Job Search Depression Is Real, And We Need to Talk About It

Ask them for their honest evaluation, constructive criticism and feedback. Process what they have to say and put into action the noted alterations. Instead, practice gratitude and think of the good things in your life. Stop the negative feedback loop by https://remotemode.net/ focusing on what makes you truly happy. Beyond the interview process, maintaining a positive mindset makes you a better candidate for recruiters. Research has found that optimistic employees are 103% more inspired to give their best effort at work.

• Research has found that participating in some kinds of regular volunteer work can help to ease the symptoms of depression.
• Even if you don’t have the right skill set or experience, walking into an interview with optimistic, confident energy will make you stand out.
• When you want to hear positive replies from employers and increase your chances of finding employment, you’ve got to put out a stellar first impression.
• Despite her experience and skills, she faced several months of unsuccessful job hunting, leading to feelings of despair and worthlessness.
• Many things can cause unhappiness in a job, and the trend is only worsening over time.
• Research shows that the long-term unemployed spend less time with family and friends, and embarrassment can contribute to people avoiding social interactions, Mr. Witters said.

If it’s been months or even years and you’re still feeling pessimistic about your job search, it could be time to reassess your career goals. “Though the holidays may increase stress levels, they can also be an opportunity. The holiday season sparks conflicting feelings as over two in five U.S. adults (43%) would use both positive and negative words to describe the holidays, and 72% agree that the holiday season can feel bittersweet. Financial concerns were most often cited as a cause of stress during the holidays, with 58% of U.S. adults saying that spending too much or not having enough money to spend causes them stress. This was followed by finding the right gifts (40%) and the stress of missing family or loved ones during the holidays (38%).

Scrutinize your environment

They are your shoulder to lean on, but also your distraction from the overwhelming parts of this process. So turn to them when you need to talk things out before an interview or cry about a hard-hitting rejection and when you want to have dinner and forget all about jobs. And when you add job hunting anxiety of job hunting to this mix, the impact on your mental health is only going to get worse. It may seem like you’re on your own in the job search blues, especially if most people you know appear to be on a great career track.

You can also ask the human resources department if your company has an employee assistance program. This is a work-based program that offers mental health–related services for personal and work concerns. A 2019 review found that shift workers, especially females, were at an increased risk for poor mental health — specifically symptoms of depression.

Working for a large company vs small company: pros and cons

As much as it may seem that you are stuck in a bizarre rut, while everyone around you has it made, the truth is that these feelings of anxiety, fear, stress, and depression are more common than we know. It can be especially hard to remind yourself of this as the pandemic has pushed us all into our own cocoons of uncertainty depression and job search and doubt without regular contact with others. For example, if you’re searching for a position in nonprofit arts administration, landing that specific roles can feel like a broad and overwhelming goal. It’s hard to handle rejection when worrying about your financial situation and how you’ll pay the bills, rent or mortgage.

You can navigate this challenging phase with the right support and tools. The following tips are simple ways to deal with and manage job-related depression. It should take precedence over anything else, especially if you are working in a toxic work environment. People who constantly seek approval from others might find that quitting a job that causes depression is complicated. The imbalance between personal desires and external expectations can make leaving a toxic work environment painful.

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

Depression is one of the most common mental health disorders, with approximately 17.3 million adults experiencing at least one major depressive episode in the United States in 2017. Rejections are another most common cause of job search depression as there is much competition in the market, so most job seekers fall prey to rejections. Nonetheless, it is daunting to deal with constant rejection positively and stay positive.

But if the opportunity arises, and if you feel comfortable, know there are occasions when being open may actually help you land a job you’ll thrive in. “You’d be surprised at what honesty and an optimistic view toward the future will get you,” Heath says. If you’ve been dealing with depression for a while, you likely know by now what helps you to get through your hardest episodes. Even if you are optimistic, losing a job can be stressful, and it becomes stressful when it takes longer to find a new job than expected. Mahevash Shaikh is a millennial blogger, author, and poet who writes about mental health, culture, and society.