New report shows that looking for new jobs is hitting jobseekers hard
Hiring managers have been urged to provide clarity and responsiveness during the recruitment process as a new report found that the job search begins to take a toll mentally on jobseekers.
Findings from Glassdoor revealed that more than 53% of workers have paused their job search to protect their mental health.
Burnout mentions in Glassdoor reviews also went up 65% year-over-year in the first quarter of 2026.
The situation points to a fatigue in the job search process, according to Glassdoor, which attributed the situation to longer search timelines and higher rejection rates.
Its data showed that job search fatigue is hitting employees of all ages, with burnout most prevalent in the nonprofit, healthcare, and technology sectors.
"The best things you can provide applicants right now are clarity and responsiveness," Chris Martin, senior economist at Glassdoor, told HRD.
"Job seekers are getting less feedback in the current market, so the more you can put into the job description about requirements and timelines, the better. If possible, define the application window and specify when you plan on conducting interviews."
More left-field candidates ahead
Meanwhile, job search fatigue isn't the only outcome of the current hiring landscape, which Martin said has been "relatively weak for an extended period."
"As a result, job seekers are stuck in longer searches with less feedback - and are applying to a broader set of jobs than they might otherwise," he said.
This means hiring managers should expect applicants with more variety, including overqualified or left-field candidates.
"Putting in more work on the front end and getting clear on what an ideal candidate slate looks like will pay off later when the applications flood in," Martin said.
