Recently, I was interview coaching an otherwise very qualified and hardworking jobseeker. Her vibe was frustrated, closed and all around unpleasant. Essentially, she was a perfect example of the burned out jobseeker. When you’re burned out from your job search, your interview responses get defensive. You come across as an energy drain when you network. You dismiss leads prematurely because you assume the worst. Here are some ways to combat burnout before it derails your job search.
Recently, I was interview coaching an otherwise very qualified and hardworking jobseeker. Her vibe was frustrated, closed and all around unpleasant. Essentially, she was a perfect example of the burned out jobseeker. When you’re burned out from your job search, your interview responses get defensive. You come across as an energy drain when you network. You dismiss leads prematurely because you assume the worst. Here are some ways to combat burnout before it derails your job search:
Schedule weekly breaks from your search. Many jobseekers I see start their search with a flurry of work and then go cold. Then they restart, only to stop again. Regular, systematic action is the best pace for your search, so schedule regular, systematic breaks as well. Maybe a Wednesday afternoon at a museum, or an evening class unrelated to your search. An added bonus is that these extra-curriculars are great examples of being well-rounded and interesting outside your professional work.
Pick an optimistic job search buddy. Working with someone is a great way to stay motivated and have built-in accountability. But beware that get-togethers don’t devolve into pity parties. It’s okay to be candid if you’re feeling down but you have to move on, so pick a partner who will help you do that.
Celebrate wins big and small. Keep a tab of the things that are going well with your search – the new people you’ve met, the old friends you’ve reconnected with, those meetings where both parties hit it off. You should be constantly reviewing your search anyway to find the things that work for you that you can repeat and also to troubleshoot areas to fix. But don’t forget to celebrate the things that are working also to remind yourself that, yes, you can do this, and it’s just a matter of time.
We all have been to parties with the guest that just sucks the fun out of anyone they meet. You don’t want to be that person. Refresh as needed. Hang out with positive people. Encourage yourself with real evidence from past wins. Avoid job search burnout at all costs.
Is Your Job Search Flexible or Just Unfocused?
As a recruiter, I’ve seen lack of flexibility on the recruiting side with employers clinging to every last detail in their ideal spec while perfectly good candidates get overlooked. As a career coach, I see jobseekers prematurely dismissing possible targets waiting for that perfect job. It’s true that you want to be focused in your job search (otherwise you dilute your efforts and come across as scattered and possibly desperate).
5 Questions to Test If Your Resume Is Recruiter-Proof
After recruiting in search and in-house for over ten years, I have read thousands of resumes. Due to sheer volume of resumes received and all the other things that vie for the recruiter’s attention in the hiring process – scheduling, interviewing, networking, reference checks, client debriefs, and more – the resume review process is ruthlessly quick.
Why Conventional Wisdom On Work Flexibility Is Always Wrong
In a previous post, I wrote about why employment statistics are always wrong. In a similar way, conventional wisdom on work flexibility is always wrong. It is impossible to generalize something that is inherently case-by-individual case. Therefore, any boilerplate advice or conventional wisdom is bound to omit a key consideration, underweight or overemphasize other considerations, or take too long-term or short-term of a view.
