TAKING CARE OF YOUR MENTAL HEALTH: DEALING WITH JOB HUNTING BURNOUT

Dealing with a seemingly endless job search can be draining in more ways than one. Here is how to take care of yourself during this trying period.

How long has it been since your last application response? You are slumped over your desk at home, body heavy and mind unmotivated, wondering if all this effort is even worth it. The thought of touching up your resume or even looking at another job listing makes you want to scream.

Does this sound familiar? If so, you might be slipping into job hunting burnout. Left unchecked, it can not only derail your job search, but your lifestyle as well. So, what can you do to keep this from happening?

Signs of burnout

It pays to be persistent, but recognising your limits is important too. Apart from the already high anxiety building up due to interviews and assessments, with every rejection or lack of response comes frustration and hurt, which can build up over time. All of that can accumulate to you feeling absolutely burnt out, which can hurt your drive towards job hunting.

Some signs of burnout to look out for

• Mental and/or physical fatigue

• Higher irritability

• Increased cynicism

• An unwillingness to talk about your job hunt

• Decreased social interaction

Pace yourself Be patient, and do not lose heart

Do maintain a disciplined routine by allocating some time of the day –about two to three hours – when you are most productive to focus on just job hunting. Once your time is up, just wrap it up for the day.

Treat the search like a job in itself. After all, overworking will only worsen your mood over time, which can in turn affect your productivity. Your applications will not be as sharp and you will be more prone to making mistakes, like forgetting to attach a cover letter with your application.

Some strategies you can use

• Customise your resume and portfolio

• Take the time to read the job description thoroughly and understand the requirements

• Work on, and send out, a few quality applications. Aim to send out a specific number a day

• Network and chat with professionals on LinkedIn

Not hearing from a hiring manager regarding your application progress or outcome can be discouraging. But as you keep going, it is absolutely crucial that you shake off this mindset as soon as you can.

Do not take these setbacks personally. It does not mean that you are unqualified – it could be that you need help beating the application tracking system or to write a more effective email job application. There are plenty of other factors that not only affect a company’s hiring process, but the job market as a whole, especially with the aftereffects of the coronavirus pandemic still going on.

How to reduce negative self-talk

• Listen to what you are saying about yourself and challenge it

• Stay grounded. While your feelings are valid, the negative fantasy in your head probably is not as awful as you think it is

• Reframe your thoughts. Positive thoughts are not always easy, but rewording your thoughts might help

Be sure to take breaks

Playing the waiting game for your applications may be agonising, but dwelling on it is not going to help either. Treat these brief downtimes as short breaks instead.

Do not just keep it to yourself

A burden shared is a burden halved. Talk to someone who cares about you – it can be a close friend or family member (or several, if you want), so you know that there is at least someone in your corner in this predicament. They can lend you their ears if you need to vent or accompany you on your downtime, be it going to movies or having a fun game of badminton.

Additionally, you can turn to your social or professional networks for help during the job search process, from being a second pair of eyes when reviewing your resume and applications, to even being a fresh source of job opportunities and connections.

What you can do

• Learn something new and interesting

• Spend time with friends and family

• Indulge in your own personal hobbies

• Keep yourself fit and healthy

Tips Stay

Suggestions

• Upskilling is always a good thing

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• Catch up with them on how things have been

• Read a good book or watch some Netflix

• Take a break from sitting at your desk and go out for a walk or do some light exercises

Suggestions

• Join social groups geared towards job hunting

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Benefits

• You can meet new friends and get to know new opportunities, too

• Seek out mentors

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• Chat with your seniors and teachers

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• Do not ignore your social life

• Network with those who can help you out with their past experiences

• Feel free to approach them if you are feeling lost – they will be happy to advise you

• Remember to spend some quality time with your loved ones, too

Searching for a job is like running a marathon – knowing when to sprint and when to pace yourself is critical, lest you find your efforts turning counter-productive. Remind yourself that finding a job and employer that best fits you will take time and effort. All the resources you need are within reach; you just need to keep going and not give up.

But remember, while you may be busy job hunting, it is also just as important to take a step back every once in a while and take care of yourself.