So, you're on a mission to land your dream job, and you spend every hour searching job boards, writing the perfect resume, and smiling in all the right places in your interviews. But your energy and excitement have started to dry up, replaced by increasing levels of exhaustion and frustration. If this sounds like you, you might be experiencing job search burnout.
Burnout is a common problem for job seekers. When you work hard to find the perfect career opportunity but only get rejected or ignored, it doesn't take too long for the exhaustion and frustration to kill your motivation. So, make sure you know the signs of job search burnout and how to recover if it starts.
The Signs of Job Search Burnout
If you are experiencing some of the signs below, it might be time to take a break and focus on your well-being. Burnout of any kind is a serious mental and physical health problem, so don't ignore it because it can take a long time to recover.
Exhaustion - you feel extreme physical and emotional tiredness, and even getting a good night's sleep doesn't help.
Lack of motivation - you know you should keep searching but you can't make yourself do it. It's difficult to find the motivation to do anything.
Avoidance - you look for other tasks to keep you busy so you don't have to search for a while - "I'll feel better job searching when my office is tidy."
Irritability - you get angry or upset easily even with your family, friends, and pets. You often feel like shouting or crying.
Loss of confidence - you are starting to think you aren't good enough to get a job. The whole process of looking for a job feels overwhelming.
More time alone - you know time with friends could make you feel better, but you don't have the mental energy.
Problems sleeping - you find it hard to fall or stay asleep because you keep thinking about job searches.
Managing Job Search Burnout
The best way to manage job search burnout is to take the steps below to keep burnout away before any signs appear, as part of your everyday self-care. But if you do start to see signs, don't wait for the burnout to stop you completely. Start working on your recovery as soon as the first signs appear.
Take Breaks and Set Boundaries
You aren't a machine - you have feelings, you get tired, and you can't continue endlessly applying without taking breaks. Set yourself specific hours for job hunting and give yourself time to relax. Have some fun and recharge before and after the search each day.
If you are experiencing signs of burnout you should give yourself time to recover and feel more human again. Take a week off if you can, take a mini-break on the weekend, or go out to somewhere new! Give your brain something to think about that isn't job hunting. Changing your environment for a little while can make a big difference.
Take Care of Yourself
Self-care isn't always about meditation and walking; it can also mean reading a book, trying a new hobby, or playing with your puppy. Plan some real-life activities into your day that reduce your stress and help you recharge. Continuing your job search is important, but staying healthy and energized is equally important. Without mental and physical energy, you won't be writing your best applications. Bring some color back to your days - you should still look and feel human when you get to the interview!
Reach Out
Don't let your job search take you away from your friends and family. Stay in touch with mentors, or online support groups, for encouragement and advice. Connecting with other job seekers and sharing your experiences is a great way to remind yourself that everyone finds job hunting emotional and tiring - it's not just you.
Set Realistic Achievable Goals
Break your job-hunting journey down into manageable steps, and celebrate every milestone you pass on the way. Set daily goals like applying to 3 job posts, customizing your resume, or finishing an online application form.
Reward yourself when you achieve your daily goals and milestones, not just when you get the job. What you choose as a reward is entirely up to you. Just make sure it's something you can enjoy guilt-free. Clearer goals and little rewards can help you stay motivated and avoid you becoming overwhelmed.
Get the Help You Need to Heal
If your signs of burnout are getting worse look for professional help. Therapy and counseling can provide coping strategies and support while you recover and build some healthier routines into your job search. Remember that mental health is still health. You wouldn't keep running on a broken leg, you'd rest and get help from a professional. Treat your mind the same, let it rest and ask for help.
Try New Job Search Strategies
Maybe LinkedIn or Indeed isn't working out well for you right now - try new job sites, look for networking events and job fairs you can go to, and join professional communities. Every connection is a new source of information and another person in your industry who knows your name.
Freelancing is also a great way to make connections, get more recent work experience, and keep earning at the same time. It's not unusual for some freelance projects to turn into offers for a permanent position, so it's another alternative way to get noticed in the job market.
Wrap Up
It's surprisingly easy to ignore the signs of job-search burnout with an "I just have to get through this" attitude. But ignoring those signs for too long can take you past needing 'a break' and into needing serious long-term emotional support.
The best way you can manage job search burnout is to plan self-care into your search right from the beginning:
Set boundaries about when you will search and when you will relax.
Set milestones on the way to finding the right job and celebrate them all.
Set yourself daily tasks and reward yourself when you achieve them.
Take breaks often, and especially when you feel you need them.
Ask for and take the support you need.
Stay in touch with your support networks - friends, family, mentors, and other job seekers.
Remember that taking care of yourself while you search for a new job will only make you a more attractive candidate. So keep moving forward, but don't forget to stop sometimes and take the breaks you need. Now go and reward yourself with a movie and some popcorn!