The Voice of Job Seekers

Mark Anthony Dyson ★ Career Writer ★ Speaker ★ Thinker ★ Award-winning Blog & Podcast! ★ "The Job Scam Report" on Substack! ★ I hack and reimagine the modern job search!

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This is How to Defeat Job Search Depression Today

This is How to Defeat Job Search Depression Today
It’s easy to say get counseling during a job search depression. It’s not simple to do. We focus on the obstacles and forgetting our cheering section.  All of the burdens of life are shouldered because you know your family is expecting you to “carry your weight!” It’s not easy to avoid depression, but I urge you to fight it during your job search.
“Get back out there and try!” It hurts to hear it and is somewhat debilitating. Make the chanters understand how it hurts then get back to the job search! What most people don’t get about unemployment–it is the four wall room in lower in the American basement of society.
But, go and get counseling. Professional counseling for your depression. My anecdotes are temporary, but it won’t solve your long term issues.
My friend Keirsten Greggs said it perfectly as it may apply to some of you:

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And of course, follow up on any and every lead handed to you. Yes, even UPS! Oh, you might like Amazon better.
It’s not that you’re not appreciative, but you’ve internalized the relationships, found a comfort zone, and liked some of the career-defining work. It’s disappointing when there were circumstances you couldn’t control, and it wasn’t under your terms. Dysfunctional or not, your last coworkers were like family even if they didn’t know you outside of work.
Counseling is good and maybe needed. But it’s maybe one hour. You have 167 hours to fight on your own.  I’ve been down there before but found ways to deal with it. Mostly, people who exited without a say so deal with loss differently than those who do:

1. Bring closure to the loss of your last job(s)

People can sense your loss and how negatively it affects you when you talk (or don’t talk). Even if it is all your fault, come to terms with the loss. One job is not everything you are. Your job is to find who you are and promote your value. Until then, it’s difficult to be rational and positive.

Job search depression is real, but you’re not going to get permission to give up. Nor should you want it. 

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2. Focus on others, and be solution oriented

No pity parties, no “should” party, and don’t let others should all over you. Serving others is the best distractions and also a way to rediscover your strengths and gifts. You often get back by giving first. Great conversations often end with value exchange and follow-up.

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3. Focus on and serve family

Unemployed or in-between employment, this is the time to put extra focus on family, household duties, and parents. Everyone should benefit from the extra time you have.

Let them give the emotional support you need to re-tool and repurpose during your career transition.

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If you have children, you will gain perspective, and they will gain more emotional security by the increased involvement.

4. Exercise

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It’s the great stress reliever and equalizer. In fact, create significant visual and mental goals. If not losing weight, make it a goal to gain muscle or both. Go to YouTube and look for household or playground workouts. These are intensive enough to make moderate gains in your fitness goals. The more rigorous, the better to achieve level-up concrete goals.

5. Do encouraging and confidence building activities

For many people, this also means stop the small things that trigger negative thinking. Television and some movies are small deterrents, yet many “little” distractions could add up to one big “fed-up!” Volunteering could serve you well to build your confidence. You will be appreciated when the value added is through your strengths. You can control your schedule and if strategized, use skills to increase your career market value.
We could go on to discuss taking courses, journaling, and or blogging could help build your career. What’s important is how you intrinsically deal with depression and changing behavior associated with it. Job search depression cannot be allowed black cloud space over your head or heart.

About Mark Anthony Dyson

I am the "The Voice of Job Seekers!" I offer compassionate career and job search advice as I hack and re-imagine the job search process. You need to be "the prescription to an employer's job description." You must be solution-oriented and work in positions in companies where you are the remedy. Your job search must be a lifestyle, and your career must be in front of you constantly. You can no longer shed your aspirations at the change seasons. There are strengths you have that need constant use and development. Be sure you sign up to download my E-Book, "421 Modern Job Search Tips 2021!" You can find my career advice and work in media outlets such as Forbes, Inc., Fast Company, Harvard Business Review, Glassdoor, and many other outlets.

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How To Make Your Career Journey Into a Storytelling Guide

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I invite you to join our live stream event as Judith Humphrey and me as we discuss her new book, “The Job Seeker’s Script: Tell Your Story and Land Your Dream Position.” Her book is a Fast Company publication to be released this week.

In 2021, I discovered Judith through Twitter (@Judith_Humphrey) and found her book, “Impromptu,” and her Fast Company column. I read “Impromptu” and reshaped my thinking about speaking and media presentations and preparation. It was a game-changer for me in every way. I wrote Judith in April 2022 and told her, ” I look forward to creating cleaner and crisper commentary in speaking and writing.” That’s when she told me she was writing her current book.

Since reading “The Job Seeker’s Script,” I wanted to share her work on my show. I’ve said for years excellent interviewing skills come down to presentation.

Many will think “scripting” as similar to set dialogue, as she will explain, will serve as an excellent framework for various phases of your job search and career journey.

Consider these scenarios: Elevator pitches conversations with colleagues answering, “What do you do for a living?” Responding to “Tell me about yourself.”

I am offering this show as a strong recommendation for the book if you want to be prepared for job interviews in and out of season.

Enjoy the show. Let me know what you think.

About Mark Anthony Dyson

I am the "The Voice of Job Seekers!" I offer compassionate career and job search advice as I hack and re-imagine the job search process. You need to be "the prescription to an employer's job description." You must be solution-oriented and work in positions in companies where you are the remedy. Your job search must be a lifestyle, and your career must be in front of you constantly. You can no longer shed your aspirations at the change seasons. There are strengths you have that need constant use and development. Be sure you sign up to download my E-Book, "421 Modern Job Search Tips 2021!" You can find my career advice and work in media outlets such as Forbes, Inc., Fast Company, Harvard Business Review, Glassdoor, and many other outlets.

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How To Detect Job Scams And Ways To Avoid Them

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How To Detect Job Scams And Ways To Avoid Them by Mark Anthony Dyson

Job scams are nothing new, but scammers are craftier in using technology and finding new ways to lure victims. My good friend Jack Kelly and I will lay out the basics of what they are, how to identify a scam or scammer, and what you can do. While there is much more than what we cover in these few minutes, I understand there’s much work.

They are finding new ways to use unsuspecting LinkedIn professionals who are legit and active users to recruit victims into applying to their companies, collect their email addresses and other private data, and sometimes steal money and identity from them.

These scams are happening on every platform and on many job boards.

We want to increase awareness and offer solutions if you are approached (or someone you know) by a scammer. Please join us for this short but informative discussion.

Watch the show:

About Mark Anthony Dyson

I am the "The Voice of Job Seekers!" I offer compassionate career and job search advice as I hack and re-imagine the job search process. You need to be "the prescription to an employer's job description." You must be solution-oriented and work in positions in companies where you are the remedy. Your job search must be a lifestyle, and your career must be in front of you constantly. You can no longer shed your aspirations at the change seasons. There are strengths you have that need constant use and development. Be sure you sign up to download my E-Book, "421 Modern Job Search Tips 2021!" You can find my career advice and work in media outlets such as Forbes, Inc., Fast Company, Harvard Business Review, Glassdoor, and many other outlets.