Protecting your mental health while job seeking during this difficult time

Job seeking is stressful under the best circumstances. As you are aware, these are not the best circumstances. Hiring has fallen in countries around the globe and many businesses have had to close their doors — at least temporarily. While you need to keep your job search going to have a chance at landing a job, you also must make time for yourself and your mental health.

To learn about the intersection of job seeking and mental health during these times, I talked with Lisa Orbé-Austin, a psychologist and executive coach at Dynamic Transitions Psychological Consulting. She said she’s been busy helping clients with the dramatic changes in their lives created by the pandemic.

“This is a case when everything has pretty much has been transitioned and changed,” said Orbé-Austin, who, in addition to being a 2019 LinkedIn Top Voice, is the author of the forthcoming Own Your Greatness: Overcome Imposter Syndrome, Beat Self-Doubt, and Succeed in Life.

Aim for structure

“One thing I’ve tried to create are routines and schedules for my clients,” she told me. “Creating some sort of routine for the day can create a sense of stability for everyone in the household.” Taking time to coordinate schedules with a partner, roommate or spouse can create normalcy, for example.

“Have control over what you can have control over in your life,” she said. Exercise is an example of something that you can control. “I’m still working out and trying to keep that in my routine even if I can’t go outside.”

Orbé-Austin also told me that she recommends that people try meditation and grounding. “You have to be using it as a routine every day.”

Keep looking for work

As other experts have told me, it’s important to keep job searching despite negative headlines about layoffs and jobless claims. “Do not stop searching,” said Orbé-Austin, who added that she’s finding many companies in various industries are still hiring since they have saved cash.

“I would encourage people to keep searching and keep networking,” she said. “I think it’s important to keep those systems going.”

However, you should not let your job search consume you, because it can cause you to panic. Remember that your job search should focus on quality — not quantity, said Orbé-Austin. “Your days shouldn’t be filled with job searching. It just isn’t healthy. You want to read. You want to exercise. You want to do the things that you’ve been pushing off.”

Don’t obsess over the pandemic

While the coronavirus pandemic has likely affected every person on Earth, it’s not healthy to obsess over every detail or statistic. You need to stay informed, but Orbé-Austin said it’s important to know the mental toll of that obsession.

“You have to be conscious of the fact that this isn’t giving you anything other than anxiety and feeling of being unsettled,” she told me. 

Instead, you may want to consider setting aside time to network and chat with loved ones. “I’m encouraging people to reach out and connect with people who are important in their lives.”

Talk with your children

For those of you who are parents or guardians, you may struggle when it comes to discussing the issues affecting your household. Orbé-Austin said the content of those discussions depend on the children’s ages. 

“For kids who are really young – 4 or 5, they don’t need to know too much because they personalize it,” she said. Instead, you can address the changes that affect their day-to-day lives, such as why they can’t see friends right now or go visit relatives.

You can be a bit more direct with teenagers, however. “Keep them in the loop and keep them conscious of what’s happening,” said Orbé-Austin. “They know more about what’s going on than people think.”

If your children are having trouble adjusting to the changes and circumstances caused by the pandemic, you can also call their pediatrician to ask for advice.

Consider talking with a professional

Also, if you feel like you should talk with a professional therapist or have been considering it, Orbé-Austin said you can still do so despite likely being stuck inside. Many are holding virtual sessions with clients, for example. 

“I’m also encouraging people, if they have a therapist or someone they speak with, this is not the time to stop,” she said. “Continue to maintain those habits and rituals in your life.”

How have you been safeguarding your mental health during this difficult time? Join the conversation.

▶ Speaking of mental health:

My colleagues at LinkedIn Learning have created a wonderful resource featuring several different courses related to job searching in a difficult economy. You can see the courses by clicking here, but I’ve also embedded one of those courses below. In it, Heidi Hanna explains what to do to manage the feeling of being overwhelmed.

▶ Need more job search help?

As I’ve said before, I will do my best to keep you up to date with the latest tools and tips to help you #GetHired. To keep track of those various pieces of information, I created a one-stop-shop where I’m summarizing and linking to a lot of my newsletters. You’ll also find accompanying LinkedIn Learning courses below most of the topics. Click here to check out the guide.

▶ The follow-up:

LinkedIn recently published two lists that may be of interest to you as you look for work during this global crisis. One list focused on the most in-demand jobs. Many, such as store associates and health care specialists, are — in some way — serving on the front lines of the pandemic. The second list identified the companies with the most open jobs. Again, many of those on the list, such as the Army National Guard and Amazon, are seeing increased demand due to the virus. We discussed these lists and the state of the job market in the last edition of #GetHired. Here’s what people are saying.

▶ Other news to help you #GetHired:

Here’s who’s hiring right now. LinkedIn Editors are doing their best to update a list of companies who are still hiring to fill open positions. Some of those include Amazon, Walmart, General Motors, New York Life Insurance Company and CVS Health. Click here to see what people are saying about the list.

Jobless claims in the U.S. jumped to 3.28 million last week, reports the Labor Department. The number shattered the Great Recession peak of 665,000 in March 2009 and the all-time high of 695,000 in October 1982, reports CNBC. The dramatic increase in claims — roughly 3 million more than the week before — will likely cause a jump in the U.S. unemployment rate, which will be released on Friday. Here’s what people are saying about the new numbers.

Got some time on your hands? Check out these book suggestions for job seekers. LinkedIn members and job search experts offered their picks, including The Highly Effective Job Search, The Memo, The Art of Work and many more. Here’s what other books people suggest (and feel free to add your own).

▶ Join me for a chat (virtually):

Many of us may be in self-isolation, but that doesn’t mean we can’t get together — virtually. I’ll be hosting brief #GetHired conversations on #LinkedInLive every Friday as a way for us to connect, chat and support each other through these difficult times. To join, be sure that you’re following my profile and watch for a notification on Friday, April 3 at 1 p.m. EDT. You can find additional details about the broadcast by clicking here.

▶ Up next:

There’s no denying that the number of job seekers is increasing each day as the economic toll of the coronavirus pandemic hits businesses around the world. That growing number means it’s more important than ever to stand out on your applications, including your resume, cover letter and profile. In the next edition of #GetHired, we’ll tackle the question of standing out from the crowd when applying to work in this current environment. Got your own tips? Add them in the comments below!

Thanks for reading! Feel free to reach out to me if you have ideas on topics or questions I should address in future editions of #GetHired. You can also email me at GetHired[at]LinkedIn.com.