Fighting Job Search Depression
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It is common to feel discouraged, even hopeless, during a job hunt that runs longer than you would like. In this financial environment, some people’s job searches run for months. So here are some tips to keep in mind when the job hunt has you feeling low.
1. As they say, a job hunt is easily a full-time job. Don’t make it more than that. Put in your time job-hunting, then be sure to take some time for yourself.
Don’t give yourself a hard time for taking time off. If you don’t take down-time, the stress will wear away at your mental health, leaving you in no shape for interviews.
2. No stewing over your termination from your last job. Layoffs are ongoing, and these days, you haven’t had much of a career, if you haven’t been laid off at least once.
Take whatever lessons you can from your last position, looking for areas of improvement, and then move on. Period. You are human, you make mistakes, just like everyone else. Forgive yourself for any mistakes, then work on them.
(And your ex-boss? She’s human, too.)
3. If you’re really stuck in a rut, take some time to do work around the house that you’d never had time to get around to. Schedule those doctor appointments that you’ve been missing due to your busy schedule. Think of this as an unplanned leave of absence, and see the benefit in the time that you’ve been given.
4. Make up a new plan of attack. Plans can be invigorating, and with the time that you’ve had to reflect, you may come upon new plans of attack. Now may be a great time to head your career in a new direction. With your last job, you gained experience that you didn’t have previously.
Really search the market and see what’s out there. Look for areas of growth and opportunity, and really try hard to see your skills and abilities as freshly as if you’d never seen them before.
5. Take a class, read a book, expand skills that will aid you in your job search. Take the time to get a certification if it’s likely to pay off.
6.When the stress is overwhelming, take a mental health day, and just soak in the tub with a good book and some Merlot. Go for a walk.Take a class or something you’ve always wanted to do. Rediscover the world as it is when you aren’t wearing stress blinders.
7. Get out there and meet people. Join clubs, especially those associated with work interests, go to university lectures. NETWORK! Even a hiking club might well provide you with the contact who gets you that next job. Remember, who you know is at least as important as your training. The main thing a boss is looking for is reliability, and they get that assurance from acquaintance, however slight or second-hand, with your character.
8. Don’t take it personally when you don’t get the job. It’s not a personal rejection; you just aren’t what they need today.
Written by Erin Kennedy, MCD, CMRW, CPRW - Visit the website to hire executive resume writer Erin Kennedy, CERW, CPRW
Erin is an internationally renowned certified resume writer specializing in professional and executive level resumes and career services.
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Erin Kennedy, MCD, CMRW, CPRW owns Professional Resume Services, where she and her talented staff of writers specialize in professional & executive resumes. Erin is internationally recognized by her peers as one of the best of the best, she is a perennial award-nominated certified resume writer.
Nice tips to find a desire job. Wonderfully described by you in this post. For get desire job is a hard thing. One of my friend struggling now i will prefer him to read this post.
Great post! This post has well described the ways to go on a good job hunt. The first thing is that you must not be discouraged and this must really be put into effect to go on a positive hunt.
Very related topic for the present career dilemma! Lots of Job recruiters are there to let people get their dream job. But most of the time they get tired of searching huge listed category with zero assurance. The above mentioned pros and cons may help them out.
This is an excellent post for those stuck in what seems like an endless pursuit of a job. While the key is to not give up hope, it is not as easy as it sounds to keep at it without getting de-motivated. An ideal way to make the time between jobs useful is to get a higher degree and enhance your skill set. Besides, your potential employers are likely to be impressed by the fact that you used this time purposefully. If you are looking for graduate degrees in healthcare or business, CollegeAmerica has three comprehensive programs in these fields.
One thing to truly keep in mind is that it’s REALLY REALLY tough right now. And just because you yourself can’t find a job is no reason to think it’s JUST YOU. Stay focused and the right one will come when the time is right.
Excellent info. Thanks for the post.
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Agree with Erin with his all points. “No stewing over your termination from your last job.” – this is the most important one. Everyone should stay focused and the right one will come when the time is right.
Thanks I recently got burned with a bad reference from my old job, I was considering legal action at one point but couldn’t afford it, back to the drawing board !
After retiring from the military, I spent 2.5 years working part time jobs while looking for a job. My wife could not understand how I could go to sleep 5 minutes after going to bed. I told her that as long as I was doing everything I can I had faith that God would provide a job in his time. It happened and now I have a secure job. I hope and pray for all those looking for work. I will tell you one thing the worst thing you can do is worry. Once you worry you start to lose confidence and then you sound desperate. Find some part time jobs to help pay the bills but will allow you to look for work at the same time.
.-= Charles S. Porter´s last blog ..Va insurer gets Kansas state workers’ long-term care insurance deal =-.
I couldn’t agree more with this article: serve yourself well before you can serve others. Interviewers can sense if someone is overtly stressed and this creates a negative atmosphere during the interview, and you don’t do yourself a favour by pushing yourself to a corner.
Go out there and do the best in what you can each day, and don’t blame yourself for something you cannot control, e.g. your application was declined. Here, what counts is the fact that you DID send in the application, so count small blessings such as this and don’t sweat on the other stuff.
I’d add a note to your advice on networking. Follow-up with former colleagues who have gone through the same lay-offs, or associates in the same profession who are also looking for work. You might not believe that cooperation would come from those as desperate as you are but you never know. Perhaps they have tips for jobs that didn’t interest them, or maybe they’d like to hear your tips!