For Job Seekers — and the People Who Love Them

The Job Seeker Experience: Part 1 of 2

Job searching in 2025 isn't what it used to be. It's slower, more tedious, and far more complex.

Many industries experienced hiring hesitancy in 2025, as companies navigated tariff-related uncertainty and shifting budgets. Roles are taking longer to fill, competition is tighter, and the process itself is more demanding than ever.

Let's talk about time:

•         Searching for roles that align (skills, values, salary, culture): 6–10 hours

•         Tailoring resumes + cover letters: 4–6 hours

•         Online applications (uploading docs, answering custom Qs): 8–12 hours

•         LinkedIn networking, recruiter outreach, and posting: 3–5 hours

•         Interview prep, "keeper stories," follow-up: 3–4 hours

•         Salary + benefits research, culture alignment: 2–3 hours

•         Certifications or upskilling: 2–5 hours

📊 Weekly total: 28–45 hours

The Emotional Reality

And layered on top of that? The emotional toll. Some are navigating post-layoff anxiety. Others are recovering from toxic work environments. This is not just a career move — it's often a deeply stressful, emotionally painful human experience. If you're overwhelmed, exhausted, or unsure where to start — you're not alone. The reality is that the job search can feel like an emotional roller coaster. One day you're hopeful after a promising interview, the next day you're defeated by another rejection or deafening silence. Even if you left a toxic workplace, there can be an unexpected grief. You're mourning not just the job, but the routine, the colleagues you liked, the sense of purpose, and sometimes even the financial security and healthcare you once took for granted.

There's the financial stress too — you may be watching your savings dwindle while trying to make strategic decisions about your future. Many people feel like their life is on pause, stuck in limbo between what was and what could be. If your identity has been closely tied to your work, you might be grappling with questions of who you are when you're not actively contributing in that role.

Well-meaning family and friends might offer advice that feels tone-deaf or pressuring. "Have you tried networking more?" "Maybe you're being too picky." They don't understand that you're already doing everything you can think of, and their suggestions can feel like criticism of your efforts. It can make you want to isolate from others, even though you know staying connected to people you love is important.

The constant need to be "on" - crafting the perfect cover letter, researching companies, and presenting your best self in interviews - is exhausting. You might notice physical symptoms: trouble sleeping, changes in appetite, headaches, or that constant low-level anxiety humming in the background. The mental load is real too — tracking applications, following up on leads, remembering which version of your resume you sent where, and managing the emotional energy it takes to keep showing up as your best self when you don't always feel like it. And then there's rejection. When you're already feeling vulnerable, each "no" can feel personal, even when you know logically that it's not about your worth as a person.

💙 You are valuable. Your work matters. And you're doing your best in a system that asks a lot.

Rediscovering Your Worth

Through this process, many of my clients rediscover their worth and recognize how much they've outgrown their current or past roles. They start identifying new interests and strengths they've developed but haven't had the opportunity to use professionally. Many are already operating far beyond their job descriptions, yet they've minimized those contributions because they felt like "just part of the job."

That's where self-confidence training comes in. Because how you see yourself directly impacts how you show up in your search, how you advocate for yourself, and what you believe you're capable of pursuing.

💪 How you talk to yourself shapes how you show up. Replacing your inner critic with a more compassionate inner voice is one of the most powerful tools in your job search.

Impostor Syndrome and the Job Search

It's that creeping feeling that you're not as capable as people think you are—and that you're somehow about to be "found out." It often ramps up after leaving a toxic workplace or during a career transition, especially when you're considering applying to higher-level roles. Suddenly, you start questioning whether your past success was just luck—or if you were ever actually that good at your job to begin with.

But that kind of doubt is the residue of chronic invalidation, overworking, and not being recognized for what you brought to the table. Those thoughts are showing up now because anxiety lies to us, especially when we're vulnerable or navigating the unknown. This is where coaching, reflection, and clarity come in. Together, we start untangling those thoughts and making space for the truth.

🔍 We ask: What do I actually want now? What would energize me? What am I genuinely amazing at? (No false modesty - we name it fully and honestly.)

Understanding Your True Value

Through this process - and with research and support - my clients learn what salary and benefits they should be targeting.

📈 It's often $15K–$50K more than they're currently making, with better PTO, employer-matched retirement, and more affordable, higher-quality healthcare. Most of my clients also accept offers that are remote or hybrid—because flexibility is part of value alignment, too.

They're usually aiming for roles that are one or two levels above their previous title. Why? Because job titles are made up by humans—who may or may not have gotten it right. If you've evolved past your original job description, you're already operating at a higher level. We don't base your next step on a label an old list of bullet points that no longer apply. We base it on your results, growth, accomplishments - and enthusiasm for more.

✨ This isn't just a pause — it's a reset. One that can lead to a more aligned, better-paid, and more joyful chapter of your life.

Practicing real self-care during the search:

When you're carrying all of that—emotionally, mentally, and physically—taking care of yourself might feel like one more thing on the list. But real self-care during a job search isn't a luxury. It's how you stay grounded and functional while doing something incredibly difficult.

• Protect your mental bandwidth — block time, then walk away.

• Move your body — stretch, walk, breathe.

• Eat something nourishing — even one balanced meal can help.

• Limit job search to a designated amount of hours — take breaks from LinkedIn and other job boards.

• Prioritize sleep — it's not indulgent, it's necessary.

• Talk to someone who gets it — a coach, a friend, or a partner.

🌱 This kind of self-care isn't indulgent — it's essential for staying functional and resilient during one of life's most challenging processes.

Final Thoughts

As a job seeker, your most important role is to stay grounded in who you are and the value you bring.

That confidence changes everything:

• The jobs you pursue

• The realistic goals you set

• The way you present your story to others

• The way you speak to yourself internally

💙 Rebuilding your confidence is the most important thing you can do — professionally and personally.

INTERESTED IN STRATEGIC, TRAUMA-INFORMED SUPPORT?

You don't have to do this alone.

If you're navigating this process and want support from someone who understands both the emotional and strategic sides of the job search, I'd love to talk with you.

You can check out my coaching packages and set up a free 30-Minute Discovery Call right here: www.careersavvycoaching.com

✨ Let's build your next chapter — together.