Job searching and mental health: the real story

This post is slightly different to some of my usual blogs. At the time of writing we are being given advice that Coronavirus may affect our Christmas plans again, but the job market is recovering, with a glut of vacancies in some sectors. However, what if you are one of those people still struggling to find work, or caught in limbo after the end of the furlough scheme?

I was recently contacted by A, a former client of mine who had graduated into the pandemic:

Like most people, my job satisfaction is part of who I am, and being jobless or having a low pay job can make me feel unsettled and incomplete.

After almost a year looking for a job and even when trying not to take it personally, each rejection stings and inevitably is starting impact my mental health. I spent hours each day saving jobs, feeling applications sending personalised CVs and statements letters to end up disheartened at each rejection . I got to one of the lowest points of my life. I feel worthless , always questioning my capabilities and skills which led strong anxiety attacks to a point that I had to seek medical advise. I’m certain I’m not alone in this situation.

They are doing their best to stay active, working on their own projects and posting these on social media, while still applying for jobs – but last time I was in touch with them, they had not been successful with finding a job in their sector.

Just today, I spoke to E, a friend of mine who had spent over a year on furlough. They had managed to get some work for a while in the winter months, but this wasn’t enjoyable and was only on a short-term contract. They told me (I have paraphrased):

The worst thing was that I found myself getting angry a lot of the time … that’s not who I am. I realised that I had started thinking of Coronavirus as a person, so that I could blame them for me being stuck at home all the time.

The Coronavirus pandemic and lockdown measures were new to us all, but the stories above are familiar to me and to my fellow careers practitioners. People who are out of work often feel helpless, angry and hopeless, as it seems as though nothing they try will make a difference.

Of course, I would suggest speaking to a Careers Consultant if you can; it can be useful to get an impartial review of your job search strategy, and how you can make your applications appeal to employers in your chosen sector.

Of course, E wasn’t technically jobless, but they were still caught in that same cycle of emotions. It can sometimes be difficult to get an appointment with your GP, but there are some services available that may be able to provide you with some help and support (disclaimer: these are not necessarily my personal recommendations, but services that I have seen suggested elsewhere):

  • Samaritans: if you are having a difficult time or feeling suicidal, they are there to listen. Their website also has some useful links.
  • Mind: some useful resources covering a range of issues affecting your mental health, including this factsheet about coping with anger.
  • SHOUT is a 24/7 UK crisis text service available for when you feel you need immediate support. Text SHOUT to 85285.
  • There are websites and apps offering self-help resources, using Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) techniques to help you to break the cycle of low mood. Try Living Life To The Full, Moodgym or this list of apps from the NHS website.
  • If, like this author, you suffer from disrupted sleep, this page from the BBC website is old but could be useful.

It can be very easy to feel isolated, so it is important to talk if you are feeling stressed, anxious or upset about your job situation. If you are feeling suicidal or at risk of self-harm, you should call 999.

To conclude: do remember that it is normal to feel stressed, anxious and possibly even depressed if you are not in work. Do seek advice, but most importantly, remember that you are not alone. Like E and A’s stories above, the first stage is recognising that this is causing you distress; after that, accept that there are some things that you cannot control, but try to influence other areas that you can – and get help if you need it.

[Cover photo by Ron Lach from Pexels]

“What Exactly Do You Do?” Episode 4: Steve Burns, Engineer

Welcome to “What exactly do you do?”, the new podcast from Karuna CV. Every fortnight we will be talking to someone to find out more about their job and working life. Subscribe via Apple, Google or Spotify, or listen via our podcast page.

In our fourth episode, Rish Baruah meets Steve Burns, a qualified engineer, with an interest in sustainability.

We find out how Steve got started in engineering, and discuss routes into the profession, the qualifications and technical knowledge required, and the different roles available. Steve tells us about the importance of translating complex information into plain English, and the prospects for travel (pandemic permitting).

We also find out Steve’s favourite (and least favourite) parts of the job, and subject him to a quick fire round about modern working life.

“What Exactly Do You Do?” Episode 3: Rob Jones, Primary School Teacher

Welcome to “What exactly do you do?”, the new podcast from Karuna CV. Every fortnight we will be talking to someone to find out more about their job and working life. Subscribe via Apple, Google or Spotify, or listen via our podcast page.

In our third episode, Rish Baruah meets Rob Jones, a primary school teacher working in an area of social deprivation in Nottinghamshire.

We find out how Rob started working in schools, and how this led to him becoming a qualified teacher. Rob did not take the normal route into the profession, so we discuss the qualifications and technical knowledge required, and working hours – do teachers really finish work at 3.30pm?

We also find out Rob’s favourite (and least favourite) parts of the job, and subject him to a quick fire round about modern working life.

“What Exactly Do You Do?” Episode 2: Meghan Downs, Copy Writer

Welcome to “What exactly do you do?”, the new podcast from Karuna CV. Every fortnight we will be talking to someone to find out more about their job and working life. Subscribe via Apple, Google or Spotify, or listen via our podcast page.

In our second episode, Rish Baruah meets Meghan Downs, a freelance copy writer and content creator.

We find out how Meghan started doing this work after a career as a ceramic artist, and discuss routes into the profession, the qualifications and technical knowledge required, and working hours.

We also find out Meghan’s favourite (and least favourite) parts of the job, and subject her to a quick fire round about modern working life.

You’ve got the job!

2020 was a strange year for many obvious reasons. The Covid-19 pandemic put many people out of work, many onto furlough, but there were some areas that kept hiring, notably logistics, retail, warehousing and the games industry. In this post we try to offer a helping hand to people who may be just picking themselves up again after a period out of work.

The first and obvious thing to note is that some of you may still be looking, applying and feeling like you are not getting anywhere. If this is you, then remember that you are not on your own: seek support from us, or organisations such as the National Careers Service. It might feel daunting, but even a short 30 minute conversation can give you confidence and make you feel like you are on the right track.

If you are having interviews, even if you are not yet successful: congratulations, you are impressing employers, and showing them that you have the skills to do the job. Being shortlisted when there are many applicants is no mean feat, and although it doesn’t feel like it, you are making progress. Again, we can support you with interview coaching and preparation.

What if you have been offered the job? Starting a new job is daunting at the best of times, never mind when you have been away from the workplace for months. The first thing to remember is that nerves are ok – from the human body’s viewpoint, the physical reactions to being nervous are just the same as being excited (higher heart rate, butterflies in the stomach, raised temperature). You’re not nervous, you’re excited!

If you are in a professional job, there are loads of great tips out there, such as in this piece on LinkedIn Learning. In this instance, I am going to try and keep it simple; before your first day, think of the following:

  • What do I need to wear? If you have a job requiring uniform, they should give this to you on the first day. Some workplaces have a dress code, otherwise just think about what everyone else will be wearing at work and try to match that – there is no point turning up wearing a suit if everyone else is in jeans and trainers (although it doesn’t hurt to be smarter on your first day).
  • Do I need any documents with me? You may have to show some ID documents to prove your right to work and to be added to the payroll. Check your job offer letter and that should tell you what you need?
  • How are you getting there? This can be especially important if you did your interview on Zoom or Teams! Make sure you know where you are going, and which buses or trains you need to catch. If you are driving, what will the traffic be like and where can you park?
  • Smile! No-one will expect you to know it all on your first day, so just focus on getting to know people and making a good impression. Also remember that there is no such thing as a slly question: most workplaces would prefer you to ask, rather than make any mistakes.

Don’t forget that our new podcast “What exactly do you do?” explores lots of different types of jobs and working styles, so that you can learn more and decide what will suit you. Links to listen and subscribe are available via our podcast page.

[Cover photo by Canva Studio from Pexels]

“What Exactly Do You Do?” Episode 1: Mark Dennison, Radio Presenter

Welcome to “What exactly do you do?”, the new podcast from Karuna CV. Every fortnight we will be talking to someone to find out more about their job and working life. Subscribe via Apple, Google or Spotify, or listen via our podcast page.

In our first episode proper, Rish Baruah meets Mark Dennison, a radio presenter with a weekday show on BBC Radio Nottingham.

We find out how Mark got started in broadcasting, and discuss routes into the profession, the qualifications and technical knowledge required, and working hours – is it really a full-time job when you are only on air for four hours a day?

We also find out Mark’s favourite (and least favourite) parts of the job, and subject him to a quick fire round about modern working life:

Job searching in the 21st Century

Every single working person will have had periods when they are looking for a new job. This could be because they are out of work, or perhaps someone who is casually browsing for what could come next. What unites us all is that searching for jobs has changed a lot in the last 20 years or so.

There are certain things that we already know; it is now fairly rare to submit a paper application, which means that you will need to either attach your documents to an email or upload them to a web portal. Either way, make sure that you follow the instructions.

Other consequences of the shift to digital have been suggested in this article by Entrepreneur (the article is nearly two years old, but many of the suggestions still hold true):

  • AI is an important part of the process, especially if you are applying to large organisations. Many companies use Applicant Tracking Software (ATS) to help sift applications; the onus is on you to use key words and phrases that match their requirements. This needn’t be as daunting as it sounds – the clues should be in the job advert and person specification, so ensure that you are using appropriate language in your application.
  • Personal branding and online presence are vital. As a job seeker, it is safest to assume that a potential employer will stick your name into Google and see what comes up; so check your social media for anything that shouldn’t be there (including if other people have tagged you) and make sure your LinkedIn profile is current, if applicable.
  • Values are important. Many job seekers (particularly Millennials and Gen Z) don’t just want a job, they want to know about the ethics and values of their employers. In the graduate job market, recruiters make lots of mention of the company vision, ethics and employee experience; applicants may check sources such as LinkedIn, social media and Glassdoor to see if this company matches their standards.

In addition to the above, the following may be worth considering if you are looking for work:

  • Are you ready? This was meant to refer to your public profile on social media and LinkedIn, but as I was writing this I realised that it could just as easily refer to your situation – why are you looking for work, and are you ready for the changes that this job might bring? For many job seekers, they will have to adapt to a new environment, new working practices and many even move to a new location – have you considered whether you are ready for this?
  • Working from home, or based in the workplace? This was something that was increasingly offered in many professional jobs, but the Covid pandemic made it a reality for many people in different types of work. In theory, most office-based jobs can be done with a laptop and headset, but as we are seeing, lots of employers would like their staff to be in the office, at least some of the time. Check whether remote working is offered in the new job, and have a think about how important this is to you.
  • Job security. With the rise of the gig economy, and many people dabbling in freelance work during 2020 (in many cases whilst out of work or on furlough), it may be worth thinking about what is more important to you: short-term reward or longer-term job security? Freelance and self-employed work may offer higher pay, but you need to be prepared that you will not be working all year round. People on zero-hours contracts sometimes appreciate the flexibility, but there may be times that work is not available. On the other hand, jobs on permanent contracts may suffer from below-inflation pay rises, but at least you will have a secure income. What is your preference, and what are the options in your chosen line of work?

What are your thoughts and experiences? Remember that we have launched our new podcast, “What exactly do you do?” and over the next few weeks we will explore lots of different types of jobs, industries and working styles. Subscribe via Apple, Google Podcasts or Spotify, or visit our podcast page to listen to the latest episode.

[Cover photo by Greta Hoffman from Pexels]

“What Exactly Do You Do?” Episode 0: Introduction

Welcome to “What exactly do you do?”, the new podcast from Karuna CV. Every fortnight we will be talking to someone to find out more about their job and working life. Subscribe via Apple, Google or Spotify, or listen via our podcast page.

In this very first episode, Rish Baruah (the Founder of Karuna CV) meets his fellow Careers Professional Rebecca Auterson. They discuss the kinds of questions that they are commonly asked and some of the perils and pitfalls facing people of all ages when making career decisions. Rish is also subjected to some quick fire questions about work, career choices and what is his favourite caffeinated hot drink.

“What Exactly Do You Do?”: the NEW podcast from Karuna CV

After a short summer break we are back in business! We have really enjoyed bringing you careers advice and content via this blog, and are now delighted to introduce our new podcast, “What exactly do you do?”.

The aim of the podcast is to get under the skin of what people really do in their jobs; we can all read job adverts, person specifications and job descriptions, but if you really want to know what people do for a living, it is best to ask them!

In the first season of “What exactly do you do?” we will be speaking to people in the following professions:

  • Radio Presenter
  • Copy Writer
  • Primary School Teacher
  • Engineer
  • Social Entrepreneur
  • Cognitive Behavioural Therapist
  • Lecturer
  • Furniture Designer
  • Business Development Executive

In each conversation, we will be finding out how they got started, what they enjoy most about their work, and what they actually do on a day-to-day basis. Some of our interviewees are employed and some are freelance – which do they prefer? We will also be testing their knowledge on the realities of modern working life: do they know how much is the national minimum wage, and which is better – tea or coffee?

Our first episode will be published next week: watch this space. You will be able to listen and subscribe to “What exactly do you do?” via Apple, Google or Spotify, or just listen on our dedicated podcast page.