Beat Job Search Depression Before It Beats You: Causes, Symptoms, Tips for Efficient Job Hunt

Depressed people find it hard to connect with things and people. They begin to lose interest in something or someone they used to enjoy. This can apply to any aspect of life, including hobbies, friendships, relationships, food, and life. Self-isolation, resulting from resentment and despondency, can lead to even more severe consequences. We experience uncertainty from the moment we send our CV to a potential employer until the first day at the new position.

• She was recently offered a part-time copywriting gig at one such event.
• Whether your family’s survival depends on your salary or your income is what funds the “extras,” being unemployed or underemployed impacts the people you love most in the world.
• Depending on what your experience level is and what your career and salary needs are, finding the right position can take time.
• Beyond your personal relationships, reach out to a career coach or therapist.
• Because of certain stereotypes, companies may discriminate against unemployed people or be prejudiced against them.
• For example, if they saw a setback like not getting an offer after an interview as a challenge instead of failure, they were more likely to get a job down the road.

Below, we will discuss the most common reasons for job search depression. There are many reasons why looking for a job can be stressful and lead to depression. Most people find constant interviews and an uncertain future to be demoralizing. Being out of work—or stuck in a job that makes you miserable—would be difficult for anyone.

How to Manage Stress While You’re Unemployed

Analyse your CV and application letter and see what you can improve on which can increase your chances of getting the next job that you apply for. From experience i know for a fact that endlessly searching for a job can make you anxious and depressed. Looking for a job is easy, but the long wait to get a call from an employer or being offered a job can be overwhelming and make you question whether you will ever find a job or not. The good news is, even if you don’t find a job now, you will find a job! This week the SPTO Jobslink team has prepared some tips that will help you overcome Job Search Depression.

If this happened to you, you may have a legal case against your employer if they knew you were depressed. This is because depression is considered a disability and is protected under the American with Disabilities Acts (ADA). BioSpace data indicates 76% of workers surveyed plan to seek a new position in 2023, even though nearly the same percentage also said they anticipated the job search to be more arduous than usual. Optimism is great, but statistically, that interview you just landed is not likely to end in a job offer. Instead of getting your hopes up and then suffering a confidence knock, expect the worst and have a plan for rejection. Ensure that your online presence doesn’t compromise or contradict your CV.

Socialize and connect

Unfortunately, feeling down about your job can affect other areas of your life. It can also affect your personal relationships and your self growth. The reasons behind job search depression are rooted in the modern attitude towards success. https://remotemode.net/blog/job-search-depression-exists-and-it-has-to-be-addressed/ Today’s society judges people by occupation and income, practically equating a job to an identity. Associating success with career achievements and material purchases turns out to be harmful to employees and society in general.

• When you are faced with rejection, learn from it and grow so that you can approach the next application that much stronger.
• There are all kinds of reasons a person may experience situational depression—including an ongoing, unsuccessful job search.
• The feelings of anxiety and inadequacy that Adrian speaks about are a common fallout from long-term job hunting.

Stop the negative feedback loop by focusing on what makes you truly happy. What’s more, maintaining a positive attitude throughout your job hunt can better your chances of landing your dream gig. Review and reflect on the situation and build a personal development plan.

How to Apply for Jobs When You’re Depressed Out of Your Mind

Depression is a mood disorder that goes beyond feeling sad. The feelings are more intense, present for most of the time, and have a stronger impact on different areas of your life, including your concentration, decision-making, energy levels, sleep, and eating patterns. Losing a job doesn’t just have an impact on our finances. Often our self-confidence and mood take a hit after a job loss as well. Finally, stamina and perseverance are important in any job search, she says. Even in IT, where many hot, in-demand talent is snapped up quickly, there are some roles or positions that might require an extended job search.

It convinces you that you have no skills, no discernable talents, and no worthwhile contributions to make to the world. Of course those feelings would have the ability to hinder your job search. But being out of work can also increase a person’s overall risk of depression, according to research published in the Journal of Affective Disorders. Returning to the idea of self-compassion, recognize that you’ll have good days and bad days, and that you may have varying capacity for certain kinds of tasks from one day to the next.

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. If, despite these efforts, you find yourself spiraling downward and your job search blues seem much more serious, it can be beneficial to ask for professional help, Cavanaugh says — and that’s OK. Though she is not a mental health professional (and this advice should not be construed as a medical or psychological diagnosis), she’s had to have these tough conversations with clients in the past, she says. At some point — whether it’s asking your former boss to be a reference or asking your prospective boss for the job — going through the interview process becomes an exercise in collaboration. Don’t be bashful in reaching out to your extended network, both professional and personal, to let them know you could use their assistance in finding a new opportunity.

Take a long walk with your dogs and follow it up with a warm bath and a good book. You people are serving more than as professionals in our society. You can also turn walks and other daily activities into a moving meditation. Focus on your feet hitting the ground, the feel of the air on your face, the sights and sounds surrounding you. When showering, notice the feel of the spray on your skin, the temperature of the water and air, the sound the water makes, etc.

Take a day off to re-energize and gain perspective.

You will likely be pleasantly surprised by their willingness and eagerness to help,” Chafel says. Searching for a new job can be a full-time job, It’s a thankless, tiring — and, yes, depressing task. As much as it may seem that you are stuck in a bizarre rut, while everyone around you has it made, the truth is that these feelings of anxiety, fear, stress, and depression are more common than we know.