Job Search Depression Is Real, And We Need to Talk About It

If you’ve been searching for your dream job to no avail, you may be feeling anxiety, pessimism, and depression slowly creeping in. Some helplines support with specific issues, such as suicide, depression, anxiety, and abuse. Others support with specific demographics, such as the LGBTQ+ community, veterans or young people. So if you’re looking for tailored support, you might be able to find a hotline specific to your problem. There are also helplines that support with any problem that’s causing you distress – no matter how small or big it seems to you. Haram’s Facebook group has also given her an opportunity to attend events with people from the community.

• “I almost immediately volunteered to be one of the community managers and join their team because it just made me feel good,” she says.
• Diane Loring, responded to my LinkedIn post with some great final thoughts.
• A job search can be overwhelming under the best of circumstances and is often made even more so by the symptoms of depression.
• One of the benefits of unemployment is having more free time!
• “I was kind of building up the courage to write and publish something like that for a while,” she says.

There are various factors that you can’t control when searching for a job, and they may very well be contributing to your experience. While that doesn’t make the waiting any easier, it can provide some comfort–especially if you doubt yourself and your value. Try to prevent negative thoughts from dominating your mind. Instead, practice gratitudeand think of the good things in your life.

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While I will not deny this sucks or give you the “have someone review your resume” speech, I will say to just remember that you are more than enough. You need to realize that who you are is more than just what job you do. Remember that your personality is made up of a variety of different experiences, ideas, interests, perspectives and not just defined solely by your resume. Lean into these other aspects of your personality, use them to set personal goals, and try to rebuild your confidence along the way.

• But as you make changes to prioritize your well-being, your self-image is likely to improve, which will boost your ability to make a great impression.
• Hence, I’m on Reddit on a Friday afternoon, depressed and already dreading Monday.
• While I will not deny this sucks or give you the “have someone review your resume” speech, I will say to just remember that you are more than enough.
• Sometimes it’s hard to stop thinking about your unemployment situation, but don’t let it consume you.

Instead of getting wrapped up in “what if” thoughts, harness the power of positive self-talk. Pay attention to your thoughts and feelings in the present. This pressure from your family and friends can cause strained relationships and housing stress. You might be a brilliant project manager with all the right certifications and experience.

For Employers

Take a long walk with your dogs and overcoming job search depression it up with a warm bath and a good book. If you feel that you can benefit from meeting with a Hudson Job Search advisor, please fill out our contact form! Hudson Job Search has helped over 4,500 people find employment since 1982. Remember how far you have come and remember how important each step is along the way. Don’t lose sight of the effort it takes to transition into a new career. You should have a running spreadsheet of the companies and positions you’re interested in.

Take the time to get a certification if it’s likely to pay off. As for me, I just keep chipping away at my job search. I try not to brood about my stalled career and diminished income.

You’ll have greater happiness and personal satisfaction

Factor in how much time you spend on your morning routine (waking up, breakfast, exercise, etc.) and start your dedicated job search hours later. Commit to yourself that within these hours, your focus is to look for job placements, send in resumes, check on existing applications, and so on. If you are feeling something akin to worry or fear over not landing a job, you can link these apprehensions to job losses during the pandemic. In October 2021, theUS unemployment rate was at 4.9 percent, compared to 3.5 percentlast February 2020. Numbers like these imprint on people’s minds — that looking for a job is an enormous challenge, thus feelings of anxiety surface. Talking to someone during your job search process gives you much needed emotional support.

Age discrimination against older job seekers is an unfortunate reality for so many. If you’re an older worker on the job hunt, knowing your resources is vital in helping you navigate the job market. DiversityJobs helps older workers by providing a specific community page with career advice tailored to you. Be sure to check out the many different articles including 5 Tips for Job Seekers Over 50 Re-entering the Workforce. As you develop more ways to cope with your situation, you’ll likely find that you’re more motivated and energized to get back into the job search.

Author Louise Hay recommends silently saying “I am healthy, I am wealthy,” to yourself 30 times every morning. We tend to have so much negativity buried in our subconscious minds, and it’s easy to succumb to that whispering defeatism. Affirmations help counteract our subliminal self-sabotage.

• Don’t let your feelings of hopelessness about your job search cause burnout and emotional exhaustion.
• Another 41% say they’ve had more conflicts or arguments than usual with family and friends.
• It shows them that you have the grit and emotional intelligence necessary to work in a tough industry.
• Each time I was rejected, I felt more crushed and demotivated.
• What saved me, and I MEAN that because I was periodically QUITE suicidal during that period, was going back to college at night and spending time working on my skills and marketability.