Maintaining Mental Health During a Job Search

In today's world, where work and career paths are becoming increasingly complex, maintaining mental health is more important than ever—especially when you're searching for a new job. Job hunting can be stressful and emotionally draining, but thankfully, there are ways to support yourself through the process and stay strong.

That’s why I’m excited to introduce a topic in the MaiWistik blog that focuses on mental health during job searches. Having personally been involved in job searches and recruitment processes, I understand how difficult it can be to maintain a positive mindset and balance. It’s a great pleasure to share the experiences and tips from recruitment expert Laura Kassin on supporting mental health during job transitions—insights that every job seeker should be aware of and consider.

I hope this guest post inspires you to take care of your mental and physical well-being, even during stressful times.

Laura’s Story and Experiences

I started working at a very young age, earning pocket money during summer vacations as a teenager. My serious career began at H&M, a company that rapidly expanded in Estonia. Soon, I moved from the Postimaja store to the support office.

I gained firsthand experience in managing large teams with high employee turnover, building new teams from scratch, navigating cultural differences, fostering internal talent growth, and, unfortunately, witnessing how bureaucracy and lengthy chains of command can lead to the loss of valuable employees.

Overall, I was satisfied with my experience, though after three years, I felt I had outgrown my role. During this time, I conducted interviews and group discussions with approximately 500 candidates—a fascinating learning experience. Moving on to a smaller high-altitude work company, Skyproff, introduced me to a completely different environment.

The startup mindset, multitasking across various roles, constantly shifting priorities, a highly structured approach to processes, and an international team helped me take my next professional leap. I also had a supportive and entrepreneurial-minded leader who encouraged me to take my first steps in launching my own business.

 

 

How Personalileidja (Talent Finder) was born is a longer story in itself. However, in the context of this discussion, what matters is that I fully understand the job search experience—from both sides of the interview table. I know what it means to work a standard 9-to-5 office job, relate to physical laborers and freelancers, and also connect with entrepreneurs, as I am now one myself.

With over ten years of recruitment experience, countless courses and self-development training sessions, and personal lessons from different roles and teams, I have gained deep insights into the challenges and expectations of all parties involved in the hiring process. Lately, I have found the most interesting conversations to be those with job seekers who share their uncertainties, fears, and hopes—often without realizing their own unique strengths in the job market or how to highlight them.

I realized that my "why" is to uncover the hidden potential of both individuals and companies, connecting them like a matchmaker. I believe that there is a perfect job for everyone—one that helps them become the best version of themselves. At the same time, employees are a company’s greatest asset, and carefully selected individuals help businesses create and offer products and services that bring joy and value to the world.

 

 

Mental Health Trends in the Workplace

• 48% of Estonian employees believe that health problems caused by work affect their daily activities.
• 41% of women and 34% of men in Estonia consider their work environment detrimental to mental health.
• In 2021, the economic loss due to decreased productivity and work capacity from mental health issues was approximately €350 million in Estonia alone.
• Globally, depression and anxiety cause the loss of around 12 billion workdays every year—equivalent to 50 million years of lost productivity.
• Every eighth person in the world (around 970 million people) lives with a mental health disorder.

(Allikas 1, Allikas 2, Allikas 3)

Why should this matter to you? Because maintaining and protecting your health is in your hands, even if your surrounding environment can contribute to stress and burnout. Good health benefits not only your well-being, performance, and finances but also your career.

Employers are increasingly concerned about these trends. While they are legally prohibited from asking about an applicant’s health status or discriminating based on it, this still happens in subtle ways. A strong, resilient health status can be a significant advantage in the job market.

 

 

How to Support Your Mental Health During Stressful Periods, Such as Job Transitions

Writing CVs, crafting motivation letters, attending interviews, and sending out applications without responses—all of these can be highly stressful, especially when financial pressure adds urgency to the process. While hustle culture and anxiety may push you to constantly work and apply, taking mindful breaks will help you navigate the process more effectively.

Here are my top recommendations based on consultations, personal experience, and research:

1. Prioritize quality sleep. Ensure you get deep, restful sleep. Whether it’s a cool room, lavender oil, screen-free evenings, earplugs, or an eye mask—find what works for you. Never underestimate the importance of sleep for your health, brain function, and creativity.
2. Move your body. Even if you're not naturally active, exercise is crucial. Physical movement releases emotions, including anxiety, and stimulates new ideas.
3. Connect with nature. Walking outdoors, spending time with plants, playing with animals, admiring the sun, moon, and stars, or even building a snowman—such activities offer a mental reset while your subconscious continues problem-solving in the background.
4. Reward yourself and celebrate small wins. A hot bath, aromatherapy, candles, a luxury treat, a massage, or a small self-gift—whatever makes you happy and nurtures self-love. Confidence and self-compassion are essential for success in any field and help you make better health choices.
5. Build micro-habits that reinforce your strengths. For example, I write down three things every night that I want to appreciate about myself. This quiets my inner critic, and when I feel low, reading past entries quickly lifts my mood. In job searches, keeping track of achievements (especially with numbers and examples) is invaluable.
6. Listen to your body. Recognize when you’re nearing burnout and step back. Tune into your gut feelings about what excites and motivates you (even if your brain tries to dismiss it as risky or pointless). Also, learn to sense when something is intuitively off—and step away from it.

 

"Unexplained fatigue is a predictor of illness."
— Hippocrates

 

Job Application Tips for a Successful Career Move

• Create a ‘master CV’ and tailored versions for different job applications. Your master CV should include all your training, work experiences, and skills, but keep job-specific versions concise and relevant.
• Highlight achievements and results rather than just tasks and experience. Employers care more about what you can accomplish for them than what you’ve done daily in past jobs.
• Boost confidence in all areas of life. Dress well, find reasons to laugh and smile more, give compliments (to yourself and others), surround yourself with supportive people, and stay active.
• Consider career coaching or interview preparation. If you're switching careers or haven't job-hunted in a long time, professional guidance can be incredibly helpful. Knowing how to present yourself in a CV, what to say in interviews, and how to ask the right questions makes job searching much easier.

You can find more information about candidate consultations on this website and request a free checklist on the five things to say and not say in a job interview.