Job search and mental health

I’m right in the middle of the job search process and it has been a rollercoaster.

There are times where I’m finding a limited number of jobs that interest me, next I’ll be getting calls for 2 interviews at a time and this doesn’t even include the number of rejection emails I’ve gotten. By December last year, I needed a break. I had had enough.

The job search process is often discussed in terms of how to target your application package or how to best answer interview questions but what isn’t often brought up is the mental health impact of the entire process.

The impact of searching for a position that sparks your interest while also finding an organization that aligns with your values

The impact of having to repeat your answers to the same questions, over and over again, yet showing up energetically as if it was the first time

The impact of these processes having 3 to 4 rounds, with the same questions being repeated for the same organization

The impact of the rejection emails or, even worse, the ghosting after having an interview

The impact of the financial stress that creeps up, whether you want it to or not, the longer you go with being unemployed

All of these things take turns having a bigger presence in my mind, whether I want them to or not. I’ve been very aware of how I’m feeling every day before I start tackling more than I can handle. If all I can do on any given day is apply to one job, I’m not going to guilt myself into thinking I should be doing more.

At the end of the day, I know that something great is coming my way.

I’m a firm believer that everything will work out and that the universe has my back.

I’ll just keep showing up in whatever capacity I can until everything aligns just right.