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Don’t be afraid to reach out to friends, and lean in to your social networks. Many Americans feel isolated, and less people are engaging in group activities such as volunteering.
- This pressure from your family and friends can cause strained relationships and housing stress.
- Persevere and remember, you only fail when you give up.
- Trying to change what isn’t within your control will only drain your energy and leave you more anxious.
- And many people have been unemployed since BEFORE the pandemic, which means at least 3 months without a job.
- Sleep has a huge influence on your mood and productivity.
Whilst there are many employees looking for new roles, there are also millions –almost 20 million in the US– that find themselves unemployed as a direct or indirect result of the pandemic. This unemployment status can quickly cause a rise in depression rates. Looking to stay connected to the social-impact space during a job search? Looking for a job can be a challenge, even in the best circumstances. When you put in a lot of time and effort and don’t immediately see the results you hoped for, you may start to feel discouraged, anxious, or even depressed.
Job Search Depression Is Real, And We Need to Talk About It
Do some keyword research to ensure your application passes parsing software. And spruce up the top third of your resume to pique the interest of whoever reads it. Track where/when you applied, whether you’ve heard back, and the results. Even if you haven’t heard back, it still pays to do this.
Why is applying for jobs so stressful?
Too often, job seekers get caught up in the anxiety of the hunt and forget to nurture their spark. They forget to take a minute to think, or to breathe, reflect and recover from the stress of finding meaningful work. Without space, the mental stamina involved in this type of search can be overwhelming.
BetterUp Care™ A growth approach to mental fitness and organizational health. Diversity & Inclusion Foster a culture of inclusion and belonging. Sales Performance Transform your business, starting with your sales leaders. You may crave sugary snacks or comfort foods such as pasta, white bread, potatoes, or French fries, but these high-carbohydrate foods quickly lead to a crash in mood and energy. Rhythmic exercise, where you move both your arms and legs, is a hugely effective way to lift your mood, increase energy, sharpen focus, and relax both the mind and body. Try walking, running, weight training, swimming, martial arts, or even dancing. Try a new hobby that enriches your spirit or pick up a long-neglected hobby.
Ask for feedback after a rejection and keep following up.
Your support system can help lift you up when you’re feeling defeated. Friends and family can be great resources to talk to as you work through your depression and your job search, and they can also serve as the much needed reminder that you aren’t alone in any of it. They are your shoulder to lean on, but also your distraction from the overwhelming parts of this process. So turn to them when you need to talk things out before an interview or cry about a hard-hitting rejection and when you want to have dinner and forget all about jobs.
- The headlines about the job market usually reflect macro conditions that might not be relevant to your search.
- Staff/therapists/clinical are all amazing people that truly care about each individual.
- At a time when money may be tight, look for events and activities that are inexpensive to attend.
- Try to prevent negative thoughts from dominating your mind.
- The longer you’re unemployed, the more disheartened you may become about your prospects for finding a job that you’re both excited about and know you will enjoy.
Kate Kemp, five days into unemployment, comes to grips with reality while negotiating with this two-headed beast. Staying emotionally healthy during such a turbulent time requires patience, positivity and stamina, Cavanaugh says. Networking is more important than ever, if you’re transitioning to a new industry, or new kind of job.
Strategies For Staying Motivated In Your Job Search
If you are feeling overwhelmed by anxiety or depression over the job hunt, reach out to someone you feel comfortable talking to. It could be your family, friends, colleagues, or even a professional therapist. Therapists and psychologists have special training and can help you find ways to cope with the situation you are in. Try and stay positive as much as possible, Cavanaugh says, and remember to maintain a good balance between work and life, just as you would with any other full-time job. Regular exercise, volunteer work, spending quality time with friends and family in addition to networking and making career connections can help keep your spirits up, she says.
- Reach out to a friend or family member about how you’re feeling and why you’re struggling.
- By not yielding to job search anxiety, you’re facing your challenges head-on and actively working on your personal well-being.
- We connect individuals looking for impactful career moves with startups and high growth organizations seeking to hire leaders, entrepreneurs and change-makers.
- Keeping a journal such as the one provided by Penzu helps to keep you organized and if you need a good editing tool, 750Words or Paper writing service have got you covered.
Remember, this unfortunate period is only temporary, so don’t sweat it. When you follow these tips, you’ll be able to dig yourself out of it in no time. As long as you don’t dwell on the negatives of your job search, you may forget all about it and actually have fun. To combat this, make sure to get out there and stay social with your friends and family. If you run out of things to do in your job search, switch gears and fill your time sharpening your skills or adding new ones to your toolbelt.
A lack of communication between hiring managers and decision-makers, poorly organized interviews, even badly thought-out job advertisements can lead to mistakes being made. In situations where a large number of candidates have applied depression and job search for the same role, it is possible for resumes to sometimes fall through the cracks and go unnoticed. The struggles of job hunting can leave you feeling rejected, stressed, anxious, and overall pessimistic about your future outlook.