Jobs & depression?

Question

Has anyone found it difficult to get a job while or after you're recovering from depression? I have a college degree in communications and am having a hard time finding work. I was a top student & had a GPA of 3.76. I guess my problem is that I've still got that brain fog...ie problems thinking, expressing myself, etc. I can do the work and do it well but I have trouble impressing, I guess, during interviews. Plus the fact that this would be my first real job hurts my chances since I have no previous experience. My depression & anxiety definitely affected me in that area (thinking I was worthless and couldn't do the simplest things, etc).

How do depressed folks get work?

Answer 1

For me, I've always found working as a temp to work out well.

The temp jobs are usually not that stressful and it gave me work experience. Sometimes when my depression was not that bad, I could handle my depression and that kind of work.

Some of my temp jobs led to offers of permanent employment. I ended up becoming a mortgage underwriter and making $38,000 a year because I was promoted from a temp job. But then I quit after I saved up some money because I was still depressed and really didn't want to work. (Now I'm in college and not working.)

But overall, my experience with temp employment has had positive results.

Answer 2

I have never had a problem getting a job when I was depressed. My problem is keeping them. My depression gets in the way of my performance. What I do before I go to an interview (and I've been to many) is go over some of the questions I know they will ask. The hardest to answer is always: " What are some of your strengths?" I just tell them what they like to hear. Such as; dependable, punctual, fast-learning, hard-working.

Answer 3

I have a best friend that has a depression problem and anxiety problem. You need to just mentally prepare your self and talk your self in to it. It is hard but you need to figure out how to just get around it. Just look at it day by day. Some days will be better then others. it is kinda trial and error figure out what you need to do to get through each day. Some times antidepresants work some times they make you more foggy. I will use them when i start felling depressed and i can't get my self to snap out of it. Just to get over the hump. You just really need to learn to identiry it and learn how to break yourself out of it when it starts and what you can do when you can't. This is important though cause if you do not get a grip on it you will end up way depressed and trust me that is much harder to get out of then the begining of a depression spell.

Answer 4

Think about this, would you hire someone that was depressed, had low self-esteem and lacked confidence?

Be positive.

Just try to find a connection w/ the interviewer. Employer are more concerned w/ whether candidates right out of school would "fit" w/ their employees... versus experience... so if you make it to the interview, you have a chance.

And how can you be depressed? School is the easiest funnest time!

Answer 5

I was depressed for a long time with out a job and i am depressed now that I have a crappy job. My health insurance is a joke and I must ask for special permission from the insurance company before I can even see a therapist.

Answer 6

it's hard, it's hard to look for a job when you're not working. Everything is more crazy and stressful when you're not working.

I've found that keeping a routine and VOLUNTEERING a LOT can help. And it's easy to get jobs through volunteering too.

Answer 7

they go from being depressed folk to ambitius folks who realize that depression is a condition and does not have to be a way of life for you. get help recovering from your depression and become better than what used to be.