Dealing with Burnout on the Job Search

“I’m just feeling exhausted filling out applications.”

“I’ve applied to over fifty jobs and haven’t heard anything back.”

“Is any of this actually making a difference?”

Thoughts like these can be common when you’re trying to balance school, work, family, friends, and a job search all at once. It may be normal to question whether all the resumes you’re creating and job applications you’re filling out are actually making a difference when you’re still waiting to hear back from employers.

First of all, you’re not alone. According to a recent LinkedIn survey, in some cases it may take three months or more to land a new job. In other words, job seekers are finding the right job, but it may be taking more time than expected. If, like many others, you find yourself in a similar position, here are some ideas to better maintain a sense of balance during the job search process:

1. Be kind to yourself and plan your job search and work-life balance.

• Schedule breaks during the week to relax and do something other than work or job search. For example, after submitting an application, go for a bike ride, watch a few episodes of your favorite show, or take your dog out for a walk.
• Make time to visit with friends and/or family to relax and unwind.
• Keep track of your mental health and schedule days to step away from the job search. For instance, if weekends need to be saved for free time, try to spread the job search process over the weekdays to give yourself that time to breathe.

2. Remember that sometimes you can do everything right but various factors beyond your control may affect the job selection process. Here are some real-life examples of this situation:

• Job Opening Cancellation – An employer cancels a job opening and no one who applied is hired
• Internal Changes – A company is going through an organizational restructure, and it slows down the applicant review process
• Time of Year – If you’re applying to jobs near the summer vacation season, winter holidays, or spring break, sometimes members of the company’s search committee may be out of town, which can slow down the hiring process
• Hurricanes/Severe Weather – With hurricane season around the corner for some areas, unexpected weather may cause businesses to close temporarily or wait for staff members who evacuated to return from leave

3. Instead of focusing on factors beyond everyone’s control, focus on what you CAN control.

• Tailor your resume and cover letter to each job opening to increase your match rate.
• Make sure your resume and cover letter are ATS-friendly (view this helpful article from Jobscan).
• Create a spreadsheet to track your application dates and schedule your follow-up dates.
• Follow up with jobs you applied for 1-2 weeks after submitting your application.
  • Call the HR office or point of contact to check on the hiring process.
    • A sample script might sound like this: “Hello, my name is Jamal and I applied for the Data Analyst I position on May 15^th. I wanted to reach out to check if there were any updates on the hiring review process for this role. Thank you.”
    • If the HR office or point of contact doesn’t pick up, be sure to leave your name and phone number.
    • If you can’t reach the HR contact via phone, be sure to send a short email as a follow-up.
    • Bonus Tip: If, after following these steps, you still haven’t heard back from the company:
      • Keep the job search going! Build a pool of applications so that you have multiple options to explore.
      • You may be surprised—if the HR contact is busy or out of the office at the time you reached out, they may still contact you later on. Either way, the ball is now in their court and you can feel at ease, knowing you’ve done everything you need to do.
• Continue to network.
  • Reach out to people in your desired industry or company via LinkedIn and ask if they have 10-15 minutes to talk about their career journey or whether they have any recommendations for getting started in your desired industry. Our USF Career Guide has great tips for requesting informational interviews.
  • Explore company websites and look to see if they have “Early Career” or “Recent Graduate” positions available since these sites often contain entry-level postings that may help if you’re looking for your first job.

Remember you are not alone! Schedule an appointment with a USF career coach to review your resume and explore additional job search strategies. We are here to assist you and connect you with additional resources along your career journey. Whether you are a current student, recent graduate, or alumnus, we would love to talk with you. Check out the different ways to use our services and get assistance. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us atTPA-Careers@usf.edu or 813-974-2171.