72% of Applicants Say Looking for a Job Has Changed Their Mental Health

Statistics show that 87% of job seekers have job problems, and it’s scarier than a trip to the dentist, holding a spider or windsurfing. The stress and anxiety of job hunting can lead to many mental health problems for job applicants—a direct result of the effort required to find a job, as well as the stress and anxiety of job interviews that can interfere with good performance. What will the conversation be like? Who will run it? Will I be able to be at the top of my game?

There are many things to remember: the way you dress, what you say, what you say, your eye contact, non-verbal behavior, the questions you ask or don’t ask. ask them, how interested you are. The communication barrier is even greater for 40% of the population who are introverts. Job seekers’ concerns can be overwhelming, with previous studies showing that 70% of applicants lie on their resumes.

Mental Health Concerns

Last month, Resume Genius surveyed 1,000 active US job seekers to get their thoughts on today’s competitive job market. They found that 72% of job seekers reported that job hunting had a negative impact on their mental health. Some important studies show that depression worsens:

• Almost half (44%) of job seekers say being surprised by employers is one of their biggest frustrations.
• 32% are disturbed by the activities of ghosts.
• 48% lied or thought about lying in their teenage books.
• 24% said that looking for a job regularly affects them negatively.
• 31% said it affects them more now than in the past.
• 17% say that looking for work has not affected them in the past, but now it does.
• One in five Gen Z job seekers find interviews through TikTok.

Research has found differences in job search stress across generations:

• 74% of Gen Z and Millennials report that the job search has negatively affected their mental health, compared to 70% of Gen X and 56% of Boomers.
• 44% of Boomers say job hunting has never affected their mental health, compared to 30% of Gen X and 26% of Gen Z and Millennials.

Start the Lies again

About 48% of job seekers admit they have lied or considered lying in their resumes, while 14% admit to lying and 15% say they have made white lies or exaggerations little things. Important reasons include:

• 31% lied to cover gaps at work.
• 30% overestimated the length of time they were employed.
• 30% promoted their job title.
• 24% emphasized job responsibilities or technical skills.
• 24% lied about their qualifications.

Gen Zs Have Problems Finding a Job

Job seekers were asked if they think the job market is tougher for Gen Zs, compared to previous generations:

• 46% of Gen Z say it’s harder to find a job compared to previous generations, while 37% believe it’s easier, and 17% see no change.
• 33% of Millennials think it’s difficult for Gen Z, compared to 45% who say it’s easy and 22% who see no change.
• 35% of Gen X believe it is more difficult, while 37% think it is easier, and 28% see no change. 39% of Boomers say it is difficult for Gen Z, 30% believe it is easy and 31% see no change.

Top Ways to Get Communication in 2024

According to the study, the most effective ways to get job interviews in 2024 are:

• 40% of job seekers have received interviews from companies that use job search engines (e.g., LinkedIn, Indeed, Glassdoor.)
• 35% found success by applying directly through company websites.
• 34% used word of mouth or personal relationships in land negotiations.
• 30% of job seekers have reached out via email or phone to hiring managers directly.
• 26% reserved interviews to attend job fairs.
• One in five Gen Z job seekers (20%) found jobs on TikTok.

Top Things to Consider When Considering Job Offers

When evaluating job opportunities in 2024, candidates prioritized several key factors, with 58% of job seekers looking for higher than average salaries. The top three priorities overall are wages, health insurance (38%) and opportunities to work from home (36%).

Job Hopping Techniques

Job seekers had mixed opinions about how often they should change jobs:

• 45% believe that retirement should only happen when there are significant job benefits.
• 55% believe that changing jobs at least every three to five years is appropriate.
• 41% believe that changing jobs at least every two to three years is acceptable.
• 22% think that changing jobs at least every year is good.
• 13% think it is appropriate to change at least every six months.

According to research, Boomers prefer to stay in the role for a long time, while younger generations like Gen Z and Millennials are open to frequent career changes:

• 33% of Gen Z believe it is acceptable to change jobs at least every year, the highest of all generations (23% of Millennials, 17% of Gen X, and five percent of Boomers).
• 71% of Boomers are opposed to frequent job changes, believing that changing jobs should only happen if there are significant job benefits.

Job Seekers Seek Trustworthy Managers

In a Resume Genius survey, job seekers emphasize that the most important quality in a manager is their ability to trust their employees:

• They trust me to do my job alone (43%).
• They are knowledgeable and experienced in their field (38%).
• They encourage work-life balance (34%).
• They give me constructive feedback (32%).
• They work best with step-by-step instructions (29%).
• They are invested in my health (27%).
• They support me in my long-term career goals (25%).
• They give me the freedom to make my own decisions about my activities (22%).

Eva Chan, chief careers expert at Resume Genius, explains: “It’s often said that looking for a job is like having a full-time job, and the results of this year’s survey highlight just how difficult it can be. how much. “Job seekers face many challenges such as burnout, stress on their mental health and uncertainty about AI. But by improving communication and being more transparent, employers and job seekers they can help make the job search less stressful and more efficient,” he concludes.