Jason Alba,founder of JibberJobber and the job search powerhouse behind LinkedIn for Job Seekers,  published a list of suggestions to help battle the job search depression and win.

Unemployed?  We all know unemployment and the job search can be a little depressing.  Hours of job board searching.  Writing and rewriting resumes and cover letters. Interview preparation.  All in the face of constant rejection.  Unemployment seems to drag on and on. What can the unemployed do to maintain their motivation?  

Here are Jason's suggestions:

1. Use the job board email agents. Sure, get on job boards, but set up their agents and then just watch your inbox for the job which will end your unemployment problems.  Don’t spend much time looking for openings where everyone else is. 
2. Work out of a nice office. My office was in my bedroom. My bedroom was relatively dark.  How can this be healthy?  Now my JibberJobber office is in a nice dedicated room, with a nice big window.  First thing I do in the morning is to open the blinds and let as much sun in as I can.  I love looking at the sky - blue or gray or whatever… for me it’s so much healthier than my dark bedroom!
3. Don’t watch TV -  definitely not the news. Most shows are, well, predictable.  My guilty pleasure is The Office… but I watch it on Friday morning on  my computer… 21 minutes with hardly any commercials.  I’m not saying to not watch your favorite show, but don’t watch hours and hours and hours and… yeah, really.  Jobless people watch that much TV… especially while we’re depressed. Movies are okay, however!  Especially inspirational movies! Finally, the news?  NO.  OFF LIMITS.

4. Get out of the house EVERDAY. You cannot maintain human sanity unless you are around other humans.  You don’t have to talk to them (heaven forbid), but I think it’s good to be around other humans.  Don’t like that?  Go outside and be one with nature, or sit on your patio and soak up the sun… just get a change of venue.
5. Exercise EVERYDAY. I barely moved for months, which was not good for my joints or back.  From bed to Lazy Boy (sp?) chair… my body went to pot, and I think I’m still paying the price for being so sedentary.  Want easy?  (a)  Figure out a one mile walking route and do it daily (it should take about 20 minutes).  (b) Do some pushups.  Even girl pushups count (c) Do some crunches.  (d) Calf raises and/or squats.  Do this regularly.
6. Write. I found writing very therapeutic.  Start a blog, or start a journal, or buy a ream of paper.  Use writing as a place to reflect on your life, where you want to go, etc.  Do visualization exercises.  It’s powerful.
   I'm Unemployed commercial interuption:  Do we need to remind you how easy it is to blog about your layoff story here?  It's easy.  It's free.  And now you know it's good for you. Create an account today. Back to the regularly scheduled program.
7. Read inspirational stuff. I cherish reading the autobiography of Hellen Keller, or Randy Pausch’s The Last Lecture.  These books helped ground me.  I love a good Grisham novel, and I LOVE to read Inc Magazine.  There are certain scriptures that really hit home.  Find something inspirational… and read it.  Read good, healthy stuff regularly.

8. Volunteer. Volunteering is just plain good. I tried two places, got reject both times, and gave up.  I should have been more creative.  Find places where you can keep your skills sharp, or contribute to the good of humanity.  Unemployment doesn't have to be all bad when you are doing good.
9. HELP SOMEONE. Usually when they say “volunteer” in a job search I think about volunteering in a business setting.  Do that.  Beyond that, find someone who you can help in some way, big or small.  You can do it anonymously, or they can know, but when you HELP SOMEONE you feel so good!  So good!  Careful, you might become addicted to helping people!  And everyone knows unemployed people love to get some help.
10. _________. What do you suggest?  The first nine are simply albaisms… share your -ism with us!

Are you familiar withe power, convenience and utlity of JibberJobber?  You definitely need to check our how JibberJobber makes your job search much easier.  Put an end to the post-in notes, the spreadsheets, the countless versions of resumes.  Sign up for a free account.  Regular webinars are scheduled all the time to learn how to harness the power of JibberJobber.

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Comments (14)

well, for me i prefer to be working on a dark room because i easily get destructed with the rays of the sun and/or if there's too much light.... i guess, this area really depends on a person's choice of location or what not.

lilibeth , June 15, 2009

very informative list you have there, thanks!
i've learned and noted some points from what you've shared, will surely apply this..

Van , June 21, 2009

i strongly agree on number 7... it's nice to read on those stuffs 'cause it'll for sure help us fight depression/s.

Chris , June 21, 2009

To conquer depression stop feeling sorry for yourself and stop wondering why you're feeling this way. Determine that you will break free and even if you're just going through the motions.

Jade , July 04, 2009

Getting plenty of rest and exercise (if you don't feel like it, do it anyway!) Set fitness goals. DO IT! This has to be the singlemost best thing you can possibly do for your depression. I am serious! Don't skimp out on this and be disciplined about it, especially when you don't feel like it! You will build character, balance your chemistry and raise your self-esteem.

carl , July 04, 2009

few other things that help are getting enough sleep, regular exercise, eat healthy and take care of yourself.

max_t , July 04, 2009

I struggled with depression for years, and going to therapy is one of the best things that ever happened to me.

ann , July 04, 2009

yeah talking to someone who can really help you sort these feelings out and find out why you are so consumed by them really helps...

davejr , July 04, 2009

Faith in God is your one way out.If you really believe in God he will help you.Evil is trying to bring you down do not let it succeed, you are stronger and worth more than that.

lilibeth , July 04, 2009

There are natural ways to move out of depression... and I know this from direct experience. Look in to things that maybe you have never even considered before... like Yoga or meditation and the like.

Jon G. , July 04, 2009

For most 20 year old men they get depressed in their 20s as the most miserable time of their life. Especially if they have many superiors lilke parents, mothers or just like teachers, bosses or friends in some cases. Basically the point is depression is pent up anger turned toward the self.

Will S. , July 04, 2009

You should shout, control someone, tell them to **** themselves. As a depressed person anything taht comes out of your mouth is correct there is nothing you can say that is wrong there is nothing you can do which is stupid or unsmart or wrong

Sheila , July 04, 2009

never had time to think about depression when you no longer have something to eat

Mike , July 05, 2009

ok - so 51 yrs old - plenty of years of good experience/education/references - Arch firm went goodbye because of the econ and a corrupt person that took a lot of peoples' money - so am unemployed - made too much $$ for any type of state/local assistance - have lowered my salary expectations to 1/2 of what was making. had to send my children 21 and 23 to another state to live with friends as couldn't afford to house them, don't live over my budget as know how to stretch a penny after 23 years of raising my children with absolutely NO support financially or medically from their father or the state.....
what is a girl to do now?
I am depressed! 6 months unemployeed and only 1 phone interview thus far.....

Kathy , October 10, 2009

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