The Ultimate Bullshit Job Detection Kit: Tools You Need Now
The term “bullshit job” pops up everywhere these days, and it’s no surprise if you’ve ever found yourself asking, “Does what I do all day even matter?” Picking apart pointless work from genuinely meaningful roles takes some practice and the right resources. What you need is a clear set of tools to help spot jobs that have no real impact and leave people feeling like their time is wasted. I’ve put together this kit to help address some of the confusion, whether you’re job hunting, lost in another Zoom call, or simply curious about the world of work.
The Everyday Reality of Bullshit Jobs
The concept of a “bullshit job” isn’t new, but David Graeber’s book defines it. A bullshit job, put simply, is one where the worker suspects their job isn’t really adding any tangible value beyond filling out forms or sitting in endless meetings. A 2015 UK survey found that 37% of people didn’t think their job made a valuable contribution to society (YouGov survey).
While it can be tempting to joke about jobs that seem pointless, like “Assistant to the Regional Manager” vibes, there are actually enormous consequences. Individuals in these roles often report lower job satisfaction and higher stress levels. Spotting a bullshit job early can save you a lot of frustration and career stagnation.
Top Tools for Spotting a Bullshit Job
Trying to pin down whether a job has any real purpose isn’t always straightforward. But there are practical ways to figure it out. Here are a few tools and techniques to help you determine whether a gig is all smoke and mirrors or genuinely has substance.
- The “Explain to a 10-Year-Old” Test: If you can’t explain what you do to a kid without both of you ending up lost or laughing, it’s a good time to ask if the role really matters.
- Outcome Mapping: Draw out what would happen if your entire department disappeared tomorrow. If nobody misses it, that’s a red flag.
- Impact Inventory: List what your job achieves for real people or organizations outside your office. If you’re struggling to fill the page, that’s a telling sign.
- The “Would You Pay for This?” Gut Check: Would you or anyone you know actually pay for the product or service your job produces? If not, you might be spinning your wheels.
- Peer Interviews: Ask coworkers (or friends outside your field) to describe your job. If their answers are fuzzy or sarcastic, that’s another clue.
Quick Start Guide: Putting the Detection Kit to Work
This isn’t the kind of kit you buy at a store. It’s a set of questions and simple actions you can use today. Here’s how to start figuring out if you’re in a bullshit job, or help someone else who might be struggling in one:
- Describe Your Work in One Sentence: Write down what you do every day as simply as you can. Does it feel honest, or did you have to stretch things?
- Connect the Dots: Map out who benefits from your work, beyond your immediate boss. If the end-user is unclear, start asking questions.
- Ask for Feedback: If you suddenly stopped doing your job, who would be the first to contact you to express their concerns? Someone outside your office?
- Reflect on Values: Does the mission of your job or company connect with your own values? If there’s a significant gap, it tends to feel pointless.
- Review Your Calendar: Are your days packed with meetings about meetings or making reports that nobody reads?
Having concrete answers to these questions can help you determine whether your job is genuinely part of the big picture or merely busywork.
Things to Weigh Before You Call a Job Bullshit
Labeling a job as “bullshit” can be more complicated than it first looks. Some roles seem pointless from the outside, but actually grease the wheels behind the scenes. For example, compliance officers or safety testers may seem invisible, but their work is crucial to the organization’s success. Sometimes the value is just less visible. Here are a few things to consider before writing off a role:
- Invisible Value: Support jobs may not grab headlines, but could be holding up the entire operation.
- Company Culture: In some places, jobs exist more to signal status or obedience than to create something useful.
- Economic Forces: Corporate growth sometimes leads to roles being created solely to fill seats rather than serving a purpose.
- Psychological Needs: People often defend the value of their own jobs. Bias and loyalty can cloud judgment, especially when perks and pay are involved.
Invisible Value
Some jobs look pointless because their effects are indirect. Take IT support as an example. If your systems never crash, it’s easy to forget the person who keeps them running smoothly. But if that person vanished, you’d struggle to get anything done. Before calling a role nonsense, try to see what would go wrong if nobody did it.
Company Culture
In some workplaces, unproductive jobs may exist solely to maintain appearances or perpetuate outdated practices. Layered management and constantly changing titles can create roles with little impact. If your job feels like it’s just “for show,” checking with industry peers or reading Reddit threads like Antiwork can put things into perspective.
Economic Pressures
When companies expand too quickly, they sometimes hire people for jobs that made sense during a boom, but no longer do. Downsizing can be helpful, although it often takes time to clear out the clutter.
Psychological Needs
It’s human to defend your own role. Perhaps it offers a good salary or provides a favorable work-life balance. But if you honestly can’t see the outcome of what you do, it’s okay to think about your next move.
Advanced Tips: Going Further on Job Value
Once you’re ready to go past the quick tests and really dig into job value, these next-level strategies can help.
Check Out Organizational Charts: Chart out your department to see who is responsible for what. If several people have vague, overlapping roles, ask why. Sometimes, eliminating or reassigning one position can improve work for everyone.
Research Industry Trends: Dig into whether your job exists in other organizations, or if it just popped up during a management trend. Bullshit jobs can spread fast, often linked to new fads.
Log Your Workweek: Track your activities for a week to stay organized. If you’re mainly working on projects that get canned or writing reports nobody reads, patterns show up fast and clue you into what’s taking your energy.
Try Job Recrafting: If you’re stuck in a hollow job, explore ways to reshape your duties for more real value, or start a conversation with your manager about how you could be better used.
These extra steps can help you make your current work more worthwhile or choose something new that’s actually rewarding.
Who Gets the Most Out of a Bullshit Job Detection Kit?
People often assume job satisfaction comes only from a dream role, but in truth, most of us want work that makes life easier, happier, or more efficient. Here’s who can get a big boost from this kit:
- Job Seekers: Avoid signing up for pointless roles and future headaches.
- Career Changers: Steer clear of switching to equally empty positions.
- Managers and Team Leads: Focus your teams on stuff that matters, not just endless paperwork.
- People Managers: Spot where team morale dips, and reassign or redesign pointless tasks to give everyone a boost.
With workplaces changing rapidly — whether through remote work or AI automation — determining whether a job really matters is now crucial for almost everyone.
Taking Action: What Now?
Arming yourself with a solid detection kit puts you ahead in the workplace. Whether you’re hunting for meaning or helping your team ditch pointless work, these tools will point you toward jobs that actually matter. Being honest about what your role really accomplishes —not just how it looks —makes a big difference as you weigh your next move.
If you want more ideas about meaningful jobs, check out the book “Bullshit Jobs” by David Graeber or read career tips from sources like Harvard Business Review. It’s not about shaming anyone—it’s all about making work less pointless and a lot more satisfying.
