Job rejection can leave you feeling defeated, especially if it happens over and over again. Here are some tips on how to bounce back.
If you've ever been rejected for a job, you likely felt confused and uncertain about what to do next. Job rejection is an unpleasant experience, but it happens to everyone at some point. Oftentimes, rejection can be a sign that you need to make changes in your life or work.
There are many ways to gracefully deal with job rejection - from positive self-talk to writing down your goals and changing your job search strategy. But if you're feeling down and out, remember you can still move forward in your career by doing something else that's interesting or fulfilling. Here are five ways to do just that:
1. Talk to the recruiter or HR, if possible, before leaving
When you get rejected during an interview, don't just leave without inquiring why. Talk to someone in charge of recruiting or hiring decisions as they'll be able to give you more information on what went wrong and what they think will work better next time (or at least prevent this from happening again).
Read also: The right questions to ask a recruiter if you didn’t get the job
2. Don't take it personally
The most important thing you can do when you get rejected is not to take it personally. The implication of a job rejection letter or email is that the person who wrote it did not think your skills were a good fit for their organization and didn't feel like they had enough information to justify hiring you.
If they could have hired you, they would have - but they chose not to. That's something that happens all the time in every company. It may be frustrating, but it doesn't make them wrong or mean that something about you made them unhappy. They just decided based on what was best for their organization at the time - not necessarily what was best for you or your career goals.
Read also: How to respond to a rejection email (with examples)
3. Look within and focus on your strengths
One of the best ways to deal with job rejection is by looking within yourself - your career goals, personal strengths and weaknesses, and relationships with mentors and friends. Try asking yourself questions such as:
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What could I have done better?
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Where would I have improved?
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What other skills or experiences do I have that might be useful?
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How can I leverage what I’ve learned in this situation so that it will be useful next time?
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How can I use what I learned in this situation to help me grow as a professional?
Read also: How to leverage personal strengths and weaknesses.
4. Update your CV and cover letter
Your CV could be holding you back and denying you chances of getting job interviews. Recruiters also pay attention to your cover letter if it's sloppy or doesn't follow proper formatting rules. If you need help with this part of the process, consider working with a professional who can edit and format your documents to get them ready for submission.
5. Be proactive about finding new opportunities
When you've been rejected, it's easy to think that the only way out is to lie down and die. But there are plenty of things you can do besides that. You could go back to school and get a new degree or find a new job in your field of study. You could also look for other jobs in your field of interest and apply for them.
You can also use the internet to find new job opportunities and resources on job boards and career sites like Fuzu. You could also search for similar positions in your area or at companies you know about.
Conclusion
There are many ways to deal with job rejection, but it's important not to let the rejection define you. It also helps to speak with others who have been through similar situations. You may be surprised by their experience or learn something new that could help you feel better about your situation.
