5 Top Tips for Reducing Job Search Anxiety
Searching for your next job can be stressful, with anxiety going through the roof. Don’t worry, that’s normal. The competition for jobs is fierce and the search can be a gruelling task.
Some of the warning signs that you’re experiencing job search anxiety are:
- Difficulty getting out of bed and/or focusing on things
- Getting irritated easily by the small things
- Disinterest in your usual hobbies
- Feelings of helplessness and/or worthlessness
- Procrastination
- Your space getting cluttered and/or dirty
In this article, we look to bring you 5 useful tips for peace of mind when searching for your next job.
How to Deal With Job Search Anxiety
Switch Up Your Strategy and Plan Ahead
If things aren’t working for you and you don’t feel like you’re progressing, making some changes to your approach may be a good idea.
For example, if you’re spending all of your day searching at home, take a break and plan your day to include various different tasks relating to the job search. Being at home and working flat-out wouldn’t be productive, so switch up your day.
Not getting much traction with your current CV? Try hiring a resume writer or having a friend/family member review it. Change the CV slightly for each role and see if that improves your response rate.
Make it easy for people to contact you by digitally sharing your Contapp business card via the app for free here.
Maintain Your Perspective and Stay Positive
Look at the bigger picture, your job search isn’t going to last forever. Although easier said than done, by sticking to the job search, eventually you will find the job you’ve been looking for. Try to get it into your head that your job search is a temporary situation, so be patient.
Enjoy the challenge of discovering new positions to apply for. Make sure that you then reward yourself when you’re done by engaging in the activities that make you happy. By doing this, mentally you’ll be in a better position when hunting for the job you want.
Fit in the Small Wins
Following on from what we said above, it’s important to reward yourself when you encounter small wins in your job search. When you’re feeling anxious, these small wins can make you feel a lot better about the process.
The job hunt can be an overwhelming task, which can easily translate to anxiety.
Whatever it is that you can accomplish and brings you joy, fit it into your schedule. This may include connecting with professionals in your industry on LinkedIn, reading a chapter of a book or even going for a walk outside.
Don’t Take It Personally
Looking for a new job means facing rejection.
Although it’s hard to keep this in mind, there are so many factors that are out of your control that can cause an impact. Just because you were rejected, it doesn’t mean the team/interviewer didn’t like you.
Take every interaction with companies as an opportunity to learn why you wasn’t suitable for that role. Asking for feedback is a great way to better yourself for the next interview or job application.
It can also help to remember that every “no” gets you one step closer to your “yes” – stay positive!
Don’t Put All Your Eggs in One Basket
When you find an opportunity that aligns with exactly what you’re looking for and you’re making it through the interview process, it’s easy to get excited.
If you’re through to the final stages of the interview, this isn’t a sign to stop applying to other jobs. Resist the temptation to do this because you never know what might happen.
It’s always good to know that there’s potential safety nets if you’re not the successful candidate.
