Winter and Job Search Blues
I recently read an article about job search depression. I live in the Chicago area and am getting quite tired of all this winter, polar weather! So, I am also in a blue funk! In addition to winter weather, looking for a job can be frustrating and deflating. This is not an isolated reaction to the job of looking for work. Many of us get down when our job searches aren’t going the way we want them to go.
According to Linda Le Phan at the Ladders, there’s usually a negative emotional reaction when there is a job loss, and there is a further decline in mental health when a position isn’t secured 10 to 12 weeks out.
No matter when the blues come, how can one cope with these feelings of depression? Here are some tips for getting through these down times.
Make a plan - Set short-term goals, brush up that resume, practice for interviews.
Follow up - make sure you contact employers who have your applications and resumes, stay in touch with favorite workplaces to see if they have any recent openings.
Take a break - don’t be chained to your computer all day every dayFinall. Take a break and relax by taking a walk, soaking in a hot tub, reading a good book.
Finally, make sure you get help when you need it. Stuck with your job search or any aspect of it? My help is just an email away. You can reach me through the contact button on this webpage. Finally, if you find yourself in unmanageable depression, don’t hesitate to seek help. Talk to trusted family members and friends or seek the help of mental health professionals.
Resource: “ Job search depression: what it entails and how to get through it,” Linda Le Plan, the Ladders, November 2018