Expat Careers: The Impact of Stress on your Job Search

Searching for a job is extremely stressful. If you are without a job, the anxiety of not knowing where the money is coming from to pay the rent or mortgage can be heavy load to carry. If you are in a job in which you are unhappy, finding the time to search for a more satisfying job can be difficult and very frustrating.  And if you are in a new country, the additional challenges of not having a work visa, language skills or a support system can complicate matters further.

Managing stress is an important part of any job search process. When stress is not managed well, it cannot impede a person's ability to think clearly, make the right choices and effectively articulate what they have to offer to prospective employers or clients.

Not only will things like performance at interviews suffer, but stress can impact your personal and professional relationships.  Often times we may unknowingly or unintentionally take out our stress on friends or colleagues. It is important to remember our professional network is one of the key tools of in the job search and in managing our personal brand or professional reputation. Acting stressed out, frustrated or even unprofessional is not going to inspire others to recommend you for job openings of which they are aware.

People manage stress in different ways. About.com, a web site full of great resources for stress management, has a test to see which stress relievers best fit your personality. Try it and see which stress management techniques will work best for you and your lifestyle.

Is stress from your job search affecting you and your professional relationships? What is one step you can take to manage your stress today?