Most regard a career as one of the most important aspects of adulthood. After all, having a stable job means being able to provide for yourself and your family. Employment entails financial independence. It is also a facet of life where improvement and opportunities lie.
However, many people still feel unlucky because they haven’t secured work. You may be a fresh graduate sending out applications and being met by radio silence. Or, you may already be a worker worrying about how the ongoing pandemic will affect your job. All of these feelings of unease can affect your mental well-being.
Whether you’re a new job seeker or are switching jobs, the hunt can be tiring. Job searching is never an easy process. With the COVID-19 pandemic affecting economies around the globe, finding a job nowadays is extra challenging. However, all hope is not lost. If you’re starting to feel anxious about your job pursuits, therapy is here to help.
So, if you’re wondering how therapy can help you, read on to find out.
Empowering Anxious Job Hunters
There are many considerations when it comes to finding a job. Did you know that adults can spend up to a third of their lives working? Since your future work will take up a big fraction of your life, you must consider many factors. You will have to assess the pay grade, location, dress code, management, and company culture, to name a few.
Company culture can be complicated. If you’re from a minority racial background, you may be alienated from some companies’ policies and workplace culture. The same thing applies to job seekers from overseas. Sadly, prejudice is still prevalent in many industries. The thought of facing discrimination at work can be demoralizing for anyone.
We all want to find a job aligned with our interests, values, and goals. It is the ultimate dream because it gives us a sense of fulfillment in our careers. However, this is not always the case for many people. If you keep ending up in companies you do not fit in with, you may feel disappointed in yourself. Because of this, you may even doubt your skills and capabilities. At times like this, therapists can help enlighten your mind.
Talking to others is effective at reducing anxiety. It’s always reassuring to know that what you feel right now doesn’t translate to failure. Speaking to therapists can bring even more benefits. These mental health professionals can help you realign your goals. Together, you can find ways to cope with your feelings. Some therapists even specialize in workplace counseling. This type of counseling is designed to help you with your professional path.
When your anxiety gets overwhelming, think about consulting your therapist for career counseling sessions.
Improving Your Job-Search Techniques
There is no standardized approach to job hunting. Different employers have different processes for hiring people. Because of this, job searching can be a tedious undertaking.
Moreover, it can be a long procedure. It can be as short as a few weeks. At worst, it can take months. What’s saddening is that there are instances when you are met by silence after months of interviews. People rarely complete a successful job hunt in a week.
A therapist with expertise in career counseling can guide you. As your sessions progress, your therapist can start to have a clear view of your situation. Once they have a keen sense of your goals and skills, they can make sound recommendations regarding your career.
So, what questions can you expect during sessions? Below are a few examples.
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- What is your skill set?
- What is your educational background?
- How do you think your skills can contribute to a workplace?
- What are your strengths and weaknesses? How will you overcome such weaknesses?
- What rating will you give to your communication skills?
- What is your ideal workplace?
Based on your answers, your therapist will develop suggestions on how you can improve your job search. When sending out applications, you should tailor-fit your approach depending on the company. In addition, you should also be aware that competition will always be present. It is important to understand that not hearing from a company doesn’t necessarily mean you are not good. In cases like this, your therapist can help you find strength instead of demeaning yourself.
Encouraging You To Rely On Your Support Network
Nowadays, being unemployed doesn’t just entail financial challenges. It can also bring about psychological trauma. Even more, job hunting during a pandemic can feel isolating. At times like this, support is essential. When you bottle up all of your emotions, it can lead to further mental health distress.
Remember: you are not alone. Just because lockdowns and quarantines restrict movement, it doesn’t mean that you are on your own. There are many communities of job seekers out there. Some are even present virtually, too. Support groups will help you realize that you are not experiencing this distress alone.
Your therapist can be your career coach, too. More than just giving tips on taking the right career path, your therapist is here to listen. You can talk about the frustrations you feel with your search. When you think there is no light at the end of the tunnel, your therapist will encourage you to continue.
Remember that your mind is powerful. Your thoughts can have a profound impact on your results. What you think will affect how you act. But if you can’t find the will to fight right now, your family and peers can lift you.
In Conclusion
Most of us will conduct a job search sometime in our lives. Some may even conduct several searches at once. As you go through this process, keep in mind that job hunting will never be an easy journey for many people. Even before the pandemic, finding jobs was no easy feat. So, do not surrender to your anxiety and compromise your well-being in the process.
If you find yourself experiencing intense pressure and stress from your job search to the point of having anxiety, seek the help of a therapist. With their help, you will make sense of your emotions and clarify the next steps of your work applications. Therapists can also help in giving alternative treatments for anxiety and address issues that you’re struggling with. Finding a job may take time, but you will land before you realize it.