Why is job searching so exhausting?

"Trevor, why is job searching so exhausting?"

Ever felt like job hunting is a full-time job that doesn’t pay?

You spend hours perfecting resumes, tailoring cover letters, updating LinkedIn, applying, networking, interviewing… and then? Silence.

Recruiters ghost you.

 Applications disappear into the ATS black hole.

 And when you finally get to an interview?

You’re expected to radiate confidence, charm, and energy - even if you’ve been knocked down ten times already.

Mate, it’s exhausting.

Why does job searching drain you mentally?

Because it’s not just about skills.

 It’s about resilience.

📉 45% of job seekers say searching for work negatively impacts their mental health. (Harvard Business Review)

 📉 1 in 3 job seekers report feeling extreme stress, anxiety, or depression during their search. (Forbes)

 📉 60% of professionals say job searching feels harder now than five years ago. (LinkedIn)

And let’s be real - getting ghosted after multiple interviews is a special kind of psychological torture.

Why does it hit so hard?

Because job rejections aren’t just rejections - they feel personal.

We tie so much of our identity to our careers that when we hear, “We’ve decided to move forward with another candidate,” what we actually hear is:

🚨 “You’re not good enough.”

🚨 “You’re falling behind.”

🚨 “You’ll never get hired.”

(Which is absolute nonsense, by the way.)

How to survive the long game

1️⃣ Separate your self-worth from your job search.

 Your skills, experience, and potential are not defined by whether some company decides to hire you.

2️⃣ Set a job search schedule.

 Applying 24/7 won’t get you hired faster - it’ll just burn you out. Block time for job searching, networking, and rest.

3️⃣ Lean on your network.

 80% of jobs aren’t advertised. Referrals work. Talking to people is easier than blind-applying into the abyss.

4️⃣ Move on quickly from rejection.

 A “no” doesn’t mean you’re unqualified. It means you weren’t what they needed at this moment. Keep going.

5️⃣ Companies, do better.

 If you’re making candidates jump through five rounds, do free work, and then ghosting them? Fix your hiring process.

Job searching is a marathon, not a sprint.

And the best way to win? Stay in the game long enough to find the right match.

💬 What’s been the hardest part of job hunting for you? Let’s talk.