Is your job search affecting your mental health? It depends on how long you’ve been looking and how much time you spend job searching per day. Here’s what you need to know to avoid or pull out of job search depression.
Looking through LinkedIn recently, I saw fellow interview coach Sarah Johnston’s comments on a 2012 study by Connie Wanberg published in the Academy of Management Journal that you should be aware of if you’re job searching.
Job searching is an emotional roller coaster
The study found that right after you get laid off or fired, you feel pretty low (which is not surprising). Then you get a mood lift that lasts for a couple of months. In my experience, the mood lift comes from taking action and considering the possibilities in a new job for a new company.
But this mood lift is only temporary. If you haven’t found a job after 10-12 weeks, according to the study, you start to feel rejected or depressed.
Not only is this feeling hard on you as a job seeker, it can actually hurt you in the job search. If you approach your job search from a negative place, you won’t perform as well in interviews or see the results you want.
How you spend your time matters
The study also showed that the daily time you devote to your job search correlates with those emotional ups and downs.
At first, job seekers put in about 17 hours a week. After those feelings of rejection set in, job seekers tend to spend less time on their search (about 14 hours a week).
Again, this makes sense. Many job seekers feel like they’ve exhausted their options after a couple of months. They feel like no employer will want them.
Job Search Lessons for You
The good news is that if you know the pattern, you can manage it and avoid job search depression.
1 – You have an optimal window of time in which you need to land a new position. It’s vital that you focus on the smartest strategies that get you hired faster.
2 – If you haven’t received an offer within 6-8 weeks of losing your job, it’s time to get help.
Do yourself a favor and schedule some job search or interview coaching time with me. I have thousands of hours of experience and can spot issues and obstacles quickly. You’ll get fast, effective solutions that will get you a great job fast. Find out more about coaching and schedule it here.
I always recommend to job seekers that you hit your job search aggressively and strategically. There’s no need for you to be at the mercy of an emotional roller coaster. Get off the ride and get hired.