Are You Tired Of Job Hunting, Or Is It Learned Helplessness?

For some, job hunting is an easy process. They are never jobless for more than a month or two. Everything just seems to work out so effortlessly for them. But for others, job hunting is a daunting process. It is a constant reminder of the numerous rejections, missed opportunities, tiresome days and nights, and thoughts about what could have been. But could this be the culprit? Have you been stuck in the job-hunting space for so long because of that exhaustion? Let us take a minute to reflect on that.

Learned helplessness is a state of mind where a person, following repeated difficulties, starts to believe they cannot control their circumstances. Consequently, they stop making any effort and accept their lot. In the job hunting context, learned helplessness may manifest in different ways. One person may completely avoid making job applications as they believe they will never get a job. Another person may continue applying for jobs, but puts minimal effort because they believe it is a waste of time. What happens to these two individuals is that they miss opportunities due to their actions, not because they are doomed.

1. Diminished motivation to apply for jobs
2. Pessimism: You believe you will never get a job
3. Avoiding anything to do with job hunting
4. Decreased effort when applying for jobs
5. Low self-esteem
6. Procrastination: You keep postponing when you will apply for jobs
7. Giving up at the slightest inconvenience
8. You find it difficult to tolerate frustration

1. Therapy: Different people may have the same experience, but it might affect them differently. While you may experience learned helplessness during your job hunting season, it may have been caused by something different. A therapist can help you uncover the underlying cause of your learned helplessness and resolve it. They can also empower you to address this problem if it ever occurs again in the future.
2. Taming Your Thoughts: Every time you catch yourself having pessimistic thoughts about job hunting, you need to reframe those thoughts. You may find yourself thinking, "I'm wasting my time applying for this job." Immediately reframe the thought to, "I'm not wasting my time applying for this job. There is a chance I could get it."
3. Social support: Find a friend or family member you can confide in about your job hunting struggles. Being able to openly talk about your struggles can provide catharsis and leave you feeling much better. It also creates the opportunity for the friend to share any job advertisements or helpful resources they may come across. This support makes the job hunting process less hectic.
4. Watch what you consume: Continuously engaging with content that makes you feel bad about your circumstances can make your learned helplessness worse. Engage with content that lifts your spirits and makes you feel more motivated and capable of changing your circumstances.
5. Journaling: Journaling can help you release negative emotions and thoughts that affect your ability to take action. Write openly and honestly about your feelings regarding the situation. You can either keep the journal or burn it as a form of release once you are done writing.
6. Set a job application plan: Clearly state your vision and why you need to apply for a job. When you are feeling demotivated, you can go back to your plan and remind yourself why you are applying for a job. Set a daily, weekly, or monthly target to keep you on track. This target will help you avoid procrastinating the job-hunting process, increasing your chances of getting a job faster.

Job hunting can be exhausting. You may feel tired and demotivated to keep applying for jobs. But sometimes, this may be a symptom of something worse that needs your urgent attention. You could be dealing with a case of learned helplessness. When left unmanaged, it could keep you jobless for a very long time and have you thinking you are doomed. However, with the right support and avenues to process your emotions, you can overcome your learned helplessness and prevent it from becoming worse. You can learn more about this psychological phenomenon here: https://www.resiliencelab.us/thought-lab/what-is-learned-helplessness