Tips for a Tough Emotional Job Hunt

As someone who does countless screenings and interviews each week sometimes I get the joy (note sarcasm) of dealing with some very emotional people.

Don’t get me wrong, I understand that things aren’t as easy as they used to be. I also understand that it’s very easy to take rejection personally. But getting high and mighty during a job interview will only further hurt your chances of being successful on your job hunt.

Seriously, there’s nothing recruiters hate more than someone who walks into their office with a bad attitude. Or, someone who constantly emails about how they feel disenfranchised because they didn’t get the job. The truth? I highly doubt companies care about your personal feelings. They are just looking for the right fit. If you aren’t it, then you aren’t it. Period. Point blank.

Is this kind of harsh? Yes, in a way. But if companies and recruiters spent all their time explaining themselves to candidates who aren’t going to work out anyway then they would never get anything done.

It’s the same concept if you own your own business. Would you waste your time on someone you knew wasn’t going to pay you? I didn’t think so.

Since this is the reality that we deal with on the job hunt, I figured it would be wise to compile a list of tips for those of you who are having a rough time – just because although my job requires me to be less empathetic, I do understand that people are going through hardships.

Feel Your Feelings – Just Not In Front of a Recruiter

It’s okay to feel. It’s okay to get upset if you get rejected for a job. What’s not okay is to throw a hissy fit in the recruiter’s office. It’s disrespectful to a person who is just doing their job. Furthermore, it kills any chance you may have had in case the situation changed. During a tough job hunt it’s important to make a good impression and keep it that way.

Once you get to your car you can call up your best friend and scream all you want. In fact, I encourage you to release your emotions so you’ll be able to move on the next one. All I’m suggesting is that you keep your decor during the interviewing process.

Don’t Mention Your Baggage

I don’t know why people seem confuse recruiters for therapists. I have had people start crying in the office because they’re going through a divorce, because they are nervous, because they hate their boss, and countless other reasons. The result? It gets very awkward very fast. It also shows that you may not be emotionally ready for a job – a big red flag to companies.

Recruiters don’t want to hear about your personal hardships – or at least not how you’re still suffering from them. What recruiters do want to hear is how you triumphed over a tough time, although it would be your best bet to keep it business related.

Do Some Physical Exercise

People think I’m crazy when I say this, but there is a method to the madness. Will exercise directly help you get a job? Probably not. Although, believe it or not it does help to show that you are physically fit and enjoy taking care of yourself. To a company that means you care enough to invest in yourself and your well-being – which is hard to come by these days when so many people are down in the dumps because of the economy.

Think of it this way: would you rather hire the high energy go-getter who prides themselves in their well-being or the dud with who let a tough economy depress them and put their health on the back burner? This is a no brainer to a hiring manager.

Exercise also helps with confidence, releases endorphins, and is a great way to release any frustrations from the job hunt.

Think Worst Case Scenarios

I’ve been watching a lot of Danielle LaPorte talks lately. One of her favorite tools for business (and life) is to use the worst case scenario. Think to yourself, “What’s the worst that can happen if I don’t get this job?” Once you realize that you probably aren’t going to die and that there are other options available you will start to feel a little better.

In conclusion, while job hunting as we begin to get out of a recession can be very frustrating, there are tools you can use to keep your emotions in check during this tedious time. Use them to your advantage!