3 Ways Stress Is Crushing Your Job Search

3 Ways Stress Is Crushing Your Job Search3 Ways Stress Is Crushing Your Job SearchYou spend hours combing through job boards in search of those open positions that actually seem suitable. When you do find one? You start the agonizing process of tailoring your resume, hitting that submit button, and then waiting for any sort of news to arrive in your inbox.Oh, and all the while, you have the paralyzing fear of rejection and failure hanging over your head.Is your heart racing? I get it- job searching can be incredibly stressful. But, while youre mora than justified in getting some sweaty palms and some shaky knees during your hunt for a new gig, letting that stress overwhelm you can have some dire effects.Here are three different ways that stress is sabotaging your job search- as well as what you can do to kick your anxiety to the curb1. Stress destroys your focus.It takes some intense focus to tweak your resume, draft an impressive cover letter, and submit an application thats sure to grab the attention of that hiring manager.Unfortunately, stress can quickly get in the way of your ability to zone in on the task at hand. Researchers have found that our ability to focus and concentrate is directly correlated to how much emotional stress were under. So, if you let those frenzied feelings get too big, youll run the risk of letting something slip through the cracks- whether its a pesky typo in your resume or forgetting to swap out the company name at the top of your cover letter.2. Stress impedes your motivation.Job hunting is a lot of work. And, while a little bit of stress can serve to light a fire under you, too much can actually have the opposite effect. Studies show that excessive levels of stress can hinder your performance and decrease your motivation- which are important qualities to have when youre trying to ace your job search.3. Stress sends your mood into a nosedive.If theres one thing you likely already know about stress, its that it can have you feelin g gloomy in almost no time at all.Dont worry, its not just you- science backs this up. According to the Mayo Clinic, common effects of stress on your mood include irritability, anger, sadness, and depression. The last thing you need is to feel sour and mopey while writing that cover letter or corresponding with a hiring manager. So, keeping your stress at bay is crucial for presenting yourself as the engaged and enthusiastic job seeker that you are.How to Cope with Your Job Search StressWhat can you do to keep that inevitable stress from swooping in and destroying your entire job search? Put one (or all) of the following tactics to work for you.1. tischset attainable goals.Conquering a job search can often feel like standing at the bottom of a giant mountain and looking up. If you think of the process as a whole- every job, every resume, every interview- you can quickly feel overwhelmed and lost.This is why its helpful to break your job search up into smaller, more actionable goals. For example, maybe you want to apply for three jobs this weekend. Or, perhaps you want to have your LinkedIn profile brushed up by the end of the afternoon.By focusing on more bite-sized objectives, youll feel like youre making some actual progress- which can serve as your motivation to keep pushing forward with a cool, calm, and collected attitude.2. Practice positive thoughts.The concept of positive thinking might seem a little cheesy. But, rest assured, its undeniably effective when it comes to limiting your stress.This is another area that the Mayo Clinic has studied. Through its research, it found that reducing your negative self-talk (in other words, those nasty things that the little voice in your head likes to torture you with) can also reduce your stress. The study points out that this doesnt mean you need to be naive and ignore the negative things that happen. Instead, you just need to approach them in a more productive and positive way.3. Have a talk with an empathetic f riend.Bottling up your emotions can just cause you to stew on them even more. So, when youre feeling particularly stressed out, have a level-headed chat with an empathetic friend.The operative word there is level-headed. While positive venting can help you release some stress, the type of venting that involves yelling and flushed cheeks can actually increase your stress levels. Plus, calmly conversing with a friend about your concerns can help you gain some outside perspective on the situations that are frustrating you.When it comes to your job search, stress is pretty much inevitable. The bad news? If you let it get out of hand, your efforts could suffer. But, the good news? There are some simple and effective ways you can deal with it. Put behauptung tips to work, and youre sure to tackle your hunt for a new job with as few frantic feelings and chewed nails as possible.