Didn't get the job? 9 Ways to deal with Rejection
You spent the last few weeks going back and forth through a series of interviews for a job opening. The best way to deal with rejection is to consider why you were rejected, and then move on.
Reality check
The process of finding the perfect job for you is a lot like dating: As the saying goes, you have to kiss a lot of frogs before you find your prince or princess. To succeed in your long-term goal of finding that dream opportunity and getting hired, you need to learn to cope with being turned down.
Being rejected after a job interview can severely dent your confidence. Rejection, while not pleasant, can often be blown out of proportion and viewed as a sign of failure. However, by thinking objectively, candidates can use it to build on their core strengths, address development points and ultimately find a job that suits them best.
Growth thinking
At the very least you should feel as though you have learned something through the interview process. We all learn from our experiences, and interviewing is no different.
You may find your mind unable to rest until you establish a logical explanation for the rejection. Thorough feedback may not be provided for various reasons.
Let’s break it down into 3 phases and 9 simple steps that will help you get over the fact you got rejected from a job and move on to the next great opportunity.
I do not say this lightly; seriously, step away from your phone, tablet and PC. Take some time to unplug and process the experience, and don’t splatter your woes all over social media or, worse, stalk and DM the recruiter begging for answers. With social media being as popular as it is, you never know who will see that post bashing the company for wasting your time or how it’s the end of the world because you didn’t get a job! No one likes a drama queen! If you need to vent, keep it off the web and just call a friend!
Let´s talk about how to Move on After a Job Rejection
Moving on after not getting a job offer can be broken down into three phases:
STOP - Getting over the rejection
START - Analyzing your candidacy
KEEP - Moving forward with your job search
STOP
1. Reach out to Your People and Shake it off
The first step in getting over rejection by a potential employer entails sharing the frustration, disappointment, and anger that accompanies any loss. Talk to a friend or family member and share your feelings in a confidential setting. Venting can be a very useful tool for letting go of the negative and moving on. Just be sure that you pick your supporters well. The ideal person to share with is someone who won’t become a future boss or coworker. Even though your feelings are understandable, you don’t want them to make a bad impression on someone who might later evaluate your candidacy for another job. Family members are a good choice, as well as old friends who’ve been with you through good times and bad. Everyone deals with rejection differently, but one thing remains constant: our need to share with those closest to us. So, reach out to your support system; connect and talk with them. Not only will this help you cope with the frustration of not getting that job, but it can also lead to you gaining a new perspective on the subject. And who knows? Perhaps someone knows about another dream vacancy! Plus: You never know whether you might want to apply to the organization again in the future. Sometimes it's hard to know exactly why a candidate was rejected, and it could be that you were over-qualified. If that's the case, the employer may come back at a later date
2. Relative: Keep it in perspective
Being rejected doesn't mean that your professional qualifications and personal attributes are anything less than spectacular. Employers weigh many considerations when recruiting staff - many of these factors are beyond your control. Keep it in perspective; their decision doesn't necessarily reflect on you.
3. Respond to the Recruiter
Once you’ve taken your time to process and accept the fact that this job opportunity is now gone, reach back out to the recruiter within a few days of the rejection.
In a short email, thank them for their time and effort and for giving you the opportunity to interview with them. Keep the door open if you would like to be considered for future vacancies, and if you think it’s worth it, ask for some feedback, especially if you had progressed in length through the interviewing process.
Do not put them on the spot as to why you weren’t selected, though. Instead, ask what you can improve on to have a better chance of being hired the next time a vacancy comes along. Be mature, professional and open to constructive feedback.
START
4. Reflect on the Process
But analyzing rejection is easier said than done and while every opportunity and process is different from the next, take a step back and review the whole experience.
Was this really your dream job or an opportunity that looked good on paper? Were you indeed qualified for the position or were you reaching for the stars? Why did you want it so bad? Can you pick out things you might have done wrong or were unprepared for? Do a self-evaluation on what went well, what didn't and why? This will help you to be well prepared for the next application process.
5. Review your CV
Look over your CV and see how you can improve it. Whatever the reason for rejection from one company there is a way it can be improved and transformed as a reason for acceptance at another. Given what you learned about the job requirements and people involved, ask yourself if you could have done something differently in order to present yourself in a better light and one that made you seem like a better fit for the job.
6. Rework Your Interview Skills
Now is the time to change your approach. You’ve reflected on the process and identified your shortcomings and areas for improvement. Perhaps you’ve decided where you want your career to take you next and maybe you even received some constructive feedback about the job rejection. Take all that and put into it practice.
Even if you were not able to solicit information from an employer as to why they didn’t hire you, keep your eye on the prize and continue to practice your interview skills so that you’ll feel positive and confident when the next opportunity arises.
Practice Interviewing: Take the time to prepare for the next job interview by reviewing and answering both job-specific interview questions and behavioral interview questions. With the help of a friend or two, role-play the interview before you go in so that you’ll be well-versed in answering some of the most common interview questions posed by hiring managers. Here is an article that might help you to easier talk about yourself.
KEEP
7. Reframe: Don’t Take it Personally
I won’t bore you with the usual stories about bouncing back from failure and creating something better with every rejection – like Walt Disney being fired for having no imagination, Meryl Streep being rejected for being too ugly for a part in King Kong, JK Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone being rejected by 12 publishers or Marilyn Monroe being told to give up show business and just be a secretary. Don't take it personally. Don't use the job interview as a measure of your professional worth. The decision to not hire you was based on the company's specific criteria and needs which may or may not have anything to do with how you showed up at the interview. That you weren't the perfect match doesn't mean that you're not an outstanding professional with excellent attributes and talents.
8. Re-Focus
Truth be told no one likes to be rejected from a job, or the feelings that come with it.
A wise person once told me that ‘no’ simply stands for ‘next opportunity, and I’ve never looked back after that. Every time I’ve had to deal with job rejection, I found that the comeback is usually stronger than the setback and that it’s a chance to re-evaluate and adjust strategy to achieve a goal. Be highly selective with where you apply. Don't be afraid to turn down opportunities if you feel they are not right.
9. Recharge: Network and find a Mentor
To reach a destination, you really ought to know where you want to go. The same applies to your career. Once you decide where you want to go, find a mentor who has done exactly that, and let them guide and inspire you. There’s no faster way to a destination than someone who knows how to get there, giving you directions and rerouting you when you lose your way or focus. Because they’ve gone through the same rocky road and have had to overcome similar obstacles and rejections, they will help you cope with whatever the route throws your way – and probably save you a job heartache or two along the way!
Overcoming rejection is never easy, and how you decide to deal with it is a very personal matter, reflecting significantly on who you are as a person and your emotional and professional maturity. Learning to cope with the correct attitude and to grow from the experience will always put you ahead in the long run.
I would love to tell you that it gets easier or that it won’t happen again, but it wouldn’t be true. Taking rejection as a motivation to mature and improve is perhaps its greatest blessing. Accept it at face value and learn to get back on your feet and get out looking for the next opportunity that will make you want to jump out of bed every morning to go to work!
If you need support on your journey reach out and we see if my coaching and mentoring can support you.
If you want to support my work, you can buy me a coffee and forward my work to your network.
Pin this graphic if you liked the post.
Get your SHOW UP! LinkedIn checklist
Sign up with your email address to receive news and updates.
