Why I almost quit job hunting at week 3 (and what actually got me unstuck) (opens in new tab)

Everyone says the fix for a bad job search is to apply to more jobs. That's the wrong diagnosis. Applying more isn't the problem. The problem is that the process is designed to drain you until you stop. And it works. I sent out 34 applications in three weeks, got 2 responses, and by week 3 I was opening LinkedIn, staring at listings, and closing the tab without applying anything. Not because I didn't want a job. I needed one badly. I just couldn't make myself do it anymore. I thought I was la...