Job search fatigue is one of the most difficult situations to handle in your career. If you have been feeling unmotivated in the past few weeks, or have a strong desire to stop job hunting, continue reading.
You are not alone. In fact, a lot of people (especially fresh grads) feel tired looking for a job, and at some point may even want to give up the search.
You might feel like you have been looking for a job forever, like no one wants you, and that you’ll never find a better one.
If this describes your feelings, then chances are you’re suffering from job search fatigue.
Job search fatigue is a term used to describe the mental and physical exhaustion that you may experience when you have been searching for jobs for some time.
Job search fatigue often goes hand in hand with a decrease in motivation to find a new job, the feeling of hopelessness, feelings of desperation, and even depression.
I am glad that you are here now, because that means you want to keep going and to learn tips and techniques on how to beat job search fatigue!
Here are some simple ways to avoid getting worn out in your search for your next job.
Don`t take it personally, job rejections are part of the process
If you get rejected from a job, it doesn’t mean you’re not qualified or that you’re not good enough for that particular position; it just means that the company has found someone else who meets their needs better at this time.
So, don`t start to question our own value. Don’t let that self-doubt creep in—you are fully capable of finding a job, and there are ways to make your search process more effective.
Your job search is not going to be a smooth line with a quick trajectory toward the finish line. There will be bumps in the road, and that’s okay. If you have been looking for a while and you feel like you are hitting a wall, it’s time to take a step back.
Reassess your plan of action and set some new goals for yourself. It can be easy to get discouraged when you don’t see immediate results from sending out applications but remember: hunting for jobs is a full-time job in itself!
Focus on quality over quantity
Your best bet is to focus on quality over quantity when it comes to applying for jobs.
Don’t try to apply for everything that comes along; instead focus on applying for positions that fit your skill set and experience as well as ones that are a good fit with where you want to go in your career.
If a role doesn’t seem like it’s going anywhere or doesn’t seem like the right fit for you, don’t apply!
You are not obligated to apply to every job that comes along just because it pays well or looks interesting — those aren’t good enough reasons!
But if you apply make sure your application is as good as it can be — that means spending time researching companies and their needs before applying, tailoring your resume specifically for each position, and making sure every detail is in order before submitting an application or resume to an employer.
Practice self-compassion
Job searching is time-consuming and stressful, so it’s important to take care of yourself.
When we’re tired, stressed, and overwhelmed, it can be easy to beat ourselves up and blame ourselves when things don’t go our way. But remember that job hunting takes persistence, courage, and resilience.
Take a few days off from the hunt from time to time. Spend time with friends or family instead of sending out resumes and cover letters. Do something fun that will get your mind off of the search for a while — go see a movie or enjoy your favorite hobby. You’ll be more productive when you return to the job hunt if you take this short break first.
Build a support system
Surround yourself with positive people and get rid of negative influences who don’t believe in your abilities or seem to enjoy seeing others fail at finding work.
If you’ve been looking for work for a while without any luck, chances are good that you’ve talked about it with friends or family members. Some of these people may be supportive and sympathetic; others might be negative and make you feel worse about yourself. If this is the case for you, it’s important to get away from these people as much as possible.
In the end, job hunting is grueling sometimes. I’m sure you can relate! Finding meaningful employment takes time, effort, and strategy. The tips above should help get you started in that direction. Hopefully you find success with your job search and remember to take care of yourself while doing so.
For more assistance, don’t hesitate to contact us.
Photo by Doğukan Şahin on Unsplash
