How To Relieve The Pressures Of Finding A Job

One of the greatest challenges of the job-seeking process is the pressure that it causes for many. When you actually consider how people popularly view the act of looking for a job, you quickly realize that there are a lot of uncertainties involved.

Some of the most common uncertainties range from whether they’ll be able to find a job within a certain amount of time to aim for a certain type of job and not attaining it. There are also external pressures, like the fact that most need a job to have a financially stable life, as well as what other people like family and friends have to say about how people are conducting their job search.

If you feel held back by the pressures of finding a job, don’t just accept that way of thinking and feeling. Learn to relieve any pressures and convert your concerns to helpful considerations you should have in order to secure the job you want.

1. Limit the Number of Applications You Submit

If you’re approaching job applications in a general way and aren’t keeping track of how many you submit in a day, you could end up easily overwhelming. You want to make sure that you read the job posting details closely and tailor (if needed) your application to fit for that position.

For example, If your resume and cover letter focus on your marketing and sales experience but the position you’re applying for doesn’t mention either, then it’s best to omit it and focus on the experience and qualifications that are relevant to that specific job.

In order to make it easier on yourself when submitting job applications, follow these tips:

  • Write a job search plan that includes all the job positions and their industries that you want to apply to. Focus on them when searching and applying to jobs online.
  • Complete your profile on job boards like Indeed, LinkedIn Jobs, Monster, etc, so that you can conveniently apply to jobs instantly with a complete profile.
  • Create and organize your application materials to reflect the common qualifications that are listed in the job postings you’re applying to. In that way, you’ll be able to submit the same materials for similar positions without wasting time revising your resume for each specific application.

2. Set Realistic Expectations

When you aim for a very specific job you purposefully narrow down the opportunities you have available to apply for. For that reason, you should be mindful of a few things:

  • How many postings are out there for the specific job?
  • Where those jobs are advertised (local, requiring you to relocate, or virtual/remote).
  • How qualified you are for them “on paper” (based off of your resume and what the employer asks of candidates).

Oftentimes, when you narrow down the job opportunities you’re willing to apply to that will extend your time spent job searching. Since you’re looking for something specific and not just any position, it’s only natural that you’ll need to adjust your expectations for how quickly you get a job and how much effort it requires.

To ensure your expectations remain realistic, you should set a time limit for how long you’ll apply to certain jobs over others. Better yet, set a daily number of applications you’ll put in for different types of jobs. If you’re looking for a PR position, try to look under a variety of associated job titles like marketing coordinator or communications manager. Which will increase your chances of landing a job if you are looking under more than one position title.

It takes an average of 5 months to find a job, considering that amount of time, if it takes longer to find the job you want, you should try to gain more experience, whether that be by taking skill courses, university classes, or even apprenticeships. These are only a few of the many options you can pursue to become more qualified and competitive as a job candidate.

3. Automate What You Can

Gone are the days that the most common way to apply for jobs required a pile of resume printouts. Many choose to apply online, not only because it saves paper – but it may actually be the only way a large majority of companies accept job posting submissions.

Which makes applying to jobs the easiest it’s ever been, but it can be even easier if you follow these tips:

  • Set up email or text notifications for the job titles you are interested in through the job boards you’re using (i.e. Indeed, Monster, etc).
  • Perform a search for certain job titles through a job board to have it record and track new postings under those job titles. That way, once you log back into the specific job board, you’ll only have to check the most recent postings rather than combing through what you’ve already seen and possibly applied to.
  • If you don’t already have a LinkedIn account, create one and have it reflect your most current professional qualifications and experience (you can base your LinkedIn profile off of your resume). Once you have a completed LinkedIn account, you can enable the “Open To Work” feature to let recruitors know on LinkedIn that you are available for outreach.

4. Surround Yourself With Encouragement

Your surroundings play a big part in managing stress levels, so when you’re trying to stay motivated while looking for a job, it’s best to make changes to your environment if it isn’t encouraging.

That can mean asking people around you who might have good intentions to give you space while you’re job hunting. Even if family or friends intend to be supportive, it can sometimes end up making you feel burdened or pressured. Those who truly care will be understanding if you need to do what’s best for yourself. They’ll also be willing to help in the ways that you ask them to, whether that be advice, requesting them to act as a reference for you or some other way.

If you are around those who might discourage you just by their personal view and situation regarding employment, try to separate their circumstances from yours. Even if someone you know and love might not think having a job is important, what matters is if you do.

Jobs are meaningful not only because they offer the obvious things; like financial security and medical benefits. They offer you a strong purpose and a sense of belonging. Any good job should make you feel more confident and excited to work, not drained and discouraged. That’s why you should take your time and enjoy the process of finding a job. It’s not a chore, but a journey that will only benefit you long-term.




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Antoinette Maven

"Antony" Maven is a contributing writer for SimpleHermit.com and identifies as an INFP. She loves to hike with her dog, write poetry, find hidden gems in her small town, and read her nights away.