The constant stress of hiring affects the lives of recruiters all around the world. Trying to solve others’ problems, communicating their needs and dealing with denial are just some of the factors that contribute to the high burnout rates in the field. But what exactly is this phenomenon, and what can you do to avoid it?

What Is Recruiter Burnout?

Burnout is defined as “a state of physical or emotional exhaustion that also involves a sense of reduced accomplishment and loss of personal identity.” It’s not about having a few bad days, being tired, or losing your focus a bit. Burnout is a heavier void that resides over your daily duties, it’s a different level of exhaustion that stretches further than just your work. As a recruiter, you might feel drained, or become prone to procrastination, and find yourself in a general auto-pilot mode. It’s important to notice when your job doesn’t bring you any kind of joy anymore, and look for possible solutions to bring everything back to normal.

What Are The Signs Of Burnout?

Burnout shows itself in lots of different forms and patterns. As everyone experiences it kind of differently, it’s a great start to pay attention to your daily routine and overall mood. Tracking some possible changes can also help outline a phase or a process you’re going through, and signal a road to a possible burnout very early on. Having regular check-ins with yourself and asking yourself some questions about how you’re feeling at work is a great solution to perform and also feel better.

Aside from the differences, there are also some signs that are considered common for people who experience burnout, which might include

Stress-related physical symptoms, like frequent headaches or shaking of the hands

Becoming irritable or impatient with co-workers, customers, or clients

Lack of energy to perform daily tasks, even ones that were easy before

Not experiencing success the same way as before

These symptoms may indicate a more serious problem and can mean that it is time for a change, either in routine or in career paths.

How To Avoid Burnout?

Burnout is tricky, in a sense that it is easier to treat before it happens. If you catch yourself experiencing the above mentioned symptoms, or anything that you personally consider a sign, you probably want to take action.

1. Manage Your Time

Time management skills are essential anyways if you want to be a great recruiter. Constant attention on multiple candidates means an insane schedule, full of tasks that rely on your soft skills and communication. Unexpected phone calls from clients and candidates are probably standard occurrences in your everyday life, and as fun and convenient they seem, they can easily deter your focus.

Setting clear goals for yourself and defining what success looks like for you is a great way to start managing your time more wisely. Prioritize tasks that will get you further ahead, and are part of the progress you wish to make. You can try to set time frames in which you complete a specific task, or write a to-do list and check off each item by the end of your day. Whatever method you choose, try to stick to it. Daily routines have proven to be beneficial for one’s mental health, while also helping with productivity.

2. Learn To Be Resilient

The market changes incredibly quickly, and while adaptation is a must, being one step ahead of it is an advantage. You will have to go through many rejections and set-downs, which can easily result in a decline in your motivation. In many cases, you cannot control any of these factors, but you can always choose how you react to them. Try to learn from each and every scenario, and opt to bounce back more prepared for the uncertainty. In time, you will get used to always expect the unexpected, and you will get better at predicting certain happenings. Resilience is a skill that will spare you loads of stress and anxiety, the sooner you learn it the better.

3. Leave Work At Work

The separation of workspace and home is crucial if you want to maintain a healthy work-life balance. When it’s time to leave the office, whether you are working from home or in an actual office building, you need to set clear boundaries. This will help you stay productive during the day too, as everyday tasks don’t deter your focus from important deeds. Personal life naturally has a place too, but it’s important to not let one part of your life disturb the other.

On the other hand, recruitment will never be a 9 to 5 job. Still, try to not get caught up in today’s new technology, checking emails all hours of the night and taking candidate phone calls whenever they come in.  This guarantees better rest at night, reduced stress and increased productivity the next day. Bottom line, don’t be pressured to ALWAYS be on the recruiting clock.  You need your down-time in order to avoid burnout.

We hope that this article helped to clear up some of the common misconceptions about recruiter burnout. Contrary to common belief, it is not at all impossible to avoid complete burnout in this profession either. We wish you the best of luck on whatever path you choose.

If you are interested in other recruitment tips check out the other articles from our series:

https://iseeq.co/blog/10-skills-you-need-to-master-to-be-a-successful-recruiter/

https://iseeq.co/blog/5-ways-to-attract-better-candidates-and-make-people-want-to-work-for-you/

https://iseeq.co/blog/how-to-find-the-best-candidate-for-a-job/

https://iseeq.co/blog/why-mentoring-is-important/