Hey, it's a dirty job ...

Sociologists suggest that individuals in occupations that society looks down upon will be less likely to identify with their jobs or take pride in their jobs.

But this scenario doesn't always hold true, say Newman and other University of Arkansas researchers. They found there was a difference between workers being aware of a stigma and internalizing it. "People can be aware that others have stereotypes of them, but do you accept them? Do you believe them? That's the key," Newman says.

An individual's personality and attitude, they found, play a large part. People who are very aware of others' opinions and easily pick up on verbal and nonverbal cues are more likely to internalize negative stereotypes and therefore be unhappy in their jobs. But personality is only a part of the internalization equation.

Employers "can provide positive messages about the job to their employees that can help to counter the negative stereotypes," says Anne O'Leary-Kelly, a University of Arkansas professor. "This helps employees to reframe the way in which they perceive their work."

Employers can help workers avoid internalizing negative stereotypes by creating a strong organizational culture. Shared values, rituals, and traditions help to forge bonds between employees.

Mr. King says the jail guards at the sheriff's department occasionally did things together to relieve stress. "The best thing about the job was the camaraderie with my fellow workers," he recalls.

Competence is another important aspect of job satisfaction. "Even though an individual may know he or she is working in a devalued field, they derive a sense of pride from knowing that they are very good at what they do," Newman explains. "So a sense of his or her own competence can influence a jobholder's internalization of the job's negative perceptions."

Many employers now offer training programs that encourage employees to expand their knowledge and skills.

The most important factor helping workers overcome job-related stigmas is family support, Newman adds. "When the family is supportive of the profession, it can reaffirm the positive aspects of the job and act as a shield against the negative stereotypes that society can communicate."

Of course, one solution to job stigma is to find better work. Some steps are obvious, such as career counseling, returning to school, and networking.

But workers shouldn't ignore the job-building potential of their current positions, says Randall Hansen, a professor and career expert at Stetson University in DeLand, Fla. "What will help them ... move to better jobs is to sit down and grasp that their jobs - as well as everything else they do - have transferable skills. For example, communications is one broad category of transferable skills and includes things like listening, writing, speaking, and expressing ideas. Another is workplace survival skills, and includes things like cooperation, attention to detail, and being punctual."

In other words, dirty jobs need not be a trap; they can be steppingstones.

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