Job hunting can be depressing sometimes. What can be irritating sometimes is the anxiety that is built through the suspense of waiting. Just waiting for feedback either today, tomorrow, next month or never.
Sometimes its so demotivating when you send so many applications and get no feedback, even for jobs where you felt that you are lowering yourself. Now you are demotivated, unemployed and broke! Whilst recruiters are taking their sweet time to schedule the interview, your rent is just around the corner! Bills! Bills! and some more Bills! Job hunting can make you feel powerless and Hopeless.
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There are proven ways to deal with job search depression
It’s normal to feel stressed and anxious during the job search process, and many job seekers go through this phase. So when you are experiencing depression or anxiety during your job search, how can you cope? There are proven ways to deal with job hunting depression.
1. Treat job hunting like a job
Job seekers tend to be too expectant when job searching, take it easy — so it’s no wonder why the uncertainty associated with job searching can makes them feel uneasy.
Creating a schedule for your job search can help keep the search from bleeding into every area of your life, which can sustain your motivation and keep you thinking positively. For example, you might set aside an hour everyday for job searching will help you find time to focus on other interests and relationships to recharge you mentally.
By having a schedule into your daily job search, you will accomplish something each day, which helps have positive feelings of self-efficacy. Knowing that you are able to accomplish goals you set for yourself can help you stay positive and flip your mindset around.
2. Stay social
Do not let job hunting depress you. There are many things you can be doing to combat the isolation that many job seekers go through. One of the best ways to avoid depression during your job hunt is to spend time with family and friends, you can also watch some series , play some games – find something to keep you busy. Believe me one day you will get a job and you will miss all this free time that you have, so enjoy it now and apply hard!
3. Don’t Take It Personal
As hectic as the job market can be, it’s hard to not take it personally when you don’t hear back from an employer but it’s crucial to try and get out of this mindset.
Never follow up on interviews, a recruiter can take the opportunity for a job away from you but don’t let them take your dignity too. The question that someone would ask is how much impact do you think your follow-up call will have? No impact at all, you will most likely irritate them because every other interviewee is doing that too. If an employer has not called you its because of a number of reasons. The outcome of your application is dependent on the complex state of the job market, down to how the organisation has changed its recruitment process in light of the pandemic, an approver not being available or plans changing for the employment of a new person. Regardless, all this is out of your control. So why bother!
Take it easy and do not take it personal. Use this time prepare for the next application, polish up your CV and learning the best ways to write a perfect application.
4. Get Support
Job searching can be stressful at times, if you find yourself in this situation, the value of reaching out for support cannot be overemphasised , take a bold step and reach out to support though often it might seem like a big hurdle to overcome.
Engage yourself in activities that can help you when you are experiencing stress, anxiety or depression due to job searching; Maintain other roles with friend and family and get counseling.
It is important to take note that anxiety is contagious but so is compassion. Whether you contact family, psychology professional or workmates, reaching out for support can prevent isolation tendencies that most job seekers face during times of job searching.
5. Stay Positive
Job search can be hard at times but staying positive is very important as you look for a job. Look at the time of job searching in a way as a gift, try to explore and make the most of your job searching time by learning new skills.
You can engage yourself in activities like exercising, volunteering, and working in at the farm or anything that will keep away from getting depressed — anything that you enjoy can all be wonderful rewards for time during job searching.