Dealing with negative job search experiences: The beneficial role of self-compassion for job seekers' affective responses

Abstract

Searching for a job is associated with various obstacles and difficulties, which may elicit emotional responses among job seekers. In a cross-sectional (Study 1; N = 99) and a 5-wave diary study (Study 2; N = 227), we examined whether self-compassion helps job seekers to better cope emotionally with the difficulties they encounter (Study 1) and the lack of progress they experience (Study 2) during job search. Results of Study 1 indicated that self-compassion related positively to positive affect and negatively to negative affect. Furthermore, the negative relationship between difficulties during job search and different types of positive affect (i.e., activating and deactivating) was less negative for job seekers with more self-compassion. Results of Study 2 showed that job seekers high on self-compassion reported less negative affect and more positive affect during job search episodes in which progress was lacking than job seekers low on self-compassion. Furthermore, self-compassion was found to function as an adaptive mindset that attenuates the positive relationship of perceived lack of job search progress with different types (i.e., activating and deactivating) of negative affect. The combined Study 1 and 2 findings suggest that self-compassion can be beneficial for job seekers' well-being in difficult times during the job search process.