Let’s be honest, job hunts can be quite challenging since they take too much of your time and might not be yielding the outcome you are looking for. The exhaustion from a job hunt, whether you’re unemployed and looking for work that pays to cover your expenses or employed and looking for a switch, is real.
In fact, working full time and searching for a new job is a full time endeavor all its own. Fulfilling the duties of your current job, making time for family, all while looking for a job is a daunting task.
Burnout and Lower Success on Job Hunts
For those searching for a whole new job or working part time the stress of constant searching or the daily grind of not getting something fruitful from the job hunt process can be depressing. Research has indicated that the stress from job hunting can lead to deteriorating mental health conditions like depression and anxiety which lead to even longer term consequences. (Source).
However, mental burnout can take hold for employees working full-time too. This is taking out hours from their schedule to prepare for interviews and in the end getting rejected or worse, not receiving a response, the depression can mount leading to burnout that can set in real quick.
Also, when you are too exhausted from the job hunt, when you do get to the interview stage, you may not be at your best since you are dealing with so many other mental hurdles.
An interesting statistic that highlights the vicious circle of burnout from job seeking and a lowering success on job hunts is that over 50% of US adults who are seeking for a job seem pessimistic about their future employment prospects.
Furthermore, 53% stated that they feel that they are losing out on pieces of their identity during the job hunt process (Source). This shows how people tend to spiral into depression which lowers their interview performance during the job hunting process.
Battling Mental Health During Job Hunts
With the downsides of extended job seeking, people should work on their approach whether no matter what phase of the journey you are on. In fact, research has indicated that long periods of unemployment or underemployment have a longstanding impact on the job seeker’s mental as well as physical wellbeing (Source).
So, here are 5 tips to work through the job hunt workout to help you re-energize and refresh whether you’re unemployed or underemployed:
Refresh your Goals
When you are exhausted from the job hunt and are on the verge of giving up, one thing that can refresh you is reminding yourself why you began searching for a job in the first place.
Also, it is important to consider why landing the job of your dreams right now is important. When you have the answer to these questions, you will be in a better position to apply for new job opportunities and work towards attaining them with the right direction in mind.
Define your Job-Seeking Hours
We know the urgency that you have for landing the job you’ve always dreamt about. But let’s be serious, the job opportunities don’t close down every hour of every day. Employers provide ample time for candidates to develop their applications and apply for the role.
Therefore, for your peace of mind, it is important that you allocate certain hours for job seeking. Make sure to set some time aside that works for your schedule. Limiting the hours and not checking job sites on your phone now and again frees up your mind for activities that are beneficial for your mental health like recreation, spending time with family, or simply watching a sitcom.
Allow to Divulge in Small “Wins”
We are all about small wins and the momentum they can bring. (The Snowball Effect of Micro Wins). Success isn’t about finding the right job and landing great pay. Success is what you believe you can do. Every day, take out some time to appreciate yourself and expand your skill set. This could include working on a skill, taking an online course, or reading content related to your career.
You will see yourself grow out of the endless wheel of job-seeking and actually begin to build confidence in your abilities with these small wins.
Reach Out to Your Network
Looking for jobs as an individual may be counterintuitive. This is because if you have questions, there is no one to ask. You cannot do mock interviews in front of a mirror because you may get anxious when you are in a real setting.
Gathering friends or even people whom you can connect to digitally who are also looking for jobs can allow you to discuss your concerns. You can also learn from their experiences and in turn, refrain from shouldering the burnout and the challenges on your own. Look out for other networks such as LinkedIn to get some leads or research what type of skills are in demand.
Don’t Take Anything Personally
It may be hard, but you should never allow the feelings of rejection to hit you personally. The job market is shifting and employees are in demand. However, even someone with great credentials might not be working the job of their dreams.
Also, job hunting is not the end of the world. There are a lot of different ways like starting a business or a consultancy based on your area of expertise that you can look into. There is no one direction to achieving your dreams.
In fact, looking at the free time or the desire to switch to another job is an opportunity for you to discover something new about yourself, find something that you are passionate about, and job opportunities will follow you eventually.
Summing it Up
Job hunting can be a draining activity because of the rejections and not hearing back from prospective employers. So, there are a lot of lows in the process and while extended periods of unemployment and underemployment impact the mental and physical health, there are ways you can keep yourself adrift through the entire process.
It is important to refresh your job goals. Also, while the job hunt process might seem to take a lot of your time, limiting job-seeking hours can help you refrain from burnout.
Also, working on activities that strengthen your skillset in the meanwhile and looking for creative ways to utilize your energy and passion can help you to get the desired results from the process.
So, keep your head high, keep learning and growing. Positive steps will lead you in the right direction.
