72% Of Applicants Say The Job Search Has Harmed Their Mental Health

Statistics show that 87% of job seekers have job jitters, and it’s scarier than a trip to the dentist, holding a spider or skydiving. The stress and anxiety of job seeking can lead to an array of mental health issues for applicants—a direct result of the amount of effort required to land a job, plus the sheer stress and anxiety of an interview that can interfere with a good performance. What will the interview be like? Who will conduct it? Will I be able to be on the top of my game?

There’s so much to remember: how you dress, what you say, how you say it, your eye contact, nonverbal behaviors, the questions you do or don’t ask, how interested you are. The interview hurdle is even greater for the 40% of the population who are introverts. Job seeker anxiety can be so great, previous studies show that 70% of applicants lie on their resumes.

Mental Health Concerns

Last month, Resume Genius surveyed 1,000 active U.S. job seekers to get their thoughts on today’s competitive job market. They found that 72% of job seekers report job hunting has negatively impacted their mental health. Other key findings indicate that the stress has worsened:

• Nearly half (44%) of job seekers say being ghosted by employers as one of their biggest frustrations.
• 32% are frustrated by ghost jobs.
• 48% have lied or considered lying on their resumes.
• 24% said the job search always negatively impacts them.
• 31% said it negatively affects them more now than it did in the past.
• 17% say the job search hasn’t negatively affected them in the past, but it does now.
• One in five Gen Z job seekers are landing interviews through TikTok.

The survey found differences in job search stress across generations:

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

Resume Lies

Nearly 48% of job seekers admit to resorting to lying or considering lying on their resumes, with 14% admitting to flat-out lying and 15% saying they’ve made white lies or minor exaggerations. Key reasons include:

• 31% lied to cover gaps in employment.
• 30% exaggerated the length of time they were employed at a job.
• 30% inflated their job title.
• 24% embellished job responsibilities or technical skills.
• 24% lied about their education credentials.

Gen Zs Having Difficulties Finding Work

Job seekers were asked whether they thought the job market was tougher for Gen Zs, compared to previous generations:

• 46% of Gen Z say it’s more difficult 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 more difficult for Gen Z, compared to 45% who say it’s easier and 22% who see no change.
• 35% of Gen X believe it’s harder, while 37% think it’s easier, and 28% see no change. 39% of Boomers say it’s more difficult for Gen Z, 30% believe it’s easier and 31% see no change.

Top Methods For Landing An Interview In 2024

According to the study, the most effective methods for securing job interviews in 2024 are:

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

Top Priorities When Considering Job Offers

When evaluating job offers in 2024, candidates prioritized several key factors, with 58% of job seekers focusing on higher-than-average salaries. The top three priorities overall are salary, comprehensive health insurance (38%) and work-from-home opportunities (36%).

Job-Hopping Tendencies

Job seekers had varied opinions on how frequently they should switch jobs:

• 45% believe job-hopping should only occur when there are significant career benefits.
• 55% believe switching jobs at least every three to five years is appropriate.
• 41% believe switching jobs at least every two to three–years is acceptable.
• 22% think switching jobs at least every year is fine.
• 13% think it’s appropriate to switch at least every six months.

According to the survey, Boomers prefer staying in a role for longer, while younger generations like Gen Z and Millennials are more open to frequent job changes:

• 33% of Gen Z believe it’s acceptable to switch jobs at least every year, the highest among all generations (23% of Millennials, 17% of Gen X, and five percent of Boomers).
• 71% of Boomers are the most resistant to frequent job changes, believing job switching should happen only when there are significant career benefits.

Job Seekers Want Managers Who Trust Them

In the 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 get my work done on my own (43%).
• They’re knowledgeable and experienced in their role (38%).
• They promote work-life balance (34%).
• They give me constructive feedback (32%).
• They’re very hands-on with providing step-by-step instructions (29%).
• They’re invested in my personal well-being (27%).
• They’re supportive of my long-term career goals (25%).
• They give me the autonomy to decide my own tasks (22%).

“It’s often said that a job search is like having a full-time job, and this year’s survey results highlights just how challenging its become,” explains Eva Chan, lead career expert at Resume Genius. “Job seekers are facing more issues like ghosting, stress on their mental health and uncertainty about AI. But by improving communication and being more transparent, both employers and job seekers can help make the job search less stressful and more efficient,” she concludes.