Zero luck in finding a new job can get frustrating. It’s incredibly demotivating and puts you in a self-critical and less confident state. This isn’t uncommon; it’s something everyone, from a fresher to an experienced professional, goes through. However, sometimes it lasts longer than expected.

So how can you overcome job search burnout? Here’s how:

Know that you’re more than your job

More often, when people face rejection, they attribute it to their incompetency and inability. The perception that we are defined by our work and receiving constant feedback that we aren’t who we think we are is one of the significant reasons why job search leads to burnout and exhaustion.For this, one needs to recognize that their personality comprises various elements of experiences, values, and interests. It’s not always your employment status that defines you; you have other areas in your life that you could lean on which brings you joy. This is especially crucial to cope with job loss.

Learn new skills

Look at the positive side: more free time.
It’s true that you can feel unmotivated to do the usual things and fall into constant dread but look at time as a gift and work on enhancing your skills.

Pursue new hobbies and interests, learn a new language, follow your passion, work on yourself, explore different job profiles, pursue activities that help your professional skills and nurture yourself to grow. Who knows, you might discover a talent you thought you never had. Trying out things and discovering interests can help strengthen your identity and enjoy different sources of fulfillment.

Limit your job search hours

There could be plenty of reasons why you aren’t finding the right job; maybe you’re applying at the wrong places, the state of the job market could be bad, you might be under pressure unknowingly that’s stopping you from doing your best and so on.
While some of these issues seem resolvable, some are inevitable and out of your control. The least you can do to prevent burnout is to stop the constant job hunt. It’s recommended to put in 1-3 hours a day during your typical work week for job hunting rather than periodically throughout the day.

Block out time for yourself and stick to it to make it productive. This could be a time when you’re free or not in between a focused schedule.

Don’t beat yourself up

It’s not always about you. Sometimes, there could be other factors. Whenever a company recruits, they interview a bunch of candidates, and if the position is open for only one person, the rest get a rejection email.

Now, this doesn’t mean the others are incompetent; this only means the person they hired fits well into their expectations. Maybe you’re overqualified; possibly you didn’t fit into their budget, perhaps they believed you would thrive in a different place or so.

Sometimes you might simply not align with the company’s line of work, and your career trajectory could be different from what they can offer you.

All you can do for yourself is to be kind. Take comfort in knowing that there are others you are in your shoes, and it’s okay to feel bouts of depression, anxiety, and stress.

Stay Social

Lastly, don’t lock yourself up. Stay connected, go out and hang out with friends, take some time off and travel or just have conversations. Sometimes all you need is a pep talk, a shoulder to lean on, and knowing that you aren’t alone.

When you have supportive friends, you’re constantly reminded of your strengths. Savor your wins and remind yourself that this is just a phase. Set a schedule so that you have something to look forward to every week. Build a work-search buddy system. You never know; a friend could come to you with an opportunity.

Above all, face questions with confidence. If you’re asked about what you do for a living, it’s okay to say, “I’m looking for my next big opportunity.”