Job hunting is a full-time job. It is an exhausting process of applying and waiting. Even if you have curated your resume, reached out to your network, and made the right connections – there is no guarantee that your resume will get a second glance.

How do you avoid job hunting fatigue when you’ve done everything right?

• Set your own limits and expectations and stick to it. Know how long you are willing to wait for a response or next steps.
• No news is a no. If you do not get a prompt response from your resume submission or you don’t get a response to an email, don’t chase down the hiring manager or re-submit your application.
• Follow new job leads. Most job sites include the posted date and a general number of applicants. If a job has been sitting open for several months or has thousands of applicants – scroll on by.
• Research the companies ahead of time. It’s tempting to one-click apply to every relevant job, but it gives a false sense of effort: I’ve applied to 100 jobs and haven’t heard back from any of them.
• Change your search approach – Don’t apply indiscriminately. Confirm your desired location and industry. Then look for companies within those parameters to start your search
• Change your resume approach- even great resumes might not match industry standards. Edit a new resume and have someone within your desired field /job take a second look at it.
• Make yourself visible. Follow companies, refresh your LinkedIn profile, comment on relevant posts. Every interaction gets you one step closer to the right person.
• Work with the right staffing agency. If you aren’t getting a timeline for the submission to interview process – don’t waste your time.
• Prepare, prepare, prepare. Jumping into a job search without a game plan is a recipe for disaster.  The process can take weeks or months. Mentally preparing yourself is as important as having a great resume.

Most people will experience some level job hunting fatigue in this challenging hiring market. However, the best way to avoid it is to ensure that you have several irons in the fire by constantly refreshing your job searching toolkit. Enter your job search with expectations, set limits, and give yourself a break when it feels too overwhelming. Then start again with a new approach.