Redefining Burnout

Hi Recruiters,

Has feeling constantly burned out become the norm? Is burnout now just our reality? It wasn’t until 2023 that I found myself asking these questions. I don’t know about you, but last year to me felt like being mugged in a dark alley—repeatedly. Every time I got back on my feet, 2023 was there, waiting to sucker-punch me again.

Did the beating make me stronger, or just more bruised? The jury’s still out.

Before I unpack this further, I wanted to quickly let you know that we're hosting our very first For Recruiters By Recruiters Conference on March 18th!

Instead of long presentations (that can definitely leave you feeling burned out), we're bringing together a dozen speakers to give short talks on what matters most to them. We'd love to have you!

Beyond Fatigue

As someone who’s pushed their body to the limit, I know burnout isn’t just a fancy term for being exhausted or needing a nap. For me, it feels like trying to swim through the ocean with a boulder strapped to my back—it’s a feeling beyond fatigue.?

And I know I’m not alone. I remember some numbers Josh Bersin threw down from a Mercer report that hit me harder than a shot of tequila (note: not a great treatment option): Post-pandemic burnout among employees rose from 61% to a whopping 81%. Suddenly, being stymied isn’t an occasional challenge; it’s just Tuesday.

I don’t have that data broken out to highlight the experience for recruiters/TA, but I think anecdotal evidence can suffice. If there’s one thing recruiters are consistent at, it’s expressing ourselves, and our mood is amplified by market conditions—swinging from one extreme end of the spectrum to the other. When things feel good, it feels really good. When things feel bad, we go scorched-Earth mode. Oops, did I say that out loud?

Now, imagine how job seekers must feel. Picture this: Your 9-to-5 is hunting for jobs, facing rejection like it’s your job (because, well, it is). You’re getting ghosted more than a 50-year old on Tinder. And then, at the end of the day, pull up your LinkedIn feed just to see a recruiter who never messaged you back posting about how burned out they are.

Rough Waters

It’s like our entire industry has been tossed into the Drake Passage, and everyone on all sides is just trying to keep their heads above water. The kicker is, starting off the day with a fight or flight response now feels as routine as my morning double-shot of espresso. Okay, those two might be loosely correlated, but my coffee routine hasn’t changed.

What has seemed to change for recruiters is that the workday feels less like “The Wolf of Wall Street” and more like “Groundhog Day,” with a yummy side of existential dread. And for dessert, recruiters get a delicately prepared narrative that paints us as the villains of the corporate world. Delicious.

But just because that’s what we’re served, do we have to eat it?

Steve Levy hit the nail on the head in our last Recruiter Therapy session, comparing burnout to a feeling of learned helplessness. Steve said, “It’s a state of being where you begin to believe that all outcomes are out of your control; you become depressed, disengaged, and frankly, you stop trying. You might even be thinking about leaving the profession.”

My take? It’s okay to feel that way. It doesn’t make you any less of a rockstar.

The Real Antidote

So, what can we do? The common “cures” for burnout make me laugh. Sleep more, eat spinach, find your zen, etc. Groundbreaking advice! (Not). Cauliflower and a power nap aren’t going to make me adore my job any more than I already do.

Loving your job comes down to just that—loving what you do. Though, I admit, dragging myself to a Zoom call after a night of tossing and turning probably didn’t help anyone’s mental state. To everyone on that call, my bad.

For folks out there who are down on their luck, on their last dollar, or feeling like they’re spending every ounce of energy they have just to survive, being burned out at work might look like a luxury. Imagine craving the days of being ghosted by candidates or buried in unfillable requisitions. Sounds crazy, right?

It can be easy to take for granted how nice it is to slip on your shoes each day and slowly sip on a half-empty cup of coffee when you have a job to do. Yet, we must spare a thought for those in our circles who, without the routine of lacing up for work, still manage to see their cups of coffee as half-full.

Yes, burnout is as real as it gets. But it doesn’t have to define your reality. If you’re looking for a way to lighten the load, I recommend starting with gratitude. Then, when you’ve got some energy to spare, take 30-minutes to lend a hand; do something kind for someone. Forget the sleep seminars and the diet plans. Helping someone out—that’s the real antidote to burnout.

Steve would probably be inclined to call it “learned helpfulness,” and follow that up with something cheesy like “the real chicken soup for your soul.” I just love that about him.

Good Faith

I haven’t lost faith in this community or the grind. In fact, despite 2023’s penchant for uppercuts, this community has renewed much of my faith over the last year.

So, let’s keep it rolling, and roll up our sleeves to continue making a difference. At the end of the day, that’s what keeps the darkness at bay.?

And if you can manage it, do yourself a favor and take the trip!?

What else is happening in hiring?

• It’s No Surprise That “Skills-Based” Hiring Has Not Worked
• 3 pieces of information you should never share in a job interview and what to say instead, from a recruiting manager by Bonnie Dilber
• The need to redefine recruiting’s role

Kunwar's Korner

Kunwar Ishan Sharma here! There's one person I could talk to forever about life and recruiting without feeling burned out. That's Craig Fisher . In fact, we spent a couple of hours together last month where he showed me how he builds candidate personas using EZ Insights.

It's definitely worth the watch!

Until next time :)

-Recruiters