9 ways to take the stress out of your job search

March 1, 2024 12:56 PM

Hands holding resume and another person holding phone

Amid layoffs and cost-cutting measures across industries, many employees are spending their time searching for new roles. The process can be frustrating and anxiety-inducing, but managed correctly, there may be some relief.

The Bureau of Labor and Statistics reports there are close to six million unemployed people looking for work in the U.S., and of those who are employed, LinkedIn found that almost half plan on looking for a different job this year.

According to a new survey from career platform iHire, almost half of respondents said that the search was negatively impacting their mental health. When asked which parts of the experience were most stressful, 55.3% of respondents said waiting to hear back from an employer after applying or interviewing, 38.8% noted getting rejected by an employer, and 37.6% said finding the right jobs to apply to. Thirty-six percent said they feared being discriminated against based on their age.

It's important job seekers pace themselves and recognize when their search is taking too big of a toll, says Lori Cole, iHire career coach. Then individuals can strategize on the best way forward.

"If you're unemployed, finding a job is your full-time job," Cole says. "But you have to recognize when you have hit your wall, and be sure you're making time for your hobbies and self care. This really helps maintain a sense of control."

From keeping things organized to seeking assistance from ChatGPT, Cole shares nine ways to maintain mental wellness during a job search.

Get organized

"Get something set up in your home that is your office space dedicated to your job search," Cole says. "You need to have a private space where when you're sitting in that spot, you know this is what I'm doing, this is why I'm here, this is my job search area."

Additionally, Cole encourages searches to set up a system for keeping track of applications and timelines for following up. iHire offers online tools to support these efforts, she says.

"You're going to have hundreds of applications out there and there's no way you're going to keep them straight in your mind," she says. "So anything that you can do to create a system is really going to help you."

Develop a structured routine

Searching for work takes time. Cole recommends setting up a realistic schedule for researching jobs, sending applications and resumes and networking, as well as making time for breaks.

"Sticking to that routine, making some goals around [sending out a certain amount of] applications a day or trying to reach out to one or two networking contacts a day — that's what's going to give you momentum in your job search," she says.

Revise your resume

"A major stressor when you're just starting your job search is the process of getting your resume done," Cole says. "Is my resume good enough? Do I have the right things on it? Is it going to go through the applicant tracking systems? There's a lot of stress and anxiety around that."

While there are many good resume templates and advice available online, Cole recommends bringing in a professional if a person's budget allows.

"Having it professionally written takes a big weight off of your shoulders," she says. "It just takes the guesswork out of it, and you know that you're going out with a very strong resume and the best marketing document for yourself."

Read more:

AT&T and Maven expand fertility benefits to support 125,000 employees

Expect (and learn to be okay with) rejection

"You are going to face some rejection," Cole says.

Instead of letting that derail a search, keep the momentum up and realize it may have been a blessing in disguise.

"People need to know that employers are doing them a favor if they say 'No, this is not a great fit for you.,'" she says. "I know it's very difficult for some people to accept that, but they are doing you a favor because you probably weren't going to be a great fit for that company."

Utilize AI

"For people wondering how to break into a different industry or a different field, ChatGPT is really good at telling you what your transferable skills are, and giving you some examples of other industries and other jobs that you might be able to look at — you just need to know how to prompt it," Cole says.

By simply copying and pasting their resume, job seekers can request career paths based on their listed skills and achievements. Job seekers can experiment until they find prompts that work for them.

Don’t let age interfere

"The number one thing that somebody over 50 has to understand is that you need to have resilience," Cole says. "You are going to hear no, and it's going to take you a little bit longer to find the right fit with the right company."

She recommends putting together an age-neutral resume, which lists the last 15-20 years of experience and highlights career achievements, rather than an entire career history.

Read more:

Before you cut benefits, find out what your workforce wants

Don’t compare your search to anyone else’s

Cole encourages applicants to not get discouraged by other people's job searching process. Each experience — and applicant — is unique.

"Your neighbor may have gotten a job in a month and here you are in month four, and you're thinking, 'What's wrong with me?'" says Cole. "Maybe they have a different set of skills, maybe they were in an industry that is hiring faster. You shouldn't be comparing yourself to others when you're in this job search."

Seek help if you need it

Lastly, if the job search is becoming too much of a mental burden, it's OK to ask for help and support from family, friends or professionals, Cole says.

"If you think that you are struggling with mental health issues during this time, seek out professional help," says Cole. "They can provide you with some tools and strategies to cope with the stress of all of it, because your well-being matters."