Pee_A_Poo's journey

I recently accepted a salaried PhD position at a university two weeks ago, but I’m really struggling to keep applying for other jobs as a backup. The job market feels so unstable right now, and I’ve been on a relentless job search for the past five months, facing countless rejections. My mental state is really taking a toll; I feel completely drained just thinking about job postings. My official start date isn’t until August, and I haven’t even signed the official offer letter yet, though I do have an unofficial confirmation and have set up my HR profile. I know I should keep applying because anything can happen, and I don’t want to be caught off guard if this offer falls through. But after submitting over 100 applications and going through more than 20 interviews, including five final rounds, I just can’t handle the pressure anymore. It’s frustrating to feel like there’s no job security, even with an accepted offer. I remember how stressful it was when I had a job in 2025, constantly worrying about layoffs. It feels like this job market is creating a cycle of generational trauma, where no one feels safe anymore. I’ve considered taking a break from applying, but I’m torn because I know I need to keep my options open. The advice I’ve seen suggests that networking might be more beneficial than just applying for jobs, but I’m still feeling overwhelmed. I just want to find some peace of mind in this chaotic job landscape.