Raglan-based career practitioner Natalie Sims has spent years helping people navigate career changes, redundancy and unemployment.
Through her business, Career Tree, and her work with Direct Career Services, she supports New Zealanders to explore career options, develop job search strategies and prepare for employment opportunities.
So when a new term landed in her inbox recently, it immediately struck a chord.
The phrase was “doom jobbing”, a spin on the now-familiar term doom scrolling.
“It referred to that relentless scrolling through job listings and looking for any job and then applying that scattergun effect to it. ‘I’ll have a go at that, have a go at that, have a go at that’,” Natalie says.
The term originated from a story about a job seeker whose child noticed him scrolling through vacancy listings.
“He said, ‘No, I’m looking for a job,’ and she went, ‘Oh, you’re doom jobbing’.”
While the phrase may be light-hearted, Natalie says the reality behind it is anything but.
“Job searching is incredibly stressful at any point in your life,” she says.
Natalie says constant headlines about economic uncertainty and job losses can make the process feel even more daunting.
“It’s tough. It is tough.”
Through her work, Natalie sees first-hand the challenges many job seekers face. As part of Direct Career Services, she is one of 35 career practitioners supporting New Zealanders experiencing unemployment or job displacement.
The service was established in 2020 following widespread job losses during the Covid-19 pandemic. Natalie says many people have spent years, sometimes decades, in steady employment before unexpectedly finding themselves back in the job market.
Moving beyond doom jobbing
For Natalie, the answer to doom jobbing isn’t applying for more jobs. It’s applying for the right jobs.
Natalie says one of the most effective ways to improve your chances of finding work is to be proactive.
Rather than spending hours scrolling through job boards, she encourages people to research businesses, approach employers directly and explore opportunities that may never be publicly advertised.
“Certainly not 100 percent of jobs are on Seek,” she says.
“Some businesses do not use Seek and Trade Me to find staff.”
Many employers recruit through their own networks, websites and community connections rather than relying solely on major recruitment platforms.
Getting qualifications while unemployed
Natalie also says job seekers shouldn’t underestimate the value of free training opportunities.
Many people assume further education is out of reach while they are out of work, but she says there are numerous free resources available online.
She recommends platforms such as Digital Passport, which offers free digital skills training for New Zealanders, and edX, which provides access to online courses from universities and institutions around the world.
“What skills do you want to improve on? What skills do you want to invest in?” Natalie says. “There are still opportunities available to us.”
She also believes job searching is most effective when it is approached with structure and routine.
“Job searching is not a couch activity.”
“You have to dedicate time to this on a daily basis. It is a job, and the only way that you are going to survive this realistically is by treating it like a job.”
More than just finding a job
Through her work with Direct Career Services, Natalie sees first-hand the challenges many job seekers face.
For some, the challenge is financial. For others, it is the sudden loss of routine, confidence and purpose that comes with being disconnected from the workplace.
“When we’re not working, it’s a unique time in people’s lives,” she says.
“For many people who have been in constant employment to suddenly find themselves without a purpose, it’s incredibly pressured.”
Natalie says the impacts often extend well beyond finding another job.
“It’s not even just about employment. We could talk for days and days about the influence that has on your family, your economic wellbeing, your social wellbeing, your family wellbeing.”
Experience still matters
She is also seeing concern among older workers who worry that age may count against them despite decades of experience. Some are entering the job market for the first time in years and questioning whether employers still see value in their skills.
“I’d like to see our workforce as a reflection of our community,” Natalie says. “I don’t believe that employers just want people of one type.”
One of the biggest traps she sees is people applying for every vacancy they come across without a clear plan.
“I constantly hear, ‘I will do any job’. Well, for me, that’s an exhausting term. Firstly, there is no such job. There’s no position called ‘any job’.”
Instead, Natalie encourages job seekers to focus on the skills, experience and personal qualities they can offer employers, and to think carefully about the type of work that genuinely suits them.
Just as importantly, she says people need to look after themselves during the process.
“Give yourself a break. Give yourself a reward.”
“We are so fortunate to live in Raglan. Get up and go for a beautiful walk and enjoy the time that you would not have if you were in employment.”
Staying connected to others can also make a significant difference.
Volunteering, attending community events or simply maintaining social connections can help people maintain confidence, routine and a sense of purpose while searching for work.
Rather than focusing solely on job titles, she encourages people to think about the skills they enjoy using and the values that matter most to them.
“Value is really important,” she says. “It’ll tie you into your job and you’ll enjoy it so much more.”
Natalie regularly shares career advice and resources through Career Tree. You can also book in with her at this link or at a Work and Income branch through the Direct Career Services program.
Further links:
https://tahatu.govt.nz/ Tahatū Career Navigator is a trusted source of careers information across New Zealand
https://tehekemai.co.nz/ Te Heke Mai brings this mission to life through digital coaching, personalised support, and step-by-step guidance
Direct Career Service call 080 222 733 (available Monday to Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm) to book a free, personalized career advice session by phone or online.