The period when you’re looking for a job can be one of the most intense stages of your professional life. Many times, it feels like you’re stuck on an emotional carousel: hope when you find a job posting that fits you, anxiety when you send your CV, emotions and fear before the interview, then restlessness while waiting for the response. You could sometimes mask these emotions, such as fear of rejection, doubt about your own abilities, financial pressure, and frustration caused by long waiting times.
In this article, we aim to offer you a safe and honest space. We won’t tell you that everything will be fine or that you have to be positive at all costs. Instead, we help you understand what you feel, why you feel it, and how you can get through this stage more easily—using data from international studies from 2025 and validated strategies.
Understand Your Emotions
Looking for a job is a mix of hope, frustration, confusion, and vulnerability. The reactions you have—anxiety before an interview, sadness after a rejection, doubt about your professional identity—are natural responses to uncertainty.
The World Health Organization confirms that over 1 billion people live with emotional conditions, with anxiety and depression ranking at the top. In its 2025 report, the WHO emphasizes that “mental health problems are among the greatest current challenges of the global workforce” (World Health Organization, 2025).
This doesn’t mean there’s something wrong with you just because you feel pressure: the economic context, competition, and social pressure make job searching harder for many people.
The Pressure of Uncertainty: What 2025 Studies Show
Studies published in 2025 confirm what many candidates intuitively feel: prolonged uncertainty is one of the biggest sources of stress.
The American Psychological Association survey (APA, 2025) showed that most American employees consider job insecurity a major stress factor. The report notes that “uncertainty, more than workload, is the main predictor of professional stress” (APA, 2025).
At the same time, the Deloitte – Gen Z & Millennial Survey 2025 shows that young people increasingly emphasize purpose, mentorship, and stability. They report that the hiring process is perceived as “long, impersonal, and difficult to control.”
Added to these pressures is the phenomenon of burnout generated by repeated rejections and long waiting times—an issue highlighted in recent studies on workforce health.
Practical Strategies for Emotionally Managing the Period When You’re Looking for a Job
Here’s how you can manage your emotions more easily during this time:
Normalize micro-routines to maintain emotional control
Give yourself short breaks of 5–10 minutes between job applications. The OECD – Mental Health & Work 2025 report recommends simple and consistent interventions to reduce accumulated stress: “regular micro-breaks increase emotional regulation capacity and reduce tension felt during repetitive activities” (OECD, 2025).
Set small, measurable goals
Instead of big and overwhelming goals (“I want a job in 30 days”), create small goals (“2 applications today, 3 networking emails”). OECD highlights that small progress boosts confidence and long-term motivation.
Gradually get used to the idea of rejection without taking it personally
Dare to apply even to jobs that go beyond your comfort zone. According to the TopResume Jobseeker Trends Report 2025, “candidates who apply consistently, even when they anticipate possible rejection, reduce their anxiety levels over time and increase their real chances of being hired.”
Involve a friend
A friend can help you stick to your career plans. The Lyra Health – State of Workforce Mental Health 2025 report notes that “social support is one of the most important factors that buffer professional stress.”
Practice activities that remind you who you are outside your CV
Hobbies, sports, volunteering—all contribute to your identity beyond your job and increase emotional resilience, allowing you to better manage rejections and waiting periods.
When to Seek Professional Help
If you’re facing persistent symptoms (insomnia, lack of energy, difficulty functioning, daily overwhelm), it’s important to seek professional help. The WHO 2025 report warns that “untreated mental health problems increase individual and social costs and affect long-term work capacity.”
You can start with a therapist, a career counselor, or free services offered by NGOs and public institutions. Emotional health is part of the hiring process—not a secondary detail.
Turn to Smartemp for Career Counseling and Job Recommendations
It’s completely normal to feel uncertain before an interview or to have questions. In these moments, support from a specialized recruitment and career counseling team can make all the difference.
Smartemp has 13 years of experience in the Romanian human resources market, specializing in both recruitment and employee transition support. Smartemp can help you:
- Identify real job opportunities aligned with your profile and salary expectations;
- Craft a competitive CV tailored to current employer requirements;
- Practice job interviews to boost confidence and improve your chances of success;
- Discover new fields where your skills can transfer, if you want a career change.
Smartemp is your trusted career partner, no matter what stage you’re going through. We have jobs in telecom, automotive, call centers, and logistics. Discover them here!
Write to us at: recrutare@smartemp.ro
Looking for a job can be one of the most demanding periods—but also an opportunity to refine your boundaries, values, and strategy. Be kind to yourself: accept that there will be ups and downs, celebrate small steps, and ask for support when you need it. Consistency brings results.
Sources for the article “How to Emotionally Manage the Period When You’re Looking for a Job”
- World Health Organization (2025) – Over a billion people living with mental health conditions; services require urgent scale-up
- American Psychological Association (2025) – Work in America™ Survey 2025
- Deloitte Insights (June 2025) – 2025 Gen Z and Millennial Survey
- OECD (2025) – Mental Health and Work / Employment Outlook 2025
- Lyra Health (2025) – State of Workforce Mental Health Report
- TopResume (2025) – Jobseeker Trends Report 2025
- NAMI / Ipsos (Jan 2025) – Workplace Mental Health Poll 2025
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