How to Deal with Rejection in Your Job Search 👨💬🙅
Learn how to turn setbacks into stepping stones with this action plan (including email templates, psychological tools, and interview tips) ✅
Rejection is redirection.
Getting rejected from a job you really wanted can sting. Maybe you didn’t succeed in the interview, or your job application didn’t even make it to the interview process.
But sometimes, it might be a curveball, and you need to shift focus to something else. Some of the most successful people in the world have been rejected at some point in their careers. And they wouldn’t be where they are today without overcoming it.
In this edition of Employable, we will outline the next steps you should take to deal with post-interview rejection and emerge stronger.
Reframe Rejection to be More Resilient 💪✨
Sometimes, you have to call it like it is.
Acknowledging your feelings after a rejection is important so you can work through them instead of dwelling on them. Once you accept it and name your emotions (I’m feeling sad, disappointed, angry, hopeless), it makes it easier to move past it.
The next step is to find a coping strategy that works for you to transform negative feelings into something more positive. You’ll only be able to reframe the narrative when you return to a more positive state of mind.
Some effective ways to calm your nervous system and process your emotions are:
Mindfulness breathing exercises: Hit the pause button on life's chaos. It's your secret weapon against feeling down. By tuning into your breath, you're basically telling negativity to take a back seat and making room for a fresh, hopeful vibe.
Quick affirmations: Quick affirmations are the positive soundbites you throw at yourself to kick disappointment and sadness to the curb. Think of it as your personal hype squad, ready to turn your day around!
Take action: If you’re a high-functioning person and sitting still makes you more anxious, keep reading to find out how to respond more proactively.
Politely Ask for Feedback to Grow from the Experience 🌻
When faced with a job rejection, don't let the opportunity for growth slip away. Politely and professionally, seek feedback from your interviewer to turn the setback into a learning experience. Craft an email expressing gratitude for the opportunity and your genuine interest in self-improvement.
Politely inquire if they could share insights or feedback on areas where you can enhance your skills or interview performance. Keep the tone appreciative and open-minded, showing your commitment to continuous improvement. Remember, feedback is not just about refining your job search strategy; it's a key ingredient for personal and professional development.
Here’s an email template you can use to do so:
“Dear [Hiring Manager Name],
Thank you for getting back to me about your hiring decision. While I’m disappointed to hear that I was not selected for the [Job Title] position, I greatly appreciate the opportunity to interview for the job and meet some of your team members. I thoroughly enjoyed learning more about your organization and would love to be considered for any future job openings that may become available.
If you have a moment to spare, I would like your feedback regarding my application and interview. I’m sure any details you can provide would be helpful to my job search.
Thanks again for your time and consideration, [Hiring Manager Name]. I hope our paths cross again, and I wish you and the rest of the team at [Company] all the best moving forward.
Sincerely,
[Full Name]
Improve Your Interview Skills to Become a Stronger Candidate 🙋🏽♀️💼
There could be multiple reasons you didn’t make the cut that have nothing to do with your skills or experience. For example, a company could be looking for the right cultural fit or a candidate willing to stay at a company longer, and your goals don’t align with the company. Sometimes, it’s just a highly competitive position, and despite your qualifications, you cannot communicate your value to the interviewer.
Here are five things you should never forget to mention in an interview.
Answer behavioral interview questions using the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, and Result) method. Give structured and concise answers to showcase your experiences and problem-solving abilities.
If a company values teamwork, discuss a successful project where collaboration is crucial, emphasizing your team-oriented approach.
Instead of saying "improved sales," say "boosted sales by 20% in six months through targeted marketing strategies."
Describe a situation where a project faced a setback, and highlight how you analyzed the issue, proposed solutions, and successfully resolved it.
Mention a recent course or certification you completed and explain how it enhanced your skills, showing your commitment to staying updated in your field.
Need more practice? Try this interviewing tool that helps you prep your answers beforehand.
Refine Your Job Application and Search Strategy to Persevere 🔍
Don’t give up.
Every experience is a learning opportunity; this is the perfect time to get back on the horse and look for jobs that align with your career goals. Make your job search a full-time job and treat it like one. Show up for yourself and stick to a schedule to stay consistent.
Here are five essential tips to improve your job search in 2024:
Identify your needs: Shortlist the companies you want to work for along with the job title/role/function you want to pursue.
Update your assets: Keep updating your resume, and make it ATS-friendly with a resume-builder. Write a cover letter and keep personalizing it for each job.
Create a job search strategy: Networking with prospective companies, referrals, internal recruiters, external recruiters, or cold emailing are examples of building your strategy. Which route will work best for you?
Hold yourself accountable: Get organized by working on your job application tracker and keep applying for jobs.
Explore online job boards: Expand your search by looking for the right opportunities on more job platforms like Qureos.
Other related articles:
2024 is your year! A rejection might be the push you need to gravitate toward your real purpose. How have you dealt with professional rejection before? Share your tips below!
A great, helpful read with lots of well-researched advice that'll be useful for people going through this scenario. I like that all the encouragement and motivational elements were complemented by practical tips on how to pick yourself up and keep moving.
Really appreciate the emphasis on the importance of self-reflection post-rejection. Indeed, while it's easy to externalize blame or feel disheartened, taking the time to introspectively analyze our actions, expectations, and goals is the way to go.