Increased job loss, accompanying social isolation, the expansion of virtual methods of communication, and general economic turmoil during the COVID-19 pandemic put significant strain on job seekers and the systems designed to help them get back to work. Job search burnout is increasing across a variety of professions and can hinder reemployment. Having fewer financial, social, and psychological resources can lead to job search fatigue, resulting in poorer long-term outcomes. In particular, long-term unemployment can lead to high levels of fatigue. Fortunately, there are ways that burnout can be combated, including mindfulness practices.

Companies often use wellness challenges to keep their workforce productive and engaged. Wellness challenges are short-term behavioral change contests, interventions, and team activities designed to improve employee health and morale by encouraging healthy habits. Recognizing that unemployed people don’t have access to these kinds of services that are critical to both the job search and employability, a new Medium blog post by Savannah Barnett and Stephanie D’Angelo explores using that same model for job seekers as part of workforce programming. The post examines a “Restoring Aliveness Challenge” that was organized for the New Jersey Job Seeker Community as well as tips for implementing wellness changes in workforce programming.

Savannah Barnett and Stephanie D'Angelo are researchers at the Heldrich Center.