Burnout is when you feel exhausted, cynical, or unfulfilled by your job. It’s common among those who don’t have any control over their work or who have conflicting expectations placed upon them. But it’s also possible to burn out when you’re looking for a job — especially if you’ve been at it for a while without any luck.
Your job search is your full-time job, but it can be tough to give it the time and energy it needs. That’s because you may have a lot of other things going on in your life, like supporting a family or caring for a loved one. All of these responsibilities can make you feel burned out and stressed.
If you’ve been applying for jobs for a while with no luck, it’s easy to burn out. Here’s how to avoid job search burnout and keep your motivation up.
The longer your job search goes on, the harder it is to maintain your motivation, even though there’s evidence that the longer you’re looking, the more likely you are to find a job.
While you can’t control everything about the job market or the hiring process for each particular position you apply for, there are some things you can do to keep yourself moving forward as you look for a job.
Know that it’s normal
First off, it’s important to recognize that this is a normal part of the job search process. If you’ve been applying for jobs and getting interviews but no callbacks or offers, it’s easy to start feeling like there must be something wrong with you.
This can lead to self-doubt and lack of confidence, which then make the job search more difficult. It’s also possible that you’ve had some interviews but found out that people with more experience than you were hired instead — again leading to feelings of not being good enough.
It is important to recognize that finding a job is not about accepting an offer for a perfect position at the ideal company, but instead making the best decision for yourself and your career.
It’s important to take care of yourself throughout the process.
Here are some tips for avoiding job search burnout:
Support Network
Build a support network of friends and family who believe in you and will help keep you motivated.
Take time off to recharge when needed. This can include taking a weekend off from applying or stepping away from social media while you’re on vacation.
Stay active
Whether you’re searching for a job or not, exercise is an important part of taking care of your body and mind. It relieves stress, improves sleep, and boosts your mood. Plus, having a regular workout routine will help you stay motivated during your search.
Set boundaries
It may be tempting to spend all day every day looking for a job, but that could lead to burnout. Make sure you set aside time for friends, family, and hobbies — even if it’s just a little bit each day. These activities will help you stay positive during your search.
Be flexible
The perfect job may not exist — at least not right away. Try to keep an open mind about what you’re looking for so that you can consider all opportunities that come your way. This will also help you avoid unnecessary stress.
Don’t let it get to that point.
Take breaks from the search, be it a day, a week, or whatever time you need to recharge and be ready to resume the hunt again.
Sometimes job searches can go on far longer than you might expect, but how long they last have more to do with the time and circumstance than anything else.
Keep updating your online presence, refine your resume and portfolio as needed, try new things like networking with new groups or volunteering and other ways of making yourself into a more attractive candidate. You’ll be hired in the job that’s right for you before you ever reach burnout.
I’m Twanna Carter, Ph.D., and I help high achieving professional women who are anxious about transitioning into a new career, have absolute confidence and belief in their own abilities, so they can communicate their unique value, honor their true purpose, and boldly pursue their dream career.
In less than an hour, you can join the thousands of other women who have gone from being stuck in a career they hate to feeling fulfilled by a job that aligns with who they were meant to be.
Schedule your free 15-minute Career Transition Consult here: bit.ly/drcarter_15min
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