Job hunt anxiety

ameradian · 07-10-2010, 04:36 AM

I graduated from uni (engineering) a year ago, after some travelling, i've come back and been looking for a job for the last 7 months. I've come close to getting one a few times, but to no avail. I've always found the process intimidating, but lately its gotten worse.

I've just gotten back from an "information session" for the municipal government looking for 3 engineers. there was maybe 30 people there. I'm told that last year when they were looking to fill the same position they got 150 applicants. I guess I'm getting discouraged because the whole time in that room i was just sitting there trying not to have a panic attack. I was breathing hard and biting my toungue. I felt my chest and throat get tight and i felt like i couldn't breathe.

i asked a question at the end in hopes that i might get noticed and maybe someone would remember my face, then my heart started pounding so hard and i felt faint.

its been like this for the last month or so. when i have a day off my job, i plan to make a whole bunch of phone calls and get a lot of things done, but i can usually only make about 2-3 phone calls (most days they all go to voicemail anyways) before i get panicky and can't bring myself to get anything else done.

i guess the point of this is that its become really difficult for me and its definitely affecting my ability to get a job. I'm noticing that job hunting has taken over; it seems to be all i ever think or talk about. does anyone have any advice for controlling this anxiety and staying focused? does anyone know about any kind of free or cheap help in Canada to deal with this?

pea soup · 10-10-2010, 11:53 AM

hi there,

im in the US and dont know much about Canada. i know job hunting can be so stressful. all i can say is keep at it as long as it takes. and if it gets too stressful, take a break for a while and wait for someone to call that youve applied with. sorry i dont have much help.

good luck!!
xxxxxxxxx

Margo · 10-10-2010, 12:48 PM

Hello i remember your name and avatar!

Perhaps you could slow things down a little. I nkow you are probalby thinking OMG i need to speed up but its not easy. Try not to make job hunting your only focus. Or at least try not to make career hunting your only focus.

Get a daily routine and enjoy what you can. Perhaps set a target of one application per week for now and slowly build up.

Perhaps also try and be more accepting of the current climate. This probably isnt gonna happen over night. You could be in for a long trek. So plan for it. Live life to its fullest while you wait. what you do in between working can be as impressive to potential employees as the grades you got at school. Dont forget to live!

Try one a week. See how that goes.

pugdog · 10-10-2010, 07:09 PM

Wahoo for engineering! I'm graduating next year in mechanical. I have found in my own experience that the more you get turned down from positions, the more discouraging it is and the more the anxiety can get to you. Try to boost your confidence. Engineering is not as hard to get a job as a philosophy major, English literature major, or economics. Don't get discouraged. The worldwide economy right now is terrible. The 'experts' say that its starting to pick up. I was able to find an internship this summer, but was unable to last summer.

Are you able to get some time in with a therapist? They have tools to help you control your anxiety. There are also medical options, but I would only do that if the anxiety was constant, not just in certain situations. Can you find job hunting workshops or mock interviews to practice with and to get tips on? a lot about getting a job is how you present yourself and not as much about skills. Just keep trying, you will find something.

-brian

ameradian · 14-10-2010, 06:52 AM

Thanks for your help all of you. Its true that the fact that my degree is engineering will make it more helpful to eventually get meaningful work. I wonder sometimes if that isn't a bit of a problem in a way. All through school profs told us that it was going to be easy, most grads get hired before they start studying for finals, etc. then all this happened.

I think part of the thing that makes me nervous is feeling like i'm wasting time. I've been working at my menial job for a while and that's about it. People see me and ask what's been going on in my life and I just say that I'm still looking and it ends there. my life had been moving so fast since i graduated, then went travelling, then came back and did some fun things and then i just kind of settled into this thing of looking for a job working my coffee shop job and not doing much else.

anyways, thanks for your encouragement. and ninjapenguin, its nice to be remembered.

MrsNutkin · 17-10-2010, 08:24 PM

I think (for what it's worth) that you need to look for work first rather than a career and then once you have work you can choose to look for a career related job.

It depends though, to some extent, if you have enough money to support yourself whilst you look for relevant work you are ok.

good luck