Working in HR, it can be extremely sad and frustrating to have to turn away applicants when many of them are a good fit. Due to the current nature of the job market, often people have a very difficult time competing with others to stand out for a certain job. This can lead to issues such as job search depression. Keep reading to learn what job search depression is and how you can take the necessary steps to avoid it.
Job Search Depression Explained
Job search depression can occur when you have no luck in getting hired or realize that you don’t meet the hiring qualifications. While most know that it can take a decent amount of applications to different companies before getting a job, at some point, people can start to feel like their luck is running out.
Now more than ever, job search depression is becoming increasingly well known among individuals due to COVID. A large number of people are trying to compete for jobs that aren’t normally that hard to get. This leads to applicants thinking they aren’t good enough and slowly leads to depression. Below are some great tips to not only avoid job search depression but how these tips will lead to better success when applying for jobs.
Tips To Avoid Job Search Depression
Write A Job Search Journal
Keep a journal to track all of your job search details such as application approvals/denials, interview dates, contact details, etc. This will keep you organized and will allow a great outlet for you to vent out your frustrations in a healthy way. Also, getting in the habit of writing things down is another great tool to critically think out problems.
Have A Daily Routine
When applying for job after job, routines tend to fall at the wayside, especially if you are currently unemployed. The key to staying as productive as possible is by setting a daily routine to keep you on track with your goals. There are a ton of daily routine applications out there to keep you hitting all of your goals.
Take Breaks and Stay Active
Keeping an active, healthy schedule gives you that time to decompress and do something to move your body. When sitting for long periods of time, oftentimes people tend to get more stir-crazy and irritable. Sometimes the best stress reliever is some form of exercise. It is shown that exercise pumps up your endorphins (the brain’s feel-good transmitters) which ultimately leads to a reduction in stress. This reduction of stress comes from when your body during exercise imitates the effects of stress and helps the body and the related systems work together to overcome the effects (known as the fight or flight response).
Also, take breaks! Sometimes the best remedy to get your head right from job searching is to take some time to do an activity you enjoy. Whether that be watching tv, going outside for some Sun, or simply just closing your eyes for a quick reboot can do wonders for your mental health.
Conclusion
While job search depression is increasingly becoming an issue among many new job seekers out there, it doesn’t have to discourage you. These tips that are listed above cover many ways for you to maintain your mental health while looking for the job you love.
