Navigating Job Search Depression: Unseen Challenges and Sustainable Strategies

The moment you realize that your job search is taking longer than you expected is the moment job search depression begins. If you can recognize the causes of job search depression, you can stop or even prevent job search depression from happening to you altogether. A required job search shouldn’t require a job search depression.

A new job gives you a chance to start over, relieve some of the pressure on your day-to-day life and hopefully find a better environment in which to work. If your job is causing depression and there’s no way to work around root issues, it’s time to go. Your mental health is deeply important, and a position that’s harming your well-being isn’t worth it, no matter how much you like your coworkers or the company mission. Experiencing bouts of stress at work is normal and to be expected but dealing with prolonged stress that never seems to go away or feelings of depression is not normal. Identifying the signs and symptoms of burnout and depression is the first step to getting help. If you feel like you might have work depression, you may be asking yourself how you got here, especially if you used to love your job, coworkers and environment.

Safeguarding your mental health while looking for work, and other tips for job seekers

Job search stress strongly correlates to your mental health and wellbeing, and the most common psychological issues people face are anxiety and depression. Your struggle with depression, and the tools you’ve used to manage your mental health, can actually be framed in a positive light to prospective employers, Heath says. But she cautions that you should https://remotemode.net/ do so only if the question you’re being asked in an interview warrants it. So, for instance, you might bring up your experiences in response to a question about your biggest personal lesson or struggle. Make sure you schedule time for therapy, self-care, opportunities to recharge with friends or family, and, if you’re between gigs, volunteering time.

Recruiters are human too and occasionally fall prey to affinity biases, expectation anchors, and other unconscious failings. Faults in the recruitment process can occasionally lead to good applications being rejected by mistake. A lack of communication between hiring managers and decision-makers, poorly organized interviews, even badly thought-out job advertisements can lead to mistakes being made. In situations where a large number of candidates have applied for the same role, it is possible for resumes to sometimes fall through the cracks and go unnoticed.

Remember that you are so much more than just your job

It’s usually granted only after all other options have been exhausted. Setting a boundary between your work and personal life can help both sides of the fence. If you want to make it fun, get yourself a novelty timer and use it to schedule work tasks and remind yourself to take a break. Having a schedule can reduce the stress of always being late or never having enough time. You may be able to arrange accommodations at your current job that will make it better.

If you’re noticing a link between depressive symptoms and your workplace, Gilmore cautions not to wait to seek help. If you’re concerned it may be related to burnout, talking with a supportive immediate supervisor or boss is a good first step. They can work with you to help identify some changes that can be made to reduce your symptoms. If those changes don’t seem to help with symptoms, it may be time to speak with your doctor or a therapist. 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.

What are common risk factors for depression at work?

If it’s present, symptoms have started to impair important areas of your daily functioning. EXPOSURES 
Employment and shift work status information was obtained from baseline. Lifestyles included smoking, physical activity, alcohol consumption, dietary characteristics, sleep duration, sedentary time, and body mass index (BMI). While workplace anxiety and depression are tragically common, they’re not inevitable or unavoidable.

They’ve lost their sense of meaning and involvement with others. Dr. Tracey Marks, a psychiatrist in Atlanta, Georgia, says being a poor fit for your job is probably one of the biggest factors. Use each experience as an opportunity to learn and refine your approach for future interviews. Instead, practice gratitude and think of the good things in your life.

Mental health concerns like depression are covered under FMLA, so if your situation escalates and you require urgent care for your symptoms, your workplace may be obligated to let you seek treatment. In a perfect world, Americans would https://remotemode.net/blog/job-search-depression-exists-and-it-has-to-be-addressed/ work to live, not live to work. However, many people working are stuck in toxic or unhealthy jobs that are more harmful than helpful and can find themselves investing significant time and mental energy toward workplace conflict.