Career Tactics: Avoiding Job Search Burnout

No one likes the feeling of burning out. That ragged feeling of pushing too hard, doing too much, and running too long can leave even the most robust job seeker with a sense of exhausted inadequacy.

The feelings of burnout aren't limited only to weak spirited or depressive personalities either. Looking for employment is a brutal process that inherently involves self examination, rejection, and perseverance in the face of typically discouraging odds.

But you need to preserve your momentum and avoid burnout. Otherwise your job search won't have the legs to make it to the finish line. Follow these tips for avoiding this destructive emotion.

Is it time yet?
Before you reach the point of burnout, ask yourself if it's really necessary to start a job search yet. Some people are in an almost continuous state of job hunting, driven by ambition, fear, and simple need for something new. Whatever is driving your job search, look at whether it would be more prudent to delay the process. Give yourself a chance to take it easy for a while. Besides preventing burnout, holding off can actually work out better anyway. Doing so helps remove the desperate, overeager look that can turn off employers. And if nothing else, you'll be fresher when it comes time to interview.

Unrealistic expectations
A lot of times, job seekers burn out because they simply expect too much. Remember, any job search is a marathon more than a sprint. Sure, some people get lucky and bumble into the job of their dreams in just weeks. But that rarely happens. Most people who get jobs quickly do so by short-circuiting a real job search and settling for a position that's far less than what they're really capable of getting.

Pushing too hard
It's a long accepted truth that we're often our own worst boss. Do you drive yourself to the point where no amount of work or success will satisfy you? Think about what's really reasonable and commit to treating yourself well. Sure, you may need a job too quickly to slack off. But beating yourself up about it is only going to leave you frazzled and frayed for interviews. You need all the confidence you can get. And that starts from within.