Doomscrolling is a hallmark of the Gen Z lifestyle: incessantly and aimlessly scrolling through social media, often because you’re feeling bad, and often with the result of making you feel even worse. But the latest digital trend might be an even better fit for this generation. It’s called doomjobbing, and if you’re a young person on the job market these days, it’s likely you’ve participated in it.
Popularized by an April 2026 article in Forbes, the term doomjobbing refers to the career-specific form of doomscrolling, in which job seekers mindlessly scroll through endless job listings. (Though the term may have actually been coined by an 8-year-old; on March 25, a Threads used named Ilya Bagrak wrote, “My 8 yo daughter saw me spending a lot of time in the LinkedIn app, and she called it ‘doomjobbing.'”)
As silly as it may sound, doomjobbing is actually an unfortunate reality for a lot of job seekers, especially Gen Zers who are trying to land their first job amid an unsteady and competitive market. According to a spring 2026 survey by Her Campus, 51% of recent graduates applied to more than 25 jobs during their job search, with 29% reporting they were still currently seeking full-time or part-time employment.
So, what’s the difference between actively pursuing a job and participating in doomjobbing? And if you are doomjobbing, what can you do about it? Here’s what Gen Zers should know.
How Can You Tell You’re Doomjobbing?
Let me paint a picture: You’re scrolling through job listings on platforms such as Indeed and LinkedIn, saving them, and then telling yourself you will apply later, but you never really do — either because you don’t actually want the role, or you’re afraid of getting ghosted or rejected. Or maybe you find yourself just skimming through applications without doing proper research, applying for an unrealistic amount of jobs, or bailing on an application the second it asks you for a cover letter.
Any of this sound familiar? You might be doomjobbing.
How To Stop Doomjobbing
One of the ways to beat the doomjobbing is to choose quality over quantity. While it may sound difficult because you might be feeling desperate to secure a position in the fastest way possible, slowing down and being intentional is key.
“While it may be tempting to hit ‘Easy Apply’ on everything that catches your eye on websites like LinkedIn, it’s not the best way to go about job hunting,” Peter Duris, CEO and co-founder of Kickresume, told MarketWatch in a May 2026 interview. “Take your time applying to relevant roles and check multiple job boards.”
It’s also imperative you listen to your gut and pursue paths that actually speak to you. “Get clear on what you actually want — the type of role, the kind of company, the culture, salary range — and narrow your search accordingly,” senior economist on Glassdoor’s Economic Research Team, Chris Martin, told The Everygirl in a June 2026 interview.
Most importantly, while you’re building your motivation for the job hunt, it’s important to remember that you’re worth more than a career, job title, or employment status. Take the pressure off — a job is an important part of your life, but it’s not your whole life.