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It might come with anxiety or panic attacks, and it could present the symptoms of chronic depression, too, such as sleep disorders, eating disorders, and social anxiety. For any Millenial or Gen Z currently out of work and searching, it can be a struggle job-hunting and a prolonged unemployment period can negatively affect one’s mental health and self-confidence. The truth is, Job Search Depression is real and sometimes worse than relationship breakfast. Make sure you schedule time for therapy, self-care, opportunities to recharge with friends or family, and, if you’re between gigs, volunteering time. Establishing a routine can help to keep you motivated when you’re also combating depression. Recruiters are human too and occasionally fall prey to affinity biases, expectation anchors, and other unconscious failings.
- These thoughts are then replaced with more realistic, objective ones.
- Recently, CBT has seen a rise in popularity as a treatment with specific, tangible goals that can be measured relatively easily.
- Tony Stark, the tech-genius billionaire, will be the first to tell you that money will not solve your problems.
- Do this only if you feel it can be a positive addition to your CV.
- “It’s a feedback mechanism where the longer you go, the harder it is on your emotional health,” he said.
There are all kinds of reasons a person may experience situational depression—including an ongoing, unsuccessful job search. One often-overlooked aspect of job search depression is that many job seekers experience a loss of identity. Maybe your career has helped shape your sense of self for several years, or you’re searching for an entry-level role and unsure how to define yourself now that you’re no longer a student. 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. At some point — whether it’s asking your former boss to be a reference or asking your prospective boss for the job — going through the interview process becomes an exercise in collaboration.
Is “job search depression” real?
Anxiety can be a sign of depression if it lasts for a long time and makes your life more complicated than it was before. On average, job applicants send their CVs to openings and receive about 6-10 rejections. After the fifth rejection, people start losing confidence in themselves. According to the same study, 75% of candidates found their dream job within three months. Rejection is unpleasant, but it’s just part of the job search process. That is why it is essential to continue looking for a job before it affects your mental health.
Depression is a mood disorder that goes beyond feeling sad. The feelings are more intense, present for most of the time, and have a stronger impact on different areas of your life, including your concentration, https://remotemode.net/become-a-help-desk-engineer/microsoft-teams/ decision-making, energy levels, sleep, and eating patterns. Often our self-confidence and mood take a hit after a job loss as well. Check out career and personality tests online to discover the best options.
Struggling to Experience Joy or Connection
Perhaps you’ve had to move in with a family member just until you start earning an income or learn for sure if you’ll need to relocate for your new job. From a mental health perspective, the pressures and unknowns of these changes become overwhelming. The feelings of anxiety and inadequacy that Adrian speaks about are a common fallout from long-term job hunting. While in a depressed state, your mind lies to you and tells you that you have no skills, no talent, and that you have nothing to contribute. Naturally, such feelings are going to hinder your ability to appear confident in interviews and market yourself.
Can depression cause trouble finding a job?
These complex feelings and mood fluctuations can further inhibit your job search. Being rejected from your job applications can create low self-esteem. It also prevents you from fully accepting yourself for the person you are. This lack of confidence in your abilities further prevents you from nailing that interview.
Practice meditation techniques to improve your patience while waiting for the right job to find you and help you better cope with the inevitable rejections or non-responses. Spend time with positive people who will build you up, not negative Nellies who want to knock you down. Understand that you’re not alone in having to endure a prolonged job search.
Are You Playing Life Safe?
Expectedly, depression becomes a new reality for these older workers facing job search ageism. More and more, older workers are seen as dispensable in the workforce, making the job hunt all the more difficult. Non-white older workers can experience twice as much rejection in their job search due to racial discrimination. So, depression and job search how do these older workers overcome job search depression in today’s market? Everyone wants to do well professionally, but you’ll want to be careful about associating your self-worth with your job (or lack of a job). It’s important to focus on your strengths in life outside of work while you’re job searching while depressed.
This can apply to any aspect of life, including hobbies, friendships, relationships, food, and life. Self-isolation, resulting from resentment and despondency, can lead to even more severe consequences. It might be more common than you think, especially amongst Millenials in Nigeria where a high unemployment rate is prevalent. Here are some things that helped me ride the tide and finally overcome job search depression even before getting a job. That said, there may be times when you choose to disclose your condition—or when you at least shouldn’t be afraid of hiring managers finding out.
Don’t take rejection personally.
Getting motivation to start job searching is hard, and it’s just as hard to stay motivated. Making sure you tend to your physical health during the job hunt is imperative. Regular exercise, adequate sleep, and a healthy diet will give you the physical endurance to stay strong in your search for the right job. Therapist Cynthia Catchings also advises eating three meals a day at around the same time. “That helps us to stay healthy, but also to prevent emotional eating or eating disorders due to depression or anxiety,” she says. Job search can be hard at times but staying positive is very important as you look for a job.