Job search depression is real, but it’s not permanent.
I’ve often wondered why good people stay in bad jobs.
After working with clients whose experiences span a variety of work horrors and triumphs, I’ve come to find that, more often than not, people stay in unfulfilling (and sometimes downright abusive) jobs because they’re scared of the job search process.
The process of finding a new job seems more overwhelming than it’s worth.
When they consider where they are now, versus where they want to be, they think that the risks don’t outweigh the rewards even to start the process of getting a new job.
Here’s a sampling of common reasons I hear from clients who are worried about job search depression:
“What if no one will hire me?”
“My resume sucks, and I freak out in interviews.”
“I’m not special compared to someone else in my field.”
“I’m too old, and no one will hire me.”
“I keep applying for jobs, but I’m not getting an interview.”
“I lost my job and don’t know what to do next.”
“Maybe I should just stay where I am and hope things will get better.”
The problem with that last statement is that it never actually gets better because organizations and people do not change in the way that you want them to or at the speed that you want them to.
Instead of lamenting in frustration, pull yourself out of a job search depression by taking action now.
Here’s how to do it.
Recognize when it’s time to go
Life is full of new changes, so make sure you’re thinking forward (not backward) about where you’re going.
If you’ve been at a company for a while, let’s say a year and a half, you already have a reputation among your peers and leadership.
So, for better or worse, your coworkers see you one way, even if you want to be seen as something else.
The reality is that once you’re in your proverbial box, it takes a herculean effort to get out of it.
Some people are indeed in great “boxes.” They move up fast; they make tons of friends, and they come skipping into work on Monday morning bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, ready to take on the day’s new challenge!
Those people are rare and great at building relationships.
If you want that to be you, you must develop great networking skills.
We’ll save that topic for another post.
If you’re in the majority that doesn’t want to speed race to the top but wants a growing career at a great company, you may need to get out of where you are.
When you’re no longer growing by learning new things and taking on new challenges, then you must leave.
Gain confidence with a great resume
Ok.
So you’ve decided, or your company decided, that you’ve got to go.
Now what?
Getting a new job is a marathon, not a sprint.
On average, it takes 3 to 6 months to find a new job.
The good news is that with a little preparation, it doesn’t have to be overwhelming.
The job market is indeed highly competitive, but it’s also true that there are ways to gain a competitive advantage.
Do you know people who are always interviewing for a new job?
What about the people who get a new job every 18 months or so?
The secret to their success is their mindset and their resume.
They don’t let the process of applying, interviewing, and accepting a new job overwhelm them to the point of paralysis.
Instead, they focus their attention on all the benefits of the new job, not on all the “what ifs” on the way to getting that new job.
When you enter the job hunt, be prepared that you won’t always win.
You’re not always going to get an offer; in fact, you’re not always going to have your resume picked for an interview.
But you can give yourself a competitive edge against everyone else by telling a great story.
And that great storytelling begins with your resume.
Take the first small step
When my clients come to me with job search depression, they always ask me, “What do you recommend I do? I’ve applied for everything out there!”
I always answer, “Let’s start by writing the perfect resume.”
I recommend we start there because most people tell themselves a story that doesn’t serve them.
By starting with your resume, we begin the process of reframing how you think about your achievements so that you can more confidently deliver your story in a way that will make someone want to hire you.
Sometimes it’s hard to remember how great you are until someone asks you the right question.
My clients often feel beaten down by their crappy job, so they don’t think they’ve accomplished anything impressive or produced results that another company would care about.
That’s simply not true.
I have yet to work with a client who hasn’t added value to a company in some way.
My job is to help you identify the compelling parts of your career story and put it on paper in a way that makes sense and demonstrates what you have to offer.
Your job is to be open to the process and be willing to recall and share those moments where you made a significant impact.
When I interview a client about their work experience, it’s amazing to me how many times they will say, “Oh, that’s right, I DID do that!”
As we talk through their history and they answer my questions, they start to remember their accomplishments, and I can hear their confidence building in their voice.
They start to feel like they do have a special set of skills and experiences to bring to a new company.
The light bulb goes off.
They’ve hit the turning point, and they’re ready to crush the job search…all because they took that small first step.
If you’re ready to take the first small step, click here, and let’s get started.