After spending a lot of time and effort on your application and attending interviews it can be extremely disheartening if you don’t get the job.
However, before you reach for the tub of ice cream and start wallowing in self-pity, there are a few ways that you can turn your rejection around and learn from the experience. Forget about being rejected, these tips will help you to succeed next time.
Don’t vent online
While you may be annoyed and feel like the company has wasted your time, avoid posting your woes across social media. You never know who will see your posts and no one likes a drama queen. If you need to vent, call a friend.
Talk to those closest to you
We all handle rejection differently, but sharing will help you get things off your chest. Your friends and family will help you to see different perspectives and cope with your frustrations. A problem shared is a problem halved, and you never know someone may know of another opportunity that is perfect for you.
Take some ‘me’ time
After suffering rejection, we’re quick to get down on ourselves and to feel like we’ve failed. However, there are plenty more fish in the sea and you’re sure to find other opportunities that will be a good fit for you.
Instead of feeling down about your rejection, take some time to do something you enjoy. You may want to hang out with your friends or treat yourself to some pampering at home. Just relax and forget about it and you’ll feel better in no time.
Reflect
If you are rejected from a job, there’s sure to be something you can learn from going through the recruitment process. Take a step back and review the whole experience.
- Did the job really tick all of your boxes?
- Were you qualified for the role or overreaching?
- What did you like about the role/company?
- Was there anything you didn’t like?
- Did anything go wrong or were you unprepared in any way?
- Did you show the interviewer that you wanted the job?
- Did you receive any feedback?
Respond to the employer/recruiter
Once you’ve taken a couple of days to reflect, you should write a short email expressing your thanks to the employer/recruiter. You should thank them for their time and for giving you the opportunity to interview for the position. If you want to keep the door open, ask them to consider you for future vacancies and if you haven’t received any, some feedback.
Don’t put them on the spot by asking why you didn’t get the job but focus on how you can improve your chances of being hired next time. They’ll be impressed by your professionalism, maturity and how open you are to feedback.
Get back on the horse
So, things didn’t work out this time, that doesn’t mean you should give up. Now you need to focus on your next goal and plan to achieve it. Make improvements where necessary and put your feedback into practice.
Remember it’s not personal
You’re not the first person to be rejected from a job and you certainly won’t be the last. Rejection is simply a part of life that we all have to face, but resilience and positivity are key. Look at JK Rowling, her first Harry Potter book was rejected by 12 publishers before she got her big break.
Bear in mind that there were probably hundreds of applications for the role and the majority of those were rejected too.
Bringing it all together
Overcoming rejection isn’t easy, but it’s a challenge that we all face. If you can learn from your experiences and move forward positively, another opportunity will come along.