The JobSync Blog
Three Ways to Overcome Job Seeking Anxiety
December 5, 2011
In a recent post at the Harvard Business Review, tech entrepreneur Daniel Gulati discusses how many individuals on career fast tracks do not seem happy about their seemingly perfect work life. In fact, if anything, they seem anxious and miserable. And Gulati suspected the reason: When he has asked such people if they were following their passions, they confessed to him that they felt lost, hesitant, and uncertain.
So, what does this have to do with jobseekers? Quite a bit actually.
Interestingly, there are many parallels between the anxiety of upwardly mobile job holders and the unease of frustrated job hunters. As Gulati points out, there are three primary threats to the sense of happiness and wellbeing of such successful employees, and they are equally applicable to many jobseekers as well. First, large companies are no longer safe options for anyone anymore. Whether one is working at such a firm or applying to one, they no longer offer stable careers for life. Indeed, in today’s world, people should expect to work for several companies and have more than one career. Second, social networks such as Facebook are increasing anxiety by constantly exposing one to the successes of others and inciting constant comparison to such individuals. Lastly, college degree-holders of today face a dizzying array of career choices, which only adds to the stress of making the right decision.
To combat this anxiety, Gulati offers three suggestions, which jobseekers can also take to heart:
1. De-emphasize prestige and compensation. While acknowledging the importance of money, there must be a balance between the meaningfulness of work and the money it brings a candidate.
2. Start experimenting. Try new things in your job search. Try difficult things in your job search. Break out of your comfort zone. Don’t like attending large networking events? Push yourself to go, or bring a friend if you must.
3. Spend time defining your passions. Commit an hour a day to thinking about what you are passionate about. It can encompass more than one thing. In fact, it should encompass a variety of things. Once you have identified your passions, incorporate them into your job search.
When you leave anxiety behind, you can move forward with confidence. Is there any other way you would want to go?
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