Recruiter Burnout Is Real

As we come to the end of the year, there is an incredible rush to get things done, specially in the world of Recruiting. The 4th quarter is the final stretch to get things in place for the coming year. This increase in activity and the ever approaching deadlines can lead to burnout. Recruiter burnout is real and dangerous outcome in our line of business. I am not talking just about the negative impact it can have on the business and recruitment process. This is about humans, with real emotions and blood in their veins. Humans that bleed when pushed and cry.

This picture has always made me laugh not because it’s funny, more so because its real. I have been in this business for almost two decades, there are days I feel like a truck has hit me and then decided to do it again and again, and it’s not even 8am. Other days it’s like I am riding a purple unicorn over a rainbow through a valley of multicolored flowers (filled with all my favorite snacks).?

I work hard to learn from my mistakes and keep a good and healthy balance to ensure I do not burn out or create an unhealthy mental/emotional state. Unfortunately, I find myself repeating all the same bad habits.?Just the other day I checked my work email right before going to bed (WHY!?!? I ask myself each time) and inevitable there was an email on an action item I needed to address first thing the AM. Of course, with the way my mind is wired I could not just go to sleep after reading it, my brain was spinning 100 MPH trying to come up with a solution to address the issue.?Almost 2 hours later and thinking about a dozen other not so urgent issues I finally went sleep.?And I woke up so energized, NOT!

The reality is recruiting has so many ups and downs with the only constant being stress. The world has changed so much these past two years, and we all need to reevaluate the way we work to ensure it is not leading to negative outcomes.?The levels of chaos and stress in our world have no doubt increased for each of us and it impacts us all in unique ways. No one cause or solution is a one size fits all.

I know that sometimes for me the cause is unrealistic expectations I tend to put on myself. Self-inflicted burnout is real! Sometimes the need to be perfect, although attainable maybe in the short term has so many negative impacts on our mental and emotional health. My employer does not need me to be perfect, but my drive to succeed and my insatiable appetite for recruiting drive me to the point that anything but a successful hire is not acceptable.?Have you ever felt the same? (Really hoping I am not alone in this!)

Self-care is one way to combat burnout.?The struggle for balance is real. I get on a good streak with physical activity and good sleep habits, and two days later I am back on the slide with stress eating and late-night work activity. I do find that when I am in good state it is because I am doing all these things in-sync: reading/studying, sleeping early, eating healthy and playing sports with the family.

It’s not easy being a recruiter, I knew that early on.?This is not a career for the faint of heart or for anyone that thinks this is an easy ride to a high-income lifestyle. Its hard work, its hard on the mind and its hard on the heart. ?It is however an extremely rewarding career, hearing the joy candidates have when you helped them obtain their dream job and hiring managers tell stories about how great the recent hires are performing and the impact we have not only on the company but our communities is truly satisfying.

In the end, having a solid plan daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly to endure the trials of recruiting is so important. Make sure you not only take care of yourself but reach out to a fellow recruiter and check in on them. Ask and listen to how they are doing and be that support you want to have when in need. I would love to hear from you on how you tackle the stress of recruiting and avoid burnout. Feel free to comment below or message me directly if you prefer to have a private conversation.?