5 tips to reduce job search fatigue

Navigating today’s job market can feel overwhelming.  It’s not uncommon for job seekers to face physical, mental and emotional fatigue at some point during a career transition. This has been referred to as ‘Job Search Fatigue.’

If you are currently seeking your next career move, here are 5 tips to help you to reduce job search fatigue during your career transition.

Check in with your emotions

Everyone experiences an internal emotional journey when dealing with a change in their life, whether it was planned or unplanned. Jobseekers often overlook the emotional impact they experience after they leave an organisation. Therefore, it is worth recognising how you are feeling and behaving during your career transition.

The Change Curve model by Kubler Ross describes the stages most people go through as they adjust to change. Recognising where you are on the change curve and considering the steps you need to take will help you to positively move forward.

Going into a job search requires resilience and a positive attitude. If you aren’t emotionally ready, this could be reflected in the quality of applications you make or interactions you have with recruiters, hiring managers and even your network. Often job seekers choose to take time out to mentally and physically adjust before they begin a job search.

Get organised and create a plan

Aimlessly scrolling through job boards and LinkedIn not knowing what you are looking for will have an impact, not only on your time but also on your mindset. Job searching requires organisational skills and effective planning. Create a plan of what is important to you in your next career move and a time frame you are working to. If you have received a redundancy pay out there may be less urgency on securing a new role and you can take the time to be selective and approach your job search at a pace that works for you. Setting goals of what you want to achieve and by when will also help to keep you motivated and feel a sense of achievement too.

Structure your day and keep it varied

Many job seekers miss the routine of work and when they don’t have a job to get up for in the morning, can lose their sense of purpose and momentum. When you are job searching you are accountable for your own time and how you plan your day. Schedule your day as you would at work,  including start and finish times and factor in your job search activities. Activities could include updating your CV and LinkedIn profile as well as making applications and reaching out to recruiters and connections. By keeping it varied you will feel more motivated and are likely to be more productive.

Allocating time to certain tasks using time blocking is a simple yet effective to increase productivity Plan your time effectively; if you feel more energised in the morning try and plan your job search activities around this time. A positive mind set will be reflected in your approach but don’t forget to factor in breaks and time for fresh air too.

Manage your expectations and develop resilience

The job searching process comes with its fair share of peaks and troughs. Not every job you apply for will lead to an interview and not every interview will result in a job. You may even find some of your applications will not be acknowledged or that you don’t receive feedback from interviews you have attended. As frustrating as this may be, try and maintain a hopeful outlook and think about what you  can and can’t control in your job search to help you to manage your expectations. Preparing yourself for setbacks and see them as learning opportunities will help you to develop a positive mindset as well as an opportunity to develop personal resilience.

Take care of yourself

Applying for jobs can be a time-consuming process and naturally it takes a lot of personal investment. Spending hours on end job searching isn’t good for your mental and physical wellbeing, so ensure you take time out to get outside, talk to people and incorporate physical activity into your day. Consider the additional time you now may have and what else you want to achieve during your career transition. Whether that be revisiting hobbies of interest, or just having the time to spend with friends and family. Balancing the intensity of the job search with other activities is essential to avoiding burnout and to help maintain a positive mindset.