How Both Employers And Candidates Can Reduce Job Hunting Stress

There’s no denying that journey from deciding to leave your job to finding a new one can be painful. But is this a situation we have to accept? Or is there anything anyone can do to relieve job hunting stress?

A new study reveals that for the majority, job hunting is a major cause of stress. The study surveyed 1,200 employees in the UK. It concluded that 85% find searching for a new role always or frequently makes them feel stressed. While a further 83% believe that this kind of stress is a real problem for today’s workforce.

Where are the Pain-Points Attributing to Job Hunting Stress?

The survey was conducted by independent job site CV-Library. The aim was to pinpoint the parts of the job-seeking process people find most stressful. The top causes included:

“Workplace stress is something we often hear about, but very rarely do we talk about the stress that can be caused as a result of job hunting. These feelings are very real, and it’s clear from the data that the nation’s professionals can become extremely disheartened when the job search becomes overwhelming.”

Lee Biggins – CEO, CV Library

Is Job Hunting Inevitably Stressful, or is there a Solution?

Some would say that the process of searching for a new job is always going to be difficult. Consider the following familiar situations that we have all been in some time or other:

An employee for some reason becomes unhappy with their existing work situation and realises it’s time to move on. Then, time must be found in their busy schedule for trawling job boards to find a suitable position. They must then update their CV and submit an application. After which, a few telephone interviews may take place before securing a face to face interview.

During an interview, candidates have to navigate a room full of unfamiliar faces. As if that’s not stressful enough, they are also under pressure to demonstrate their suitability for a job. All of this, whilst being conscious that they are competing with many other talented individuals for the same role. Throughout this entire process, they must exercise discretion during the remaining time in their current position.

Any one of these scenarios alone could add stress to an individual’s already busy life. Despite all of this, there are many things that both employers and candidates can do to streamline the process. Thus eliminating some of the stress. The research identified two key measures:

1 – Recruiters Should Always Offer Feedback

43% of candidates agreed that offering feedback is essential in reassuring the candidate and providing constructive, helpful advice that can help them in future applications.

2 – Recruiters Should Always Send an Acknowledgement Email

Nearly 36% of candidates said that they would appreciate this gesture, even if they weren’t given the job.

“Leaving candidates in the lurch is causing them to feel unnecessary tension, but sending an email or giving them a call to offer feedback doesn’t have to be a hugely time-consuming task and can really help to put job hunters’ minds at ease!”

Lee Biggins – CEO, CV-Library

Ultimately, job hunters and recruiters are working towards the same goal – matching the right person to the right position. They should aim to work together to reduce unnecessary stress during the recruitment process. Businesses can also play their part by streamlining procedures and taking steps to improve the candidate experience.

Do your recruitment procedures need an overhaul? Or are you looking for a digital recruitment specialist with the expertise to put your candidates at ease? A reputable recruiter can act as a go-between to facilitate those difficult conversations you may not be comfortable having. Thus reducing jobs hunting stress between applicants and Hiring Managers.

Maybe the above sounds familiar to you but you don’t know where to start? Why not give our team a call to discuss your needs?