I can't get excited about prospective jobs anymore.

Anonymous

September 18,2021 at 7:42AM UTC

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I can't get excited about prospective jobs anymore. Before apply to a job I used to always do extensive research on the company, the position, reviews ect. However, so many jobs you never hear anything back (or go through 4 hours of interviews just to get a standard rejection letter weeks later), I find myself hardly looking at the company I'm applying for anymore. I look at the job, and the basic of what the company does enough to adjust my resume or cover letter as needed and then send it off. IF I hear back for an interview I'll research the company more but I found myself getting excited to never hear anything back - even an automated rejection letter. I'm 40 or so applications in and its just exhausting. I'm severely underpaid at my current position and basically told to be happy I still have a job, its become a toxic environment and I need to get out but finding a new job is killing my mental health.

Suggestions on keeping sane in a toxic work environment while also throwing an application at anything you qualify for?

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AnonymousSeptember 18,2021 at 7:57AM UTC
Oh gosh, I gave been there and empathize with you!
Perhaps try a resume service to help your resume get more attention. I know LinkedIn offers that.
AnonymousSeptember 18,2021 at 1:16PM UTC
I had a toxic employer, a few over the years and although I was able to land interviews I was so distracted by the volume of the work that I needed to do and my misplaced loyalty to my employer that when I interviewed I know the me that came through showed a person I had become that wasn’t my authentic self,
more now so because of the zoom meetings versus when I was on the phone only
Before the toxic employer, I seem to always get passed through to the next steps when interviewed, but it became clear that I needed to quit my present job to find another.
obviously not everyone can do that but I had no choice.
I don’t think I would’ve found another position had I continued on in a dysfunctional , chaotic , toxic environment and tried to find a new employer, the only other thing I can suggest is some type of hotline or stress management therapy to help you focus on finding a new job and dealing with your present employer, while working at the old one.
I also was in an environment many years ago where I couldn’t leave and I had to go to therapy, it was stress management therapy it was in my insurance plan and it helped me through, it made me realize how dangerous it is to one’s mental health, so I took the first job that came along and eventually although that wasn’t the right job it was better and I found another job and then my path was very clear for the future and I transitioned into a position that I was at for 15 years.
The universe rewarded me for all the years of pain which I never thought was going to happen.
I know how resentful you can become as an individual when you have to deal with making a living and dealing with an employer that is devastating to your life.’
No matter what, you have to keep trying to leave. call a handful of recruiters so they can market you and easily find things for you and take away some of the legwork and investment of time that you have to do yourself.
I actually left one toxic employer for a temporary position that turned into a full-time work and if you take a temporary position and you finish the assignment you can always collect unemployment.
I hope you find some thing else very soon best of luck to you.
AnonymousSeptember 18,2021 at 1:47PM UTC
I don't have any advice but I am right there with you. Applying and interviewing can be so draining. The only difference is I am out of work ( I had a contract that ended at the end of July). Do you have anything on the side you can do to bring in money? Is it possible to freelance or take contract work to keep you a float and leave this job? Motivational or self help books may help. Sorry I wish I had better advice.
Joan Williams, Senior Talent Acquisition SpecialistSeptember 18,2021 at 5:24PM UTC
I'm glad to hear you've re-calibrated how you're approaching your job search and not getting so invested too early in the process.
A job search is a marathon, not a sprint and can take many months. You need to pace yourself.
I'm not sure over what period of time, you've applied to 40 jobs, but it's a numbers game. In some professions, you could apply to 40 jobs a week.
What have you done so far in your job search?
Elizabeth Gough-GordonSeptember 21,2021 at 3:59PM UTC
I can relate to this so much! I find myself going through cycles in the job search where I am sometimes highly motivated and other times am burnt out (especially after rejection following multiple interviews).
It's ok to take a break from the job search process, especially if your current role is very draining.
AnonymousSeptember 21,2021 at 10:42PM UTC
I’d like to share my technique for feeling recharged.
Make a list of 50 things you are proud of. Can be personal. Can be work. Can be charity. Whatever. Then look across it and ask yourself. What trends do you see? Themes? Those are your natural gifts.
Essentially, take a moment to decide what YOU want to be doing more of. Use that info to guide your career search.
AnonymousSeptember 22,2021 at 6:02PM UTC
I like this and will give it a try. Thank you.