Job Search Depression is Real: Heres How to Overcome It

Now that you know what job search depression is, its causes, and more, it is time to learn strategies to recover from job search burnout. Many people ask whether it is ok to take a break from job hunting or not. Taking a break is necessary as it gives mental relaxation and gives you some way to manage essential tasks. Meanwhile, taking a break, you can attend a networking event, consult with a career coach, or do something profitable. According to the studies, there is a correlation between unemployment and mental health, and it further explored that unemployed people are more likely to get depressed than employed people. Therefore, dealing with job search issues is significant before it disrupts your mental health.

Reach out to a friend or family member about how you’re feeling and why you’re struggling. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated this even more, with many people losing their jobs and struggling mentally as a result. Let’s take a look at how to deal with job depression and how to navigate the job-hunting process with a positive mindset. Stress from job-seeking has been linked to emotional and mental health issues such as anxiety or depression.

Burning Out or Leveling Up? What Zebras Can Teach Us About Stress

Along the way, check in with loved ones for support, and find space in your daily life to learn, relax, and unwind. Finding a manageable way to balance these aspects of your life can make your job search much easier to navigate. For example, if you’re experiencing identity loss, shift your focus to other areas https://remotemode.net/ of your life that make you who you are. Spending time with your friends, family and hobbies, and seeking out new experiences are great ways to reconnect with yourself. It can be easier said than done, but if you establish a support network, you’ll put yourself in a better position to tackle these challenges.

Support is a critical tool for navigating job search depression. Maintaining social connections is crucial for combating the isolation often experienced during job searching. Spending time with family and friends helps reaffirm aspects of identity beyond one’s career.

The Symptoms Of Job-Search Depression

The hiring manager will pick up on your negative vibe and your depleted self-confidence, and since there are so many other applicants, they’ll just move on to the next person. It can extend into your personal relationships and your self-growth. Searching for a job constantly may not allow you to set your fixed hours, which can create anxiety and job search depression. If you make a fixed schedule and stick to it daily, it will help you complete that list and feel a sense of achievement each day. Yes, the job search can cause depression as it is a serious matter, and you ought not to take it lightly.

An organization needs to make sure you have the right behavior and attitude for their company culture. A 2022 review of 9 studies and 4,864 participants found that those who were unemployed had 28% higher depressive symptom scores than employed people. This can also be an opportunity to explore hobbies that you were too busy to nurture and probably won’t have time for once you land a job, Dr. Maidenberg said. Trying out new things and discovering other talents and interests can help us strengthen our identities and enjoy new sources of fulfillment. So plan a night out with a friend to vent and reduce some of your stress. Order takeout and binge your favorite show to help you relax and unwind.

Finding High Paying Jobs

Create a daily schedule that includes time set out for job searching, networking, self-care, and recreational activities. This structure provides stability and https://remotemode.net/blog/job-search-depression-exists-and-it-has-to-be-addressed/ direction, minimizing emotions of disorganization and aimlessness. Without work, we become uncertain about our social role and present place in the world.

  • If you’re interested in pursuing activities that relate to your professional skills, keeping your résumé up-to-date isn’t the only benefit, Dr. Norris said.
  • Those who listed financial concerns as their top source of stress often cited a perceived loss of identity as a close second.
  • Except in this situation, the easiest person to blame for your unemployment is yourself.
  • With payroll timing, job seekers can face the reality of living without a paycheck for many months.
  • The perception that we are our work is a major reason the job search, and receiving constant messages that we aren’t who we think we are, is so distressing.

By seeking solutions to this common phenomenon, you’re actively working on your personal well-being. The job search process is an emotional journey of highs and lows. It is elation over an interview and hopelessness over the rejection that follows.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *