Job Search Depression: Cause, Symptoms, Tips

The headlines about the job market usually reflect macro conditions that might not be relevant to your search. For many people, jobs are tied depression and job search to their feelings of self-worth. If you suffer from low self-worth, it can be difficult to get out of the rut of job search hopelessness.

We all need to ask for help and support each other in whatever way we can. 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 https://remotemode.net/ you motivated when you’re also combating depression. Unfortunately, job-search depression is a vicious cycle. Interviewers want to hire a person who is upbeat, positive and enthusiastic. They are looking for someone likable and who comes across as a winner.

Safeguarding your mental health while looking for work, and other tips for job seekers

You might think that with so few people in the job market, it should be much easier to find a job, so something must be wrong with you if employers aren’t knocking down your door. Looking for a job has never been easy, and job search depression is on the rise. Owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, it has now become all the more difficult to secure a stable job. As a freelance writer, uncertainty is something I am used to, even if it is on a smaller scale.

Scheduling a bit of self care each day during your job search can help keep burnout at bay. If you’re currently working, the largest obstacle during a job search can lie in the fact that many people cannot quit their current job before applying to a new one. Managing your search, applications, and interviews takes an extensive amount of time, so in order to manage it all, you have to get serious about scheduling. From the moment you wake up to the moment your head hits the pillow at the end of the day, map out what you will be doing. Job search depression affects an individual’s emotional well-being and can hamper the job search process. Prolonged depression may decrease motivation, impair concentration, and exacerbate feelings of insecurity, reducing the likelihood of securing employment and creating a vicious cycle.

Having low self-esteem and feeling pessimistic

Take a long walk with your dogs and follow it up with a warm bath and a good book. A 2022 review of 9 studies and 4,864 participants found that those who were unemployed had 28% higher depressive symptom scores than employed people. Trying to change what isn’t within your control will only drain your energy and leave you more anxious.

Fear and anxiety aren’t going to help your job hunting prospects. And they’re certainly not going to help your psychological well-being. Feeling hopeless about your job search can stem from applying for jobs that aren’t right for you.

Job Searching Is Hard, So Is Dealing With Depression—Here’s What to Know If You’re Doing Both

Remember that the company you’re applying for has many factors to consider. You might be a brilliant project manager with all the right certifications and experience. But if you apply for a job you’re not qualified for, you’re probably not going to get it. The longer you’re unemployed, the more disheartened you may become about your prospects for finding a job that you’re both excited about and know you will enjoy. Poor interview performance confirms those negative thoughts about yourself.

Feelings of inadequacy prevent you from putting your best foot forward and landing that job. 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. Authorities described the case as one of the most horrific cases they’ve ever seen.

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When that call or email finally comes, though, and you schedule an interview with a prospective employer, your brain triggers the release of endorphins. Your self-esteem soars, and suddenly, your upbeat mindset is back —until you get a rejection email or letter informing you that you weren’t chosen for the position. With these highs and lows, hopes and disappointments, the job search becomes an emotional roller coaster. Addressing job search depression isn’t just an individual responsibility—it’s a societal one too. Policymakers should consider providing better mental health support for job seekers, such as subsidized counseling services or mental health workshops. As hard as unemployment is, please remember that whatever you do for money is not your identity.

• Accomplishing tasks you set out to do, however small they may seem, can kick-start your confidence and motivation.
• Talk with one of our career counselors if you feel this may be a concern for you.
• Again, keep in mind that you are in no way obligated to share this information.
• These feelings can be hard to shake off and getting your head clear and focused can be a nightmare.
• While you’re searching for a job, consider any and all other options.

The job search process in itself can be challenging — ask anyone who’s experienced a job loss and has had to start looking for their next job. But for a recent college graduate, the job hunt is just one of many significant changes and new endeavors. Maybe you’re also looking for a new place to live or cultivating a new group of non-college friends.