Job Search Depression: How to Stay Motivated When Looking for a Job

And when you add job hunting anxiety of job hunting to this mix, the impact on your mental health is only going to get worse. For job seekers experiencing job search depression, it’s even more important than usual for you to lean on your support systems. Talking to a close friend about your frustrations, or pursuing therapy if that’s available to you, can give you another perspective that may change the way you look at the job hunt. Chatting about non-work-related topics with friends and family will give your mind a necessary break as well.

It can be especially hard to remind yourself of this as the pandemic has pushed us all into our own cocoons of uncertainty and doubt without regular contact with others. Make sure you take care of yourself by having regular breaks, eating well, going outside in nature and getting plenty of sleep. In some cases, this can go from “the blues” to a full-blown mental health condition. There’s an established connection between depression and unemployment, and anyone can suffer. So, if you’re feeling bad, it’s important to do something about it before those feelings can develop. Tell a friend or relative that you have the job search blues, and you might be met with a raised eyebrow or rolling eyes.

Negative Emotions

When you put in a lot of time and effort and don’t immediately see the results you hoped for, you may start to feel discouraged, anxious, or even depressed. If you’re having a hard time prioritizing your health during your job search, go one step further and ask a loved one to act as your accountability partner, Mr. Witters suggested. If you’re finding it hard to socialize, start small, Dr. Norris said. Online communities and support groups are good places to start, as are clubs and networking events in your area. Whether you’re suffering from job-search depression or happily employed, learning the coping mechanisms needed to deal with things like uncertainty and loss of control will always come in handy, Dr. Maidenberg said.

• Imitate Dr. Strange and try to see the many outcomes of your success.
• Going to bed and waking up at the same time benefits your physical and psychological health.
• This lack of confidence in your abilities further prevents you from nailing that interview.
• Pay attention to the company’s website, job ad, and social media.

In fact, the Americans With Disabilities Act considers clinical depression a protected disability, which means you can’t legally be discriminated against because of your depression. If you’re facing unemployment and dealing with depression, the desire to crawl under your covers and never leave the house again can be strong. After all, your former job was likely one of your main motivators to getting out of bed every morning. Your toolbox for getting through depressive episodes may include exercising every day, maintaining a schedule, or ensuring you get a set number of hours of sleep every night. Whatever helps you to keep your head above water, make sure you’re prioritizing it during your job hunt. In the beginning, committing yourself to finding a job may actually help to ease some of your depressive symptoms.

Job Searching Is Hard, So Is Dealing With Depression—Here’s What to Know If You’re Doing Both

While that doesn’t make the waiting any easier, it can provide some comfort–especially if you doubt yourself and your value. Haram’s Facebook group has also given her an opportunity to attend events with people from the community. She was recently offered a part-time copywriting gig at one such event.

“This can be a longer road and a more intense process than you expect, but you have to keep going. “I tell my clients, first and foremost, to have patience with the process and make sure your expectations are realistic. Your entire professional life right now is focused on finding a new job, but the recruiters, hiring managers, people in your network — they aren’t on the same timeline you are. Try to strike the balance between timely follow-up and constant pestering, because you can risk alienating people,” she says.

There are proven ways to deal with job search depression

Gloria Mulvihill, a freelance editor and writer for CompareLifeInsurance.com, was diagnosed with clinical depression seven years ago. Just recently, she started looking for more consistent work within her field. If you start feeling stuck and doubting whether you truly have a network, write down all of the people that you know (from former colleagues to acquaintances to even service providers – like your hairdresser). Next time you interact https://remotemode.net/blog/job-search-depression-exists-and-it-has-to-be-addressed/ with these individuals, you can mention the types of roles and organizations you’re targeting and ask if they know of anyone who might be a good connection. Especially during periods when you have limited energy and focus, I recommend devoting the majority of your time to networking as opposed to applying to job ads. The idea of securing a new job – especially during this time – can feel like staring at a large and daunting mountain.

And, if you’re unable to find a way to cope with your depression and the negative feelings continue to intensify, it’s essential to reach out to a qualified professional to help you navigate your situation. The struggles of job hunting can leave you feeling rejected, stressed, anxious, and overall pessimistic about your future outlook. The career path we choose to follow is a part of who we are as people. Unfortunately, becoming depressed over your job search can have numerous negative impacts on other aspects of your life. It can go beyond your career planning if you’re feeling despondent about your job search.

Is “job search depression” real?

During the job search, 53% said they felt like they’d lost a piece of themselves. Because of their unemployment, 56% admitted that they’ve had greater emotional or mental health concerns, such as anxiety or depression. This number represented 6.0% of all U.S. adults.” Though one life event that has been linked to clinical depression and major depressive episodes is job loss and the cruel job hunting process. Constantly searching for a job can make people anxious because of uncertainty.

Even if you don’t have specific working hours, it is still better to have a scheduled routine. This will make you more disciplined and organized while you search for a job. Make a list of the job positions that are a priority to you. It is ok to be sad from time to time – a person cannot constantly be happy. So plan a night out with a friend to vent and reduce some of your stress. Order takeout and binge your favorite show to help you relax and unwind.

Industry Resume Guide for PhDs

But what is important is that you find ways to move forward and learn something new from every rejection you have faced. If you feel such a mistake has been made, then you could try reaching out to the recruiter or the hiring manager to check on the progress of your application. But keep in mind that these appeals may not always be successful. According to the US Bureau of Labour Statistics, there are 18 million people currently unemployed in the US alone. There is a high likelihood that many of them might be feeling disappointed or demotivated by their predicament.