Looking for work is a
horribly frustrating experience. Job seekers have no idea how long
their ordeal will last, and they experience constant rejection until
it’s over. So it’s no wonder they get depressed. But that depression
can create a vicious cycle, because depressed people lack energy and
drive – two ingredients necessary for job search success! So here are
a few suggestions for battling the blues:
1.Expect it to happen.
Unless you have a history
of clinical depression (in which case, you should be receiving
treatment), you are experiencing what psychologists call “situational
depression”, a normal and expected emotional reaction to a difficult and
discouraging situation. So when you start to feel down, don’t be
surprised.
2.Make your job search a job.
Looking for work is a job
in itself. To fight the blues, view this as your new unpaid position.
Set up a work area, organize your materials, establish work hours for
yourself, get business cards printed up, plan your daily activities – in
short, act like you’re working, because you are! You also need to
learn the skills necessary for success in this new “job”, so read books
or look for free online learning resources. No one should try to “wing
it” in a job search.
3.Take positive action.
When you’re depressed,
that little voice in your head starts saying “lie around, watch TV, play
video games, go to bed”. But that’s the worst thing you can do. The
antidote for depression is action, so tell that little voice to shut
up! Then force yourself to take the first step towards that day’s job
search activities - research a company, work on your resume, make a
networking call. Once you get started, you’ll probably keep going.
4.Exercise.
Yes, we know. Exercising
is absolutely the last thing you want to do. But many studies have
found that exercise creates physiological changes in the body and brain
that operate to lift your mood. And it doesn’t have to cost a thing!
So take a walk, do yoga, go to the gym, ride your bike – whatever type
of activity appeals to you most. Or repels you least!
5.Spend time with people.
A job search can be very
isolating. If all your friends are working, the days can seem long and
lonely. Job seekers may also avoid people because they are embarrassed
about being unemployed or tired of giving the same old answer to “how is
the job search going?” But this is the wrong time to become a hermit!
Social interaction is a mood lifter (as long as the people aren’t
jerks), so take time to see friends, attend a support group, or get to
know some new folks.
6.Look for volunteer opportunities.
Volunteering is one way
to meet people, but it also has other benefits. Engaging in meaningful
activity will add a sense of purpose to your life that is often missing
when you are out of work. And volunteering can also help to fill the
gap on your resume, since unpaid work still counts as work. Most
interviewers will be impressed by your initiative. Finally, the people
you meet may be a source of job leads, and your volunteer ‘employer’ can
be a good reference.
7.Go to networking functions.
This may sound like an
odd antidote for depression, since networking tends to be the most-hated
job search activity. But recent research has found that trying to make
a positive impression on strangers produces a sense of emotional
well-being. Apparently, putting our best face forward makes us feel
better about ourselves. And, interestingly, just the physical act of
smiling tends to put people in a better mood. So get dressed up, put on
a friendly face, and head out for that dreaded job fair or professional
association meeting! Even if you don’t come home with a single job
lead, you will have taken a positive step.
