How to Cope with Burnout During a Job Search.
This is a guest post by The wonderful, Luke Smith. Thank you, Luke, for writing this for me.
Initiating a job search can be daunting. Whether you are gainfully employed or not, a job search takes up a lot of your time, energy, and focus. The longer it goes on, even if you are going to interviews, the more stressful it becomes.
It’s not uncommon for you to experience burnout in the middle of a job search, especially when you receive nothing but rejection letters and emails. Let’s explore how you can cope with burnout during a job search so the next time you are looking for a job you know exactly how to handle the stress and anxiety that comes with it.
What are the Signs of Job Search Burnout?
Before we can discuss how you can fight job search burnout, we must first examine the signs so you know what to look for. The signs of burnout during a job search include:
Poor physical or mental health habits
Lack of social interaction after having a busy social life
Feelings of irritability and stress
Feeling stressed or overwhelmed by easy tasks
Put Yourself in a Positive, Winnable Situation Daily
It’s important to remember that a job search doesn’t always come up roses immediately. This means that you should be prepared for rejection, failure, and in it for the long haul. You cannot compare your job search to that of the one your spouse, sibling, co-worker, or friend recently conducted. Each one is different, even if you have similar professions.
To deal with burnout, it is important to put yourself in a positive, winnable situation daily. A job search can quickly become demoralising. Add tasks to your daily to-do lists that allow you to succeed. They can be related to your career (attending a webinar or taking an online class to earn a new certification) or your daily chores around the house (running errands, cleaning out the attic, building a new bookshelf, etc).
Limit the Time Spent Each Day Searching for a New Job
You must limit how much time you spend each day searching for a new job. If you sit in front of the computer or at your table for hours on end looking at different job postings, submitting resumes, and rewriting your cover letter, you will experience burnout quite quickly.
Limit your daily job search to one to three hours and make sure you only perform it during the workweek. The best time of day to conduct the job search is when you feel you are most productive. This will help provide you with a sense of accomplishment even if you don’t hear back from the employers.
At the same time, be sure you stick to your daily routine. This includes making your bed, getting a shower, putting on work clothes, and going for a walk. The more of a routine you experience while job hunting, the less burnout you will endure.
Surround Yourself with Positivity
Believe it or not, sitting with the laptop on a pillow while you are propped on the couch in front of the TV is not the best environment for conducting a job search. No, you don’t have to hole up in the home office, but you should put yourself in a positive environment.
Conduct your daily job search at a table in front of a window, or if the weather permits, outside at the table on your patio or deck. The environment around you can make all the difference when dealing with a challenging job search.
A Job Search Isn’t Personal
Just because you were denied a new job doesn’t mean that you are a bad person. It just means that there were more qualified or experienced candidates in the pool. You cannot take a job search personally. Doing so will hamper your ability to process rejection and make burnout something that takes over your life. It’s also important to know that how you earn a living doesn’t reflect on who you are, so if an opportunity outside of your profession comes along, don’t be afraid to take it.
Take a Break from the Search
Living through job search burnout is not easy. That’s why you should consider taking a break from the search. You can pause the search completely, or you can reduce the number of days per week you search from five to two or three. If that doesn’t make you comfortable, reduce the number of hours per day you search. In the extra time you now have, do something unrelated to the search that can improve your attitude. You can also use the time to give your resume a refresh. One of the best tips for finding a job is simplifying your resume. Check yours to make sure it’s full of facts and achievements rather than fluff.
Interact With Others Who are Actively Searching for Jobs
Support groups aren’t just for grieving people or those who are sick. You can find support groups online for just about anything these days. Look for other people who are searching for jobs in your industry. Even if they aren’t in the same field, they might be able to offer you some pointers for dealing with job search burnout that you can apply to your life. Support from others goes a long way in dealing with stress.
Seek Professional Help
Burnout manifests in many different ways. You might gain or lose weight, have trouble sleeping, and much more. If you fear that you won’t be able to break bad habits brought on by job search burnout, don’t be afraid to seek professional help; burnout has now been classified as medically diagnosable. Go to your family physician, see a psychiatrist, or talk to anyone who will lend an ear.
Learn to Help Yourself in a Job Search
You need to focus on yourself during a job search no matter how long it lasts. Employ any of the previously mentioned tips to avoid or defeat burnout. If all else fails, put the search on hold and do what makes you happy.
Luke Smith is a writer and researcher turned blogger. Since finishing college he is trying his hand at being a freelance writer. He enjoys writing on a variety of topics but leadership and digital marketing topics are his favourite. When he isn’t writing you can find him traveling, hiking, or gaming.
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