GUEST COMMENT: Deep inside the mind of the jobseeker
As I mentioned in my previous article, low mood will make it more difficult to find a new job, and may make it more likely that you lose your job in the first place.
Depression leads to self-doubt and this is the last thing you need when trying to find work or when presenting yourself to a prospective employer. Depression also naturally lowers motivation, meaning that you don't try as hard when in difficult circumstances.
If you feel low, you are likely to suffer from less self-confidence and therefore underplay your abilities. If you are less happy you are also less likely to smile and demonstrate self-confidence in interviews. All these attributes, which are really just signs of being a bit low, are frequently misinterpreted by employers; the candidate is perceived unfairly as less competent and therefore hirable.
Low mood will also impact networking - this means using contacts to assist you. But this also inevitably requires that you own-up to needing work - you have to be vulnerable to others. If you are used to being in work and deriving high status from this, then networking becomes morale depleting: you have to admit to needing help and being in parlous times.
Beware the vicious cycle
This can create a vicious cycle in which you are depressed and pessimistic about your chances of getting a job, and this gloomy outlook contributes to poorer employment outcomes.
If this is the case then how can you improve your chances of finding work?
The key requirement is to be aware of your mental state and to focus not just on looking for work but in boosting your mood as part of your job search strategy. How can you do this?
(1) Monitor your mood - take stock of links between your mood and job search intensity. When you feel better do your work harder at finding work? Timetable job search activity for those times in the week and day when you appear to be at your best emotionally.
(2) Manage your mood - consider the possibility that your mood is so low that you need to manage it more forcefully. Consider talking to your GP. There is now much more psychological help available than before. Anti-depressants are also worth considering if you have experienced sustained low mood for longer than two weeks continuously and are also suffering from loss of appetite, loss of weight and trouble sleeping.
(3) Distract yourself - use distractions effectively. If taking your mind off your predicament helps, then time table distraction time into your week - like pursuing a favourite hobby. Often this seems trivial but distraction - as long as it's not too long lasting - is a powerful mood elevator.
(4) Verbalise - talking about how you feel has been shown to help - don't bottle up your frustrations and sense of inadequacy - sharing these often is surprisingly cathartic.
(5) Commune - find others who are looking for work and share with them your feelings about your predicament. A sense of solidarity and realising you are not alone helps you not take everything too personally.
Dr Raj Persaud is a Consultant Psychiatrist who has worked at numerous prestigious institutions in psychiatry. Click here to visit his site.
