innovation receive genuine consideration, or is it dismissed with "we've tried that before"?
Do team members speak of future projects with enthusiasm or resignation?
When to Work with Low or Mid-Grade Material
Sometimes, like a woodworker using construction lumber for a temporary workshop fixture, there are valid reasons to stay in a lower-grade position:
It provides stability while you build something meaningful outside of work
The predictability allows you to job search without pressure
Low expectations might provide space for career experiments
Like using spare lumber for practice cuts, you can test new approaches with little risk
When to Seek Better Material
Just as no craftsperson would use warped lumber for a fine cabinet, consider moving on when:
The work depletes rather than energizes you
Compensation doesn't match market value
Skill development has stagnated
Treatment from leadership or colleagues lacks respect
Advancement paths are unclear or blocked
The Next steps:
Remember: every piece of lumber has its purpose. A rough-cut board might be perfect for framing but disastrous for fine furniture. Similarly, even a "lower-grade" job might serve your current needs perfectly while you build toward something else.
What other qualities do you look for when assessing a job's grade?
How has your tolerance for different job grades changed throughout your career?
Ready for more? Don’t let these insights sit idle. If you’re dissatisfied with your job, or starting to wonder what’s next, begin charting a career you can be proud of. Visit the Career-Craft store to browse all our ebooks and start crafting today.