Tips to Reduce Job Search Anxiety

Looking for a new job can often be a time of highs and lows. There’s an excitement and sense of great possibility that comes with looking for a job you’ll love, but the long and sometimes stressful process of looking for new work can also be a cause of anxiety.

While it’s normal to experience some anxiety while looking for work, unchecked it can impact your motivation and overall happiness, so it’s always worth taking time to care for your mental health during a job search. Here are our 5 top tips for managing stress and anxiety while searching for a job.

Make a plan

Before you start trawling job boards, you need to ask yourself what kind of job you even want. Are you looking for a step up from your current role, or are you changing careers entirely? Are you looking for on-site, hybrid, or home-based work? What kind of workplace culture are you looking for? Are benefits more important than pay? You should consider all these things before you waste any time applying for jobs you don’t really want to get. Be clear on your goals in your job search, and be surgical in your application approach. It’s much better to spend a few hours on a single, good application for a job that excites you than to spend that time firing off generic applications to every vacancy in your field, and it will cut down on rejection emails and non-responses, which can be a source of anxiety. Which brings us to…

Do your research

It’s always a good idea to properly research a company before you apply for a position. Their website is a good place to start and will show you how the company wants to present itself, but you should also have a look at sites like Glassdoor and Trustpilot to give you an idea of how employees and customers rate them.  Not only will this give you a better idea of what it’s like to work there, but it’ll allow you to tailor your application to the company culture. You’ll feel more confident in what you’re writing and if you do get an interview, you’ll be able to pitch yourself based on what the company values.

Reward your wins

During your search, don’t forget to reward yourself for your successes - even the small ones. After a few weeks of looking for jobs, you may often feel your motivation slipping, so it’s important to set yourself goals and reward yourself when you reach them. Small things like treating yourself to your favourite snack can give you a little boost and help reinforce a sense of accomplishment from achieving your goal. Setting your own pace, working to clear goals and treating yourself for meeting them is a great way to stave off the job-hunt fatigue.

Take a break

Much like setting clear goals, taking regular breaks can help prevent burnout and protect your mental health during a long job search. Researching, applying and waiting to hear back for jobs is a mentally taxing activity, and can take it out of you just as much as a full-time job. That’s why it’s important to allow yourself breaks. Take a walk or just a few minutes to yourself every few hours. Try not to just look at your phone during these breaks, spending some time away from screens can reduce strain on your eyes and feelings of tiredness.

Ask for help

There are lots of ways you can get support throughout your job search, which can help prevent feelings of loneliness and isolation. Friends, family and former co-workers may be able to provide you with advice on your search, but beyond this simply having someone to share your worries and anxiety with will make things seem less overwhelming. There may also be career support groups you can join, online or locally, who can provide advice and tips, often tailored to your industry. Finally, you can use the government career advice service to get help with your job search and tips for managing your mental health outside work.

If you’re a healthcare worker, Stroud Resourcing could help take a lot of the stress out of your job search by matching you with some of the UK’s most prominent healthcare employers. Contact us today for a chat about finding your dream job.