Dealing with Job Rejection

In this Corona-economy it wouldn’t be a surprise if you’re exploring new job opportunities. This could be a result of uncertainty in your current company or a layoff due to budget cuts. Either way, many companies are just barely scraping by, causing people to keep other options on their radar. The whole job-hunting process can seem a bit daunting, but once you’re in the interview process, there’s no denying the twinge of hope that keeps you going. With each successful round of interviewing, you start to envision your future more and more with whichever company you’re considering. It’s natural!

 

You start getting excited about the possibilities, about having a sense of job security, about what this next step in your career could mean. Even without this unstable economy, you’d be feeling these things as you approach final round interviews. So what happens when you give it your all and you don’t end up getting the job?



1. Be gracious

As much as you might want to give a little attitude to the hiring manager for not moving forward with an offer, hold back! You never know when the company might have another opening down the line. Just because it wasn’t a fit right now for this current role, doesn’t mean it’ll never happen. And at the very least, each interview process is a great networking opportunity! So turn the attitude into gratitude and express it to everyone who took the time to get to know you…it can only serve your future well!

2. Ask for the feedback
Solid feedback isn’t always given, but if you have the chance, ask the recruiter or the hiring manager what you could’ve done better and use the feedback to reflect. Could you have prepared for the presentation more thoroughly? Were you lacking a hard skill that you might want to brush up on? Even if you ask, you might not get the constructive feedback, but it’s always worth a shot!

3. Wallow, then get back to work!
We know, you invested a lot of time and energy into the interview process, so to feel like you’re back at square one, is incredibly frustrating. You should absolutely give yourself time to process your emotions, but don’t let this disappointment consume you. Take a few days to reflect and wallow and then use this setback as motivation. Apply to other jobs to feel more in control and remind yourself of all the opportunity out there! Keep your momentum, girl. Trust me, just because this one opportunity was a fail, it doesn’t mean that you are a fail!

4. Draw the silver linings
What good still came out of the interview process? Maybe it forced you to finally revamp your resume. Maybe it helped you perfect your elevator pitch. Maybe it even helped you realize what it is you actually want in a next job. Whatever the silver linings, write them down somewhere and recognize that this process was not for nothing. One more time for the people in the back – this 👏 process 👏 was 👏 not 👏 for 👏nothing!



5. Refine your search
A job search is a lot like dating. You try your options and get a feel for what a long-term future could look like with said option. In every person you get to know, you home in on the things that you want or don’t in a long-term partner. It’s the same with jobs! There are plenty of…opportunities…in the sea, but courting an opportunity can shed light on what matters to you and what doesn’t so you’ll know when you’ve found your keeper!

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How have you dealt with job rejections? Any helpful tips, tricks, or tales? Let us know by commenting below!