CAREERS NOW 04-22-09

Beating Back Job Search Burnout

DEAR JOYCE: Ugh! I find it increasingly hard to psych myself up and go storming into the job market each day. How do other people deal with job hunt burnout? -- D.J.

When Albert Schweitzer was studying medicine, supposedly he slept little and sometimes forgot to eat, but when the strain became intolerable, he would slip into a church and play Bach on the organ until weariness vanished.

Virtually every hard-charger on a mission risks sliding into zombie mode sooner or later. Those who snap back quickly share attention to balance in their daily lives, a balance that relies on pushing such reboot buttons as proper rest, good nutrition, adequate exercise, alone time, spiritual hours, love, laughter, hobbies and quality time with friends and family. A sense of purpose in life helps too, experts say. Making a living is necessary but making a difference is important.

Ongoing lack of control over outcomes sets you up for burnout. While you can't control how many interviews you'll get each week, you can control how much effort you put forth.

Specific job search actions you can control include making a plan and working your plan. Each week, spend 30 minutes to an hour writing down exactly what you will do for the next six days. Suppose you block off four hours daily to make phone contacts hunting interviews. Bribe yourself to stay focused: Each time you meet your goal, claim a small reward - watching a favorite television show, playing a videogame or visiting a museum.

All work not only makes Jack and Jill dull people, but weakens their job search effectivenessz.

DEAR JOYCE: I would like to file a sexual harassment complaint with the EEOC (Equal Employment Opportunity Commission). How would I go about that? - D.Y.

In what could be content for an ironical TV spoof, an arbitrator recently found that the EEOC - remember, it's the federal agency that's supposed to enforce justice in our workplace - has violated its own workers' rights! How's that again?

The arbitrator ruled that the commission broke the law when it forced its workers into overtime, but refused to pay in cash and, instead, insisted that staffers take compensatory time off. The law the EEOC management blew off is the often-amended 1938 Federal Fair Labor Standards Act, a legal guerilla for enforcement and protection of workers' rights affecting wages and overtime.

Beyond that, the EEOC isn't flying high now and hasn't been over the Bush years. Some charges of discrimination based on race, religion, sex, age or disability are unresolved, stuck in a database for months, because of too little staff and budget to work the cases. What's more, EEOC critics fear lengthy delays will leave complainants vulnerable to retaliation at their jobs. (Search online for "EEOC Struggles With Huge Workload, Diminished Staff".)
If you still want to file an EEOC charge, look for filing details on the agency's Web site, eeoc.gov.

DEAR JOYCE: So many people need job finding assistance today. I hope you'll suggest to your readers that they investigate the free job-search resources at libraries across the land. - C.S.

Gladly. Free is good. Depending on the library, human resources range from helpful reference librarians, to experienced career coaches and information specialists. Beyond books and DVDs, resources may include volunteer professionals to review resumes, a job club, a Web site with lots of online resources, and computers to use with instructors who show you how. Don't forget to check out my three For Dummies books on resumes, cover letters and job interviews.

DEAR JOYCE: You commented that older hiring managers are more likely to treat a person from their age group with due respect and hire that person. That's news to me.

I moved to Albany, N.Y. at 50 eight years ago. I have had nothing but trouble with people in my generation. Two examples, among many, illustrate.

-- I When I started a job, a person told everyone at the work site that I had a bad heart.

-- When I enrolled in a class at the local college, the instructor who was older than me, made fun of my age in every class.

By contrast, I've had no trouble with generation X. - T.C.

Thanks for sharing. Either you're the exception proving the rule, or I was wrong.

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