How to Handle Job Rejection

Rejection and unrequited love are popular themes in literature, art, and music. Countless sonnets, stories, and movies center on these very topics. Just how many different break-up playlists can there be? And if you’ve heard one depressing country song about lost love, you’ve heard them all.

The truth is—as much as people talk, sing, and write about rejection—it stinks. However, prose and poetry fall short in this way: they omit the proper response to rejection. After all, whether the rejection is personal or professional, it still hurts.

No matter how long you’ve been job hunting, the words, “The position has been filled,” are both painful and disheartening. The application and interview processes require a lot of time and effort. Job searching is not for the faint of heart. And the closed door of job rejection squelches enthusiasm like nothing else. However, correctly responding to rejection is a skill worth mastering. Don’t pessimistically expect it but realize you can learn from it. Handling job rejection with the correct mindset might even land you your dream job.

So, here’s what to do when you get rejected during a job search –

Choose the Right Mindset

It’s important to acknowledge that sometimes job rejection happens. But there’s always something you can learn from it. Yes, it hurts—but rejection is an unfortunate reality of life. Everyone experiences rejection at some point, so…  you’re not alone.

You can let it either break you or make you stronger. Failure is a good teacher, but the key is letting yourself learn. Steel your mind against the lie that “you just aren’t good enough,” and open yourself to new opportunities. Refrain from overanalyzing everything you might have done incorrectly.

Remain Professional 

Feeling a swirl of emotions is normal. After all, rejection hurts! But it’s imperative to remain calm, polite, and in control of your actions—despite how you feel. Be sure to thank the interviewer for his consideration and ask him to keep you in mind for future openings.

Remain objective: job rejection is rarely personal. The recruiter must fill his responsibility—to choose the best fit for the company’s needs. It has nothing to do with you as a person, so professionalism is the correct response.

Ask for Feedback

While some companies provide feedback after a rejection, it never hurts to ask for it when they don’t. This type of feedback is invaluable. You may have done your best during the interview process, but there’s always something you can improve on. Asking for feedback helps you grow and helps you stand out.

Once you receive feedback, take what they give you and apply it to your next interview and application process. Make the necessary changes to your skill set and resume. Keep in mind that you have little control over certain factors. Some things can’t be changed overnight. But a mindset of continuous, ongoing self-development is essential!

Get Back in the Saddle.

It’s so important to keep looking! Don’t let yourself feel so down that you give up altogether. The perfect job is out there – It just might take time for you to find it.

Consider partnering with a staffing agency like Career Concepts. We’ve been helping candidates find the right match for over 50 years! Contact us today, and let’s get started.