Today’s job seekers find themselves stuck in an endless loop of scrolling through job posting sites for hours and saving the ones that interest them. largely Yes, they keep exploring long after their motivation has waned.
Often, what starts out as a focused effort to find a better role, or to get out of a tough job market, quickly becomes repetitive and unfocused, with candidates applying for jobs that don’t quite align with their goals, but that they still feel are worth a shot in the moment.
The experience has a name: “destructive work.” This reflects expanding workplace behaviors shaped by job market uncertainty and the pressure to constantly be on the move.
What is Doomjob?
Doomjobs are a recent workplace phenomenon that reflects the compulsive temptation of doomscrolling. The article describes how job seekers cycle through lists that don’t exactly match what they’re looking for, but apply anyway out of urgency or uncertainty.
Sometimes it feels effective, but often it becomes a cycle of application without a clear direction.
“It’s like you’re just looking at things without thinking, and you’re not necessarily doing anything productive,” says organizational psychologist Dr. Jamie Shapiro.
As you scroll through endless job listings, something triggers in your brain. “Every time you scroll, you get a hit of dopamine,” she says.
This often happens when people are “burned out or in an organization where they don’t feel appreciated,” she added. This leaves job seekers daydreaming about other options. This behavior, along with a short-term release of dopamine, can create an illusion of control.
One of the downsides to crushing jobs is that they can keep job seekers busy without truly getting them closer to the role they actually want. Over time, that cycle can take a toll on your self-confidence, networking efforts, and long-term career direction.
For many workers, especially recent graduates, the constant stream of low-ball applications and rejections can be emotionally draining.
Mindy Cox, chief human resources and marketing officer at OC Tanner, said the process often results in a “real sense of frustration” for job seekers who apply extensively but see little success.
“If you apply for 500 jobs, even if you receive one acceptance letter, there could be 499 rejections. That can’t help but affect us,” she says. “I feel frustrated because my efforts are not proportional to the results.”
This rapid application approach can also steer people away from more intentional networking and relationship building. “It’s easier to sign up for a pre-populated application with one set of credentials than it is to reach out and build connections directly,” Cox says.
Over time, the pattern can also make it difficult for employees to maintain long-term direction.
“Life is expensive these days, and of course sometimes you need something in between,” Cox said. “But if you want long-term success, you have to get into a role where you feel that purpose.”
How the job of destiny became established in the job market
Doomjobs began to gain traction as AI, “easy-to-apply” job sites, and a tough job market changed the way people searched for jobs.
Increased layoffs across major industries and new graduates struggling to stay in the workforce are adding to the pressure, creating a sense of urgency in job searches.
But Dr. Shapiro says there are several additional factors that exacerbate this trend. The first is the way AI is discussed in the workplace and in the media. Often, as she puts it, it is discussed through a fear-based lens.
That constant sense of threat puts people into “survival mode,” making them more susceptible to burnout and leaving people with “fear of work,” she added.
In situations like this, job seekers and dissatisfied employees often turn to short-term relief, something that gives them a sense of progress or potential even if it isn’t long-term.
This trend is also accelerating due to changes in the recruitment system itself. Easy application features and algorithm-driven job sites allow you to submit applications faster than ever before, often with little friction or consideration.
“We have a lot of technology that allows us to recognize apertures,” Cox says. “LinkedIn sends me jobs that match my profile every day, multiple times a day. Jobs come directly to my email, so they’re available even when I’m not looking.”
For job seekers, constant visibility can create fear of missing out. Doing destructive work can give you a fleeting sense of control. So even if the extensive job search feels daunting, it’s a reminder that options still exist.
Why it’s important to apply with a purpose
“Destructive work is a coping mechanism,” Cox says. “The strategy is to apply with a purpose.”
Rather than responding to every job opening, job seekers should focus their time on opportunities that better fit what they’re looking for, making each application more intentional and informed.
Peter Duris, CEO and co-founder of Kickresume, says this approach also increases a candidate’s chances of being noticed. Job seekers “are much more likely to be invited for an interview if they carefully consider whether they are a good fit for the job and tailor their applications to make that clear,” he says.
In a competitive hiring environment, a shift from mass to focus can help candidates stand out not just by how many roles they apply to, but also by how clearly they match the role they pursue.
How to end the cycle of misery
The first step to ending destructive cycles is self-awareness, says Dr. Shapiro. If job seekers find themselves in a disastrous job, she suggests pausing and resetting their search.
She likens it to using social media, where time passes before you know it. “You can be on social media for 15 minutes and suddenly it feels like 60 seconds,” she says. “It can also happen in disastrous jobs.”
From there, structure becomes important. Setting clear goals and deadlines will help you stay intentional with your job search, rather than doing it reactively or endlessly.
“It’s often quality over quantity,” Duris says. “Remember, by being a little more selective about the jobs you apply for, you actually increase your chances of getting an interview.”
That selectivity extends to how you build your applications. “Tailoring your resume for every role may seem like a daunting task, but in most cases, your existing resume is already pretty much it,” he says. “Read each job description carefully, make sure the relevant skills are clearly listed, and make sure you have the right keywords in the right places.”
He added that long-term progress is not just about applications. “To develop a truly intentional approach to career advancement, it’s important to focus on skill development,” Duris says.
Overall, the goal is to move away from destructive work and toward a more intentional approach. Getting a job isn’t about completing most applications, it’s about applying with direction.
