JT Talks Jobs: How to deal with job search burnout

A: You’re not alone in this, and there’s a path forward.

Recently, we had a gentleman named Evan join a live session feeling defeated about his job search. He shared a sentiment very similar to yours.

As I listened to Evan, I realized he was carrying around a heavy “career story” filled with negative thoughts and past disappointments. These thoughts were like rocks weighing him down every time he looked at a new job opportunity.

You see, every career experience we have — not getting a job, being passed over for a promotion, getting rejected — we codify into a story in our brain. It’s our subjective interpretation, not fact. But over time, this “career story” becomes like an epic novel constantly playing in our minds.

The beautiful thing is that this subjective career story can be revised at any time by challenging those rocks one by one by reframing negative thoughts like “I don’t have the right experience” to “My transferable skills qualify me.”

Here’s how you can start rewriting your own career story:

1. Identify the rocks: Write down the negative thoughts and beliefs that come to mind when you think about your job search. Be honest with yourself about what’s weighing you down.

2. Challenge the beliefs: Look at each negative thought and ask yourself if it’s really true. For example, if you think, “I don’t have the right experience,” consider how your skills and past roles have prepared you in ways that aren’t immediately obvious.

3. Reframe your story: Transform those negative beliefs into positive, empowering statements. Instead of saying, “I can’t get excited about any job,” try, “I’m open to finding a job that aligns with my skills and interests.”

As we eliminated the untrue, disempowering beliefs weighing Evan down, his career story got lighter. Suddenly, the strategic activities for finding a fulfilling job — crafting a compelling résumé, building an engaging LinkedIn profile — became possible.