Burned Out

Ever run a marathon without any training whatsoever? Probably not, but what we all just endured this past year comes pretty close. We couldn’t have possibly known the tragedy that would befall the world and our communities. We couldn’t have prepared for the amount of work and challenges we juggled in our personal and work lives.?

I’m a recruiter. Our firm talks to thousands of candidates a year. What we are hearing from candidates now, given mask-mandates lifted and in-person activities activated, is:?You’re exhausted. You need to un-peel your home from your work. You want to see your friends and family. You’re burned out.?

In the US, we lost many lives, but the looming threat of death has relented. It feels as if we’re nearing the finish line. And we deserve to feel a sense of triumph. As a company/leader, it’s time to let your employees breathe - it’s time to start doling out the water cups and ice packs.?We’re seeing this at companies like @Workboard, @Linkedin, and @Tripactions. These companies have recognized that it’s time for us to check-out and catch-up with ourselves, our families and communities and have wisely provided the ENTIRE company the week following the 4th of July off. They realize it’s crucial that employees have some rest. They are leaving them alone, allowing them to breathe out their sighs of relief in peace.?

As a working professional, remember: you may feel burned out, yes, but you are not broken. If you’re lucky enough to do so, take your 4th of July break so that you can reignite the flame in your life and in your overall outlook on the new world we live in (and don’t forget to show your company some gratitude for this opportunity). If there’s anything that has become clearer on a worldly basis, it’s that time is finite.?If you’re not happy with what you’re doing, it’s on you to make it better.?

Once you’ve taken some time off, come back for the next article, which will focus on the wild west that is the current job market. You, candidates, have more choices than you have ever had and we're seeing a void in structured thinking around HOW to choose the next thing, or even IF to choose the next thing. 30% of the people we talk to are on the fence on whether to take on a new role/company - and of those, half decide they need to stick around. If you’re in this boat, we’ve developed quizzes that can be helpful in your inquiry. Begin the thinking process by taking our job evaluation assessment , the salesperson quiz or leadership quiz (if you're in sales).?Lastly, if you're looking (shameless plug): ok We have loads of jobs open:, we WILL be working, we recruiters had some rest over quarantine. :).

And if you’re just blue and looking for something new and exciting, maybe a job isn’t always the right answer. Get inspired! Check out all the great things happening in the world by looking at Ronald Bailey and Marian L. Tupy’s book, “Ten Global Trends Every Smart Person Should Know: And Many Others You Will Find Interesting.”

Happy 4th. Remember why we celebrate. Rest up!