Job Search and Mental Health
Job search process can be very stressfull. You spend hours polishing your CV, writing cover letters and applications only to face multiple rejections. Research shows that extended job search can lead to depression
The longer a person remain unemployed, the more likely the display signs of low psychological well-being.
How to take care of Mental Health During job search
One of the real problems associated with this form of repeated rejection is that none of us are prepared for it, or trained in any way to deal with it. Nothing ever prepares us for the travails of job hunting. Society has conditioned our minds by rewarding the winners. We are told to deal with failure positively, but no one teaches us how to apply this in real life. When faced with successive job rejections, we equate them with our personal failures. It is no longer our cv that is being rejected; rather our identity and sense of self. You can cope in a health way with the following
1) Remember you are not alone
The Covid 19 pandemic has job search even harder. Remembering that you are not the only one facing the same challenges . There is a high likelihood that many of them might be feeling disappointed or demotivated by their predicament. You are not alone in this battle
2) Structure your job hunt
Adding structure to your job hunt will give you achievable goals and give you a sense of accomplishment.
3) Be organised
Job hunting can be overwhelming, especially if your only focus is gaining employment. Defeatist thinking can easily counter all your best efforts and lower your morale. Create a step by step process of how you will approach each application. Don’t forget to give yourself some credit for all the progress you’re making.
Approach your job search like any other work assignment. If you break it down into smaller, manageable tasks, the process will become less daunting and more controllable. For example; on Monday you can update your LinkedIn, on Tuesday you can update your cover later, or keeping track of all your applications on an excel sheet. Seeing your progress will make your job search seem more feasible and less stressfu
4) Take a break
During all of this, it’s important to take a break. Sending as many applications as possible may seem like a great strategy but it can lead to burn out. It’s really surprising how people feel like they must spend every moment of their life job hunting, when realistically they don’t dedicate half as much time to working. The point is… take a break!
Make sure to add frequent breaks to your schedule. We would recommend some stress relief exercises or some simple work out. They will help you relax and clear your mind. If that doesn’t work for you, find what works for you and do that!
If you’re really feeling down and anxious about job hunting. It’s ok to take a break from job hunting altogether. The length of your break is entirely up to you. Do an internal audit of your emotional well-being and give yourself enough time to recoup. Use as much time as you need to get to physically and mentally rested.
5) Ask for Help / Reach Out
Sometimes a good chat is the best remedy for a tough emotional situation. If you are feeling overwhelmed by anxiety or depression over the job hunt, reach out to someone you feel comfortable talking to. It could be your family, friends, colleagues, or even a professional therapist. Therapists and psychologists have special training and can help you find ways to cope with the situation you are in.
People are often hesitant to share their job search-related anxieties for fear of seeming unconfident. But a problem shared is always a problem halved.
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