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Self-Compassion in the Job Search

September 11, 2018 by Carrie Pinsky

Are You Suffering from Burnout?

Burnout is generally defined as emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion caused by excessive and prolonged stress. A tell-tale sign of burnout is what I refer to as the “Sunday Evening Blues” – a feeling of dread that hits you when you realize that you need to go to work the next day.

If you well up in tears and begin to cry when you talk about your work, you are likely grappling with more than a mild case of job dissatisfaction. Burnout doesn’t just happen overnight – it evolves over time.

Burnout begins with feelings of apathy, cynicism, and disillusionment. If unaddressed, these feelings can morph into more serious issues such as fatigue, depression, anxiety, insomnia, and substance abuse. Really severe cases can lead to complete breakdowns that require hospitalization.

It is much easier to treat mild burnout, so it is important to recognize and address early warning signs. The following questions can help determine if you are experiencing burnout.

  • Do you struggle to focus on tasks and priorities?
  • Is your performance suffering?
  • Have you lost a sense of accomplishment or satisfaction in your work?
  • Are you inpatient or irritable with customers or colleagues?
  • Do you feel anger and resentment about the way decisions are made?
  • Have you mentally “checked out” and sit silently in meetings or planning sessions?
  • Are you using food, alcohol, or drugs to numb out?
  • Do you suffer from insomnia, headaches, stomach pains, or other physical ailments?
  • Have family and friends commented that you just don’t seem like yourself?
  • Have you stopped doing hobbies or activities that previously brought you joy?

These are some of the ways that burnout manifests but what causes burnout? Causes run the gamut from poor job fit, dysfunctional work cultures, work-life imbalance, mis-matched organizational values, lack of control, chronic stress, and social isolation at work. In my experience, it is rarely a single issue but a combination of factors that lead to burnout.

Studies show that people in “helping professions” such as teachers, counselors, and nurses can be especially prone to burnout. Other factors often associated with burnout include monotonous work, rigid schedules, and jobs that offer little freedom or autonomy. Burnout can simply be the result of working too hard and playing too little.

It is imperative to explore the underlying causes of one’s burnout before making drastic changes. Since the causes can vary, there is no single prescription. For many people, a whole new career will make sense. For others, a job change to a better fit culture might do the trick. Sometimes, a commitment to improved self-care and professional counseling are most helpful.

Once you recognize that you are experiencing burnout, the following steps can help you on your journey to recovery:

  • Identify the root causes of your burnout.
  • See your medical doctor to rule out physical health problems.
  • Consult a counseling professional to address emotional issues.
  • Consider options and take steps to improve your current situation.
  • Address any related time management or organizational skills.
  • Adjust work habits to include short breaks and resist the urge to take work home.
  • Commit to improved self-care including diet, exercise, and sleep hygiene.
  • Socialize more and connect to people outside of work.
  • Explore new career options that align with your interests, skills, and core values.

Regarding those tears I mentioned earlier, they signify distress and sadness. Some people seem to accept burnout as an unavoidable or normal part of working. Don’t give up hope! It is possible to recover from burnout and regain a sense of purpose.

Rather than dismissing your pain, tune in and listen to what you want and need. Through self-exploration, you can then begin to create ways of living and working that are more satisfying and sustainable. If we take our suffering seriously, burnout can become a powerful catalyst for rediscovering our true desires and making meaningful change.

Filed Under: Career Counseling, Self-Compassion in the Job Search, Uncategorized Tagged With: burnout, dreams, emotional wellbeing, job satisfaction, mental health, purpose, Work Life Integration

September 22, 2016 by Carrie Pinsky

Job Search Survival Guide

Your job search has been going on for months. After turning in hundreds of applications, you only landed a handful of interviews. You made it into the final round on a few occasions but have yet to receive an offer.

Looking for a new job is a lot tougher than you imagined. Initially, you were hopeful but now you feel lost and discouraged. You hear news of the job market opening up which only adds to your despair. Trust me, you are not alone.

I realize this is a small consolation. However, it is really important to remember that looking for a new job is a tough process. I don’t know anyone who thrives under financial pressure, enjoys being in a state of limbo and relishes the sting of rejection.

Unless you just won the lottery or inherited a fortune, giving up is probably not an option. Like it or not, the hunt for a good job must go on! Here are three tips to help you survive your job search.

Take a Break

Job seekers who are dealing with health issues tend to flounder the most. It is difficult to focus on job search activities or make positive networking connections when grappling with anxiety, depression or serious physical conditions.

Sometimes the best thing you can do is put your search on hold. Depending on your circumstances, this could mean a week, a month, or perhaps longer. You may need counseling support or you may simply need to give yourself a break from the stressors of life.

During this time, you will not scan job boards, go to networking events, or even peek at LinkedIn. Instead, put your health and wellbeing first and fill your calendar with enjoyable activities. You might add a few house projects to the list if that seems therapeutic.

Once you are stronger and more confident, you can step back into the job search process with renewed energy and hope.

Get Clarity

The second biggest hindrance to job search success is a lack of focus. Job seekers who struggle the most often confess to being unsure about what they want to do next.

When you lack clarity, you are going to pale in comparison to more focused, enthusiastic and determined candidates. Your networking tribe will struggle to support you in your search. Simply stated, it is mighty difficult to be compelling when you are confused.

You may need outside support. Visit a workforce center, utilize alumni career services at your college or seek out a job search coach to help you gain the clarity you need to move forward.

Reset the Strategy

Finally, many job seekers struggle because they do not know how to conduct an effective search. Landing a position in today’s marketplace requires a fresh strategy and a different set of job search skills than in the past.

Today, you need so much more than a polished résumé. Landing a great job and managing one’s professional growth requires a career marketing plan. If you have never heard of a career marketing plan, you have some homework to do!  If you have one, start executing it with determination.

It’s a jungle out there. In order to survive, self-care is key. You also need a clear focus, updated job search skills and a strategic career marketing plan. If you are still feeling lost and unprepared, find a group of other job searchers and band together. The journey is much easier, and hopefully more fun, when shared with fellow travelers.

Filed Under: Career Transitions, Job Search Support, Self-Compassion in the Job Search Tagged With: career, career success., job search, job seekers

May 27, 2016 by Carrie Pinsky

Love It or Leave It?

Love It or Leave It? 5 Questions to Ask Before Giving Notice

Active job markets often get people thinking about new opportunities. When jobs are plentiful, we imagine ourselves in greener pastures with better pay and more perks. We begin asking ourselves, “Should I quit my job?”

There are definitely times when we need to move on from positions. It is prudent to polish up your résumé if the company you work for is financially shaky or your boss is verbally abusive. However, if you are just making change for change’s sake, it may be wise to consider what is driving the impulse.

The following five questions can help you discover if you truly do need to move on or if it is possible to rekindle your passion for the job you have.

  1. Are you stagnating?

Jobs change and morph over time. We can find ourselves doing work that is far different than what we were hired to do. Or, we may be bored from lack of variety or challenge.

Morale plummets when we don’t use the skills that make us feel strong and satisfied or when we are not given opportunities to learn and grow.

Before jumping ship, let your boss know that you want to be challenged in your current role or explore the possibility of a transfer or promotion. If nothing comes of this effort, you have a solid reason to consider moving on to a better opportunity.

  1. Do you respect leadership and do you feel valued at work?

Most people leave their jobs because of a negative relationship with their direct supervisor or due to an overall toxic leadership style. If you don’t currently feel seen, heard and appreciated by your boss, you probably never will. Before you cut ties, consider getting some coaching to ensure you don’t end up in a similar situation.

  1. Is recent organizational change fueling your desire to leave?

We can become stressed and discontent due to changes in company leadership or in the way business gets done. Some people handle change better than others but these are generally tough situations. Avoid jumping on the negative bandwagon and give yourself time to adjust. What if the changes turn out to be positive? It could happen!

  1. Are you happy outside of work?

When we feel dissatisfied with our lives, it is easy to blame our jobs. Sometimes the best way to feel happier at work is to take up a hobby, start an exercise program or deepen connections with friends and family. Enriching your life outside of work may lead you to feel better about your current position. It will also improve your mental outlook should you decide to begin a job search.

  1. Do you know what you want?

Make a list of what you really like about your current position and what you find intolerable. Next, list what you want to gain by making a change. This can include new skills, enlightened leadership, better pay or an increase in responsibility. The clearer you are about what it is you want and need, the more likely it is that you will find it.

Asking for what we want and need in order to be happy takes courage but so does giving notice! We can improve our current situations. Sometimes we need a fresh start. Keep in mind that those greener pastures are sure to be filled with manure. Your best bet may be learning to love the job you have.

Filed Under: Career Counseling, Career Transitions, Self-Compassion in the Job Search Tagged With: career, career success., dreams, employer, job search, opportunities, workplace

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Pink Sky Career Counseling

417 South Howes Street
Fort Collins, CO 80521

Phone: 970-225-0772
Email: carrie@pink-sky.net

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“I enjoyed working with Carrie. I felt comfortable with her from the very beginning; she’s very warm, supportive, and easy to talk to. She helped me retool my resume and linkedin profile after taking care to learn about my experience, skills and desires. I highly recommend working with her if you have the chance.”

S.L.
Recreation Private Club Industry

Going in for meetings with Carrie was the best thing I could have possibly done for my education and career. With her tremendous help I was able to figure out what I wanted to do and how I needed to go about my career. I can’t possibly thank her enough for her crucial role in jumpstarting my career and getting me headed in the right direction.

G.W.
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Carrie was an informative, supportive and thoughtful guide during a time of career refinement. She served as a sounding board in assessing benefits and challenges of positions, reviewed application materials, prepared me for interviews and debriefed and supported decision-making. The mock interview coaching sessions were incredibly valuable to me.

J.S.
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As a recent graduate with my master's degree in biomedical sciences, Carrie and Pink Sky Career Counseling were immensely helpful in the process of landing my first "real" job. I was at a loss for how to apply for a position to start my career in such a specialized field. With little to no work experience, Carrie was able to help formulate my resume, cover letter and references, and manage my LinkedIn page as well as provide general career counseling. Thanks to Carrie's help and guidance I recently accepted an intraoperative neurophysiologist position for NuVasive in Minneapolis, MN. I could not have done it without Carrie's help. Long story short - I highly recommend Pink Sky Career Counseling for any career counseling you may need.

A.M.
Biotech Industry

Not a day goes by that I don't thank Carrie in my mind on the way to my new job. Calling her was one of the best things I ever did for myself. Carrie is very intuitive, connected in the community, genuinely caring, and a master of her craft. Of course if you sign on for this, you have to dig deep and do things that are outside your comfort zone to get to where you want to be in life. But she held my hand all the way till the end and beyond. I cannot thank or recommend her enough.

J.D.
Non Profit Industry

I highly recommend Carrie. She did an amazing job helping me with my resume and providing valuable guidance in my job search process. I ended up being offered a great new job and wouldn't have gotten there without Carrie's assistance and support.

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