Mental health should be a top priority during your job search. Here’s why

Searching for a job nowadays is at best exhausting and at worst demoralizing. The entire hiring process, from initial applications and cover letters to final interviews and thank you emails, often feels more like a needlessly intricate obstacle course than anything resembling a true evaluation of one’s skills and qualifications. 

Even worse, by the time most applicants reach the finish line they’ll be lucky to have received a rejection email let alone a job offer. In combination with record amounts of applicants for in-demand jobs like remote positions, and exceedingly long recruitment timeframes, it’s safe to say searching for a new job right now isn’t easy.

As ghosted applications add up, and numbered days on the calendar fly by, it’s only a matter of time before the average eager job seeker eventually turns bitter and filled with self-doubt. Right off the bat, if you’ve personally been feeling beaten down by searching for a job it’s key to know that such feelings are incredibly normal and nothing to shy away from. If anything, it’d be more of an outlier if you weren’t feeling at least a little uneasy. 

A poll conducted by the Pew Research Center in 2021 found that most unemployed Americans were feeling the emotional toll of job loss. For example, 53% even said they felt like they had lost a piece of their identity. Notably, about half added they weren’t exactly optimistic about finding a new job either.

The strong association between employment and mental health outcomes is an intricate sociological and societal web that modern science is only now beginning to unravel, but it’s already clear just how much our collective careers weigh on our psyches, and consequently, our wellbeing. One study conducted in Germany found that “mental scars” tied to periods of unemployment can continue to negatively impact individuals up to five years after being hired. 

Meanwhile, a cumulative review of multiple studies encompassing nearly 5,000 people published in JAMA Psychiatry notes unemployed subjects scored as much as 37% higher on depression measures than employed participants. Even more astounding, a massive research project covering over 23,000 people found that unemployed individuals actually display higher levels of inflammatory markers in their blood, considered signs of excessive stress, in comparison to employed counterparts.

What drives job search depression? 

While looking for a job, of course, is just one stressor associated with unemployment, the rigors of job hunting certainly don’t make it easy on applicants. Self confidence doesn’t exactly grow on trees, and while some people are natural extroverts, others are far less comfortable talking themselves up. And yet, every applicant is expected to be a self-assured salesman, and a great one at that. 

The pressure to perform well and make a good impression, not just during in-person interviews, but across every single communication with recruiters, hiring managers, and everyone in between, can be incredibly stressful. Repeated rejection, on the other hand, is another major driver of job search depression. It’s common these days for the average applicant to see dozens (if not hundreds) of “thanks, but no thanks” notices before ever being offered an interview. It’s easy to shake off one or two missed opportunities, but a few dozen can start to inspire doubt in even the most self confident individuals.

Finally, the last major factor influencing job search blues is uncertainty. We all crave a certain amount of stability in life, and the unpredictable nature of finding a job can be absolutely draining mentally. It’s a common horror story among job seekers to spend weeks interviewing for a particular position only to have the proverbial rug pulled out from under them by either an unexpected rejection or complete lack of response at all.

Everyone needs a breather

Burnout is supremely understandable while in the midst of a job search. If you’ve been finding yourself bleary eyed and miserable while scrolling through endless job listings and never ending applications, do yourself a favor and take a break.

While ignoring your career for too long is sure to backfire, the benefits of taking a breather can pay off big time in the end. For instance, if you’ve been treating your job search like a full-time gig for months on end and increasingly feel like you have nothing to show for it, take a few days off. Jobs will still be available in a week or so and you’ll have gotten some much needed rest.

Relevant and refreshingly random research published in the scientific journal Frontiers in Public Health suggests that attending sporting events in person can provide just as much of a boost to mental health as landing a new job. So, if you’re in need of something to take your mind off your career for a few hours, head to the local stadium or arena and take in a game. 

Looking for a high paying job? Aim higher and search smarter with The Ladders. Get started today!