DEAR JOYCE:

Ugh! I find it increasingly hard to psych myself up and go storming into the job market each day.

How do other people deal with job hunt burnout? -- D.J.

When Albert Schweitzer was studying medicine, supposedly he slept little and sometimes forgot to eat, but when the strain became intolerable, he would slip into a church and play Bach on the organ until weariness vanished.

Virtually every hard-charger on a mission risks sliding into zombie mode sooner or later. Those who snap back quickly pay attention to balance in their daily lives, a balance that relies on pushing such reboot buttons as proper rest, good nutrition, adequate exercise, alone time, spiritual hours, love, laughter, hobbies, and quality time with friends and family.

A sense of purpose in life helps, too, experts say. Making a living is necessary, but making a difference is important.

Ongoing lack of control over outcomes sets you up for burnout.

While you can't control how many interviews you'll get each week, you can control how much effort you put forth.

Specific job search actions you can control include making a plan and working your plan.

Each week, spend 30 minutes to an hour writing down exactly what you will do for the next six days.

Suppose you block off four hours daily to make phone calls, hunting interviews. Bribe yourself to stay focused: Each time you meet your goal, claim a small reward -- watching a favorite television show, playing a video game or visiting a museum.

All work not only makes Jack and Jill dull people but also weakens their job search effectiveness.

DEAR JOYCE:

I would like to file a sexual harassment complaint with the EEOC (Equal Employment Opportunity Commission). How would I go about that? -- D.Y.

In what could be fodder for a TV spoof, an arbitrator recently found that the EEOC -- remember, it's the federal agency that's supposed to enforce justice in the workplace -- has violated its own workers' rights! How's that again?

The arbitrator ruled that the commission broke the law when it forced employees to work overtime but refused to grant overtime pay, instead insisting that staffers take compensatory time off. The law that EEOC management disregarded is the often-amended 1938 Fair Labor Standards Act, intended to protect workers' rights with regard to wages and overtime.

Beyond that, the EEOC isn't flying high now and hadn't been during the Bush years.

Some charges of discrimination based on race, religion, sex, age or disability are unresolved, stuck in a database for months, because there aren't enough EEOC staffers to work the cases. What's more, EEOC critics fear lengthy delays will leave complainants vulnerable to retaliation at their jobs.

(Click Here: " Search online for EEOC Struggles With Huge Workload, Diminished Staff.")

If you still want to file a charge with the EEOC, look for filing details on the agency's Web site, eeoc.gov.

DEAR JOYCE:

So many people need job-finding assistance today.

I hope you'll suggest to your readers that they investigate the free job search resources at libraries across the land. -- C.S.

Gladly. Free is good.

Depending on the library, human resources range from helpful reference librarians to experienced career coaches and information specialists.

Beyond books and DVDs, resources may include volunteer professionals to review resumes, a job club, a Web site with lots of online resources, and computers to use with instructors who show you how. Don't forget to check out my three "For Dummies" books on resumes, cover letters and job interviews.

DEAR JOYCE:

You commented that older hiring managers are more likely to treat a person from their age group with due respect and hire that person. That's news to me.

I moved to Albany, N.Y., eight years ago at age 50. I have had nothing but trouble with people in my generation. Two examples, among many, illustrate:

-- When I started a job, a person told everyone at the work site that I had a bad heart.

-- When I enrolled in a class at the local college, the instructor, who was older than me, made fun of my age in every class.

By contrast, I've had no trouble with Generation X. -- T.C.

Thanks for sharing. Either you're the exception that proves the rule, or I was wrong.

E-mail career questions for possible use in this column to Joyce Lain Kennedy at jlk@sunfeatures.com; use "Reader Question" for subject line. Or mail her at Box 368, Cardiff, CA 92007.

(C) 2009 Tribune Media Services, Inc.

Technology Jobs & Careers

In one simple search, job seekers get free access to millions of technology employment opportunities from thousands of websites. Find your next job in Technology today.

Marketing Jobs & Careers

A search engine for marketing jobs with a different approach to job and career searches. In one simple search, job seekers get free access to millions of marketing employment opportunities from thousands of websites. Find your next job in Marketing today.

Management Jobs & Careers

A search engine for marketing jobs with a different approach to job and career searches. In one simple search, job seekers get free access to millions of Management employment opportunities from thousands of websites. Find your next job in Management today.

Accounting Jobs & Careers

A search engine for marketing jobs with a different approach to job and career searches. In one simple search, job seekers get free access to millions of Accounting employment opportunities from thousands of websites. Find your next job in Accounting today.

Internet Jobs, Job Postings & Careers

Find your next Internet job. Search Internet jobs from thousands of job and career search sites. A search engine for jobs with a different approach to job and career searches. In one simple search, job seekers get free access to millions of employment opportunities from thousands of websites. Find your next Internet job today.

Sales Jobs, Job Postings & Careers

Find your next job in Sales. Search Sales jobs from thousands of job and career search sites. A search engine for jobs with a different approach to job and career searches. In one simple search, job seekers get free access to millions of employment opportunities from thousands of websites. Find your next job in Sales today.

Legal Jobs, Job Postings & Careers

Find your next job in Legal. Search Legal jobs from thousands of job and career search sites. A search engine for jobs with a different approach to job and career searches. In one simple search, job seekers get free access to millions of employment opportunities from thousands of websites. Find your next job in Legal today.