Source: Claire Clausing | Dupe
We’ve all opened up social media to pass the time, fallen down a rabbit hole, and looked up three hours later to discover that our entire evening has evaporated into our feed. Doomscrolling has become a near-universal reflex for all of us. It’s mind-numbing and unproductive (we know this!), yet we still do it across numerous platforms. We can doomscroll everything, including job listings, which has led to a new phenomenon called “doomjobbing.”
Obviously, “doom” is one word no one wants to associate with any part of their career. Not to mention, this term makes job searching sound more bleak than it already is in today’s job market. So, I tapped three career experts to get to the bottom of what “doomjobbing” means. Ahead, everything to know about doomjobbing, including what it is, why it’s so widespread, and its potential impacts. Plus, for those of you already stuck in it, we’re sharing tips on how to break the habit and what to do instead.
In this article 1 What is doomjobbing? 2 Why is doomjobbing so widespread? 3 What are the impacts of doomjobbing? 4 How to stop doomjobbing—and what to do instead 5 The bottom line 6 Experts Consulted
What is doomjobbing?
Shari Leid, a TEDx speaker and the founder of the Flip the Box® Method for leadership, defines doomjobbing as “the cycle of endlessly scrolling job listings and rapidly applying to positions without real intention, alignment, or strategy.” The primary driver of this habit, according to Leid, is anxiety. “At its core, doomjobbing is often an emotional coping mechanism disguised as productivity,” she explained.
Senior Economist on Glassdoor’s Economic Research Team, Chris Martin, says that some people engage in this phenomenon by spamming applications and applying to every role that vaguely fits their skill set; meanwhile, others might stop applying altogether and turn their job search into one hopeless, never-ending scroll. Similarly, LinkedIn Career Expert Catherine Fisher says doomjobbing can also look like compulsively checking job boards throughout the day, applying to dozens of roles at once, using the same resume for every application, or rushing through the outreach process during their job search.
Why is doomjobbing so widespread?
Career paths have become nonlinear
It’s no secret that the workforce is rapidly changing, and this shake-up is contributing to the rise of doomjobbing. “We’re seeing people apply to a much wider mix of jobs because career paths don’t feel as straightforward as they used to,” Fisher explained. “This behavior is becoming more common as the job search process becomes faster and more high-volume.”
Case in point: 4 in 10 professionals are considering switching job functions or industries for more opportunities, and over half (51.3 percent) of job seekers have shifted their focus toward freelancing, contract, or advisory work. “For a lot of job seekers, it’s less about finding the ‘perfect’ next step and more about staying flexible in a job market that keeps changing,” Fisher said. Right now, workers are essentially throwing everything at the wall and seeing what sticks; they’re applying to every role that vaguely matches their qualifications because the job market has become volatile and unpredictable.
READ: Meet New-Collar Jobs: The High-Paying Remote Roles You Can Pivot to Without Starting Over
Opportunities feel scarce
With remote work and entry-level roles disappearing and more candidates competing for the same positions, opportunities for employment feel scarcer than ever. And this scarcity has subsequently created a feeling of desperation among job seekers. “When candidates see hundreds of applicants on a single posting, it creates this sense that you have to cast a wider net just to stay in the game,” Fisher explained. “People end up applying to anything that seems even remotely relevant because it feels like the only way to keep momentum.”
To pour salt in the wound, economic uncertainty and career instability have compounded this feeling. According to Leid, layoffs, restructuring, AI disruption, and evolving workplace expectations have created fear for lots of professionals. “When people feel uncertain financially, urgency often replaces intentional decision-making,” Leid explained. Instead of looking for work aligned with their goals and values, Leid says job seekers are looking for roles they can get as quickly as possible.
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Scrolling feels safer for anxious candidates
Strategically applying for an open role requires a lot of effort and energy. Of course, that effort is worth it if it pays off in the end; however, Martin says “that effort feels wasted when you put your best forward and get no response or an automated rejection.” As a result, idly scrolling through job listings feels safer than putting yourself out there in a competitive market. “Looking through listings is low-effort and low-risk compared to putting effort into applications that seem to go nowhere,” Martin explained. “Add in the pressure to apply quickly before a posting closes, and you’ve got a recipe for compulsive checking and anxious scrolling of job boards.
Additionally, Leid says being able to access job listings from anywhere in the world at any time has created “compulsive behavior patterns similar to social media scrolling.” This is because it’s constant and limitless, just like our feeds.
READ: The Viral Mindset Shift That Made My Job Search Less Stressful
What are the impacts of doomjobbing?
Mindlessly scrolling through job listings and applying for jobs without much thought might not seem like a big deal, but it can be detrimental to your professional success. Here’s how:
It makes job searching less effective
Martin explained that career platforms like LinkedIn, Indeed, and Glassdoor are recommendation engines, meaning they show you your best matches first. “The odds are against finding the perfect job at the end of a three-hour scroll session.” Plus, Fisher says not tailoring application materials diminishes your chances of standing out to recruiters.
It can delay long-term career growth and confidence
Because doomjobbing is essentially rooted in fear, Leid says it can lead to accepting a role unaligned with your strengths, skills, values, and future goals. When this happens, Leid says you start shrinking yourself to fit into your workplace environment rather than growing inside of it. “Over time, that disconnect can impact confidence, motivation, and even mental health,” says Leid.
It can lead to emotional exhaustion and burnout
Fisher says, “Constantly scrolling job boards and sending out dozens of applications without a clear strategy can leave candidates feeling overwhelmed, discouraged, and emotionally exhausted,” Fisher said. While rejection is a normal part of the hiring process, experiencing it time and again leads to feeling discouraged and stuck; it makes the job search feel hopeless, and you lose motivation to keep going until you find the right role. So, ultimately, Fisher says doomjobbing doesn’t just waste time—it also increases stress, erodes confidence, and leaves candidates more susceptible to burnout.
How to stop doomjobbing—and what to do instead
Create a job search schedule
Instead of idly scrolling through job listings whenever you have downtime, Leid suggests creating a structured job search schedule. This means setting aside a dedicated amount of time to look at open positions, engage in networking, conduct research, and tailor applications. This may look like setting aside time in the morning and afternoon to job search, or dedicating each day of the week to a different part of the job search process; for example, Mondays can be for research, Tuesdays can be for updating application materials, Wednesdays can be for applying, and so forth.
Regardless of how you set this up, Leid says creating boundaries with job searching will reduce emotional burnout. Plus, Martin says 28 percent of job seekers reported that building a routine helped with burnout during a prolonged job search.
Be selective with the roles you apply for
The reality is that five thought-out and carefully constructed applications are more effective than fifty rushed ones in a competitive market. “The most successful job searches tend to come from being intentional, focused, and strategic, not just constantly applying,” Fisher said. So, be selective during your job search and seek out roles aligned with your strengths, values, and goals. “Get clear on what you actually want—the type of role, the kind of company, the culture, salary range—and narrow your search accordingly,” Martin said. For the latter, he recommends utilizing tools on job board platforms that filter your search for you; this will save you a lot of time and energy.
Stop relying on job boards alone
They say it’s not what you know but who you know, and this adage holds in today’s market. While cold applying can still get you hired, Fisher says, “Networking is still one of the most effective ways to stand out in a crowded market.” In fact, she said that 38 percent of managers give candidates extra consideration when they have a referral. So, nourish your professional connections through networking. This can organically open more doors and reduce the pressure you feel to apply to every listing you come across.
Take a break
Job searching is exhausting in and of itself—never mind when it escalates to doomjobbing. Similar to a social media detox, give yourself a day, a week, or even a month (if you’re able) to take a break and stop viewing job listings altogether. This will not only give you a reset but will also prevent burnout and chronic stress. More importantly, it will help you break out of the habit of doomjobbing and subsequently allow you to re-enter the job search with a fresh approach. This, in turn, can make your search more effective.
The bottom line
It’s easy to fall victim to doomjobbing if you’re looking for work, but the reality is there’s no need to hit the panic button and apply to every role you come across. The plain, simple truth is that opportunities exist—you just have to find them by being strategic and intentional with your job search.
Chances are you will not get hired for every role you apply to, and that’s OK; rejection isn’t always a reflection of your value or talent but rather an indicator of misalignment, meaning you weren’t the right candidate for the role and the universe is preparing you for something better. When it comes down to it, Leid says getting hired as fast as possible is not the goal. Rather, the goal is to build a career and life that supports who you’re becoming.