Help! I'm so overwhelmed and irritable, do I just need to take a breather?

Question

I'm a recent college grad with a temp job working as a seasonal manager for a leasing company that does temporary body art at Six Flags theme parks. So, the job isn't year around and therefore I have been actively searching for another job (graphic design is my field) for like the past two weeks; sent out resumes to positions through creatives on call, and three major staffing agencies---no luck and it sucks. I've also been looking for internet jobs that are the real money making deal; no scams (started using Inboxdollars.com 2 days ago and not making much money). So lately, every free waking minute I have, all I've been doing is job hunting non stop and finding ways to earn extra money online. I'm so stressed. I've been getting panic attacks and crying spells and have nightmares about my current job. When I'm not at work or sleeping, I just go straight to my laptop, hunting, and I sometimes forget to eat and my eyes start to burn and water. I also get headaches, an runny nose, and have stomach problems. I saw the Dark Knight movie with my friend yesterday and I felt guilty for going cause I felt I had to get back to job hunting. I got depressed and couldn't focus on the movie. While hanging at my friends house tonight, I was literally glued to my laptop all night long and he tried to get me to sit down with him to watch a Cheech and Chong movie. When he tried to get my attention, I got p*ssed and started yelling at him and lashed out saying "not now I'm busy." I then justified to him that I have to keep tweeking my resume and job hunt non stop, or else I'll lose my mind. He thought I was taking the job seeking thing way too seriously and that kinda made me even more mad at him. I feel a little nauseous right now and my eyes kinda burn. So, do I possibly need to tone things down a little and take a breather? What does anyone else here think?

Answer 1

Yes...you may need to chill.  Job hunting is kind of a hurry up and wait thing.  Especially a professional job like yours.  The only reason you have a resume is to get the interview.  Once you are in the interview,  you will most likely do well and get hired.

It also sounds like you are focused on the computer mostly to search.  Are you trying professional magazines or actually visiting professional social events.  I also used my Universities career counseling as a resource.  Give them a call and they will help you because you are an alum.

You may need to take a less desirable position for the mean time to pay the bills.  Try to enjoy it.  You will have plenty of time to get stressed out.  My buddy took a job at a video store for 5 years until he landed a killer job.  He moon lighted in a bar band playing guitar.  Girlfriend finished business school.  She decided to enter into the McDonald's leader ship program.  Took a a little while to become a shift manager then landed a job with a large airline.

Have you tried Monster.com.  They have search engines and advice.  I figured out USA JOBS.com and got a job with federal government.

Good Luck