Energy Management for Job Seekers*
May 27, 2025
*And anyone going through big transitions**
**...ok maybe just for all of us
When I was exploring a career move from nonprofit to corporate social impact, I imagined a linear path that would quickly and easily take me from point A to point B. I had hoped to find the perfect job with a values-aligned organization (and a very generous salary coming from nonprofit), but as I ventured deeper into this journey, I realized it's not always so straightforward. My experiences have taught me that the process of change comes with its fair share of highs and lows, twists and turns.
Initially, I felt excited and hopeful about my move to corporate. But by month 4, 5, and 6, I was completely depleted, pessimistic, and applying to junior level nonprofit jobs that paid the same as my current senior level nonprofit role(!!!!). I was getting interviews, only to realize upon arriving to the offices of my potential employers that I had ZERO interest in these roles.
And while I still can't control the job market or force employers to move faster or communicate better, ALL of us have the power to manage our own energy more effectively and intentionally.
Here's what I see happen with most job seekers:
- Idealism - putting all of your hopes into one role or organization expecting perfection, or a sense of this being the one answer. Think rose-colored glasses, full heart, and massive pressure to land the job.
- Bargaining down - If you’re not finding traction like receiving an invitation to interview, or not hearing back from contacts, you may start to undermine your own non-negotiables. For example, lowering your salary expectations or demoting your next title by applying to more junior roles.
- Pessimism - believing nothing will be a good fit and you will just have to endure a next role or organization that is moderately acceptable
- Powerlessness - Like bargaining down, when you feel powerless, you may not prioritize your own needs. This is especially true in later stages of job searches when offers start to come up and candidates may find it tempting to accept the first offer. In fact, this is the one point in the job search when you actually have greater power and can ask for what you need.
- Burnout - “Burnout is a state of emotional, mental, and often physical exhaustion brought on by prolonged or repeated stress” (Psychology Today). Being a job seeker or staying in an unfulfilling or actively toxic job through a prolonged job search can absolutely lead to burnout. It may feel hard to take breaks and prioritize your wellbeing, and that’s why it’s so important to understand how to replenish your energy, maintain regular habits and activities that bring you joy throughout your job search, and notice when you’re on the precipice of burnout.
But the good news is that you can proactively shape your schedule to feel more sustained and better able to weather the challenges of career change. Here's how:
- Reflect on how you currently spend your time now. Look to your calendar for REAL data.
- Of these activities, which of them drain your energy?
- What is missing from your calendar or how you spent your time that would help to replenish your energy or proactively give you energy?
- Reshape your schedule, inputting the stuff that gives you energy FIRST before adding the tasks and activities that drain your energy. You can literally block these things on your calendar.
- Reflect at the end of your first week using this approach - how did it go? How do you feel? What additional support do you need to stay accountable to prioritizing your energy needs?
Join me this Thursday at 12pm ET in Career Pivot for a hands-on facilitated workshop to find greater balance through your job search!