How to Bounce Back from Job Rejection
Posted June 3rd, 2015
When you are looking for a job, there are few things more disheartening than thinking an offer is coming only to find out that you’ve been rejected. You put in substantial amounts of time learning about the company and polishing your presentation only to end up back at square one. That kind of rejection can be hard to bounce back from, but if you want to turn your next interview into a job offer, it’s essential to keep moving forward.
Follow these ten tips to overcome rejection:
• Accept Your Feelings – Anger, frustration, and confusion are natural after a job rejection. Instead of burying these feelings, express them, indulge them, and then put them behind you.
• Look for Your Mistake – You might not have come off as the ideal candidate you thought you were. Look for any glaring mistakes you made, and if you find one, you know what not to do next time.
• Solicit Feedback – Some hiring managers are willing to tell you what went wrong. Ask politely, and don’t persist if they turn you down.
• Look Forward – It does you no good to dwell on the past. The only thing you can do is kick your job search back into gear and redouble your efforts.
• Be Proactive – This is the time to start aggressively pursuing new offers. Set targets for the number of positions you apply for each day, ramp up your networking efforts, and start looking for jobs in new and unusual places.
• Take an Internship – You may have been rejected because of simple lack of experience. Make sure that doesn’t happen again by pursuing internship opportunities.
• Gather Skills – Perhaps you have set the bar too high. Instead of holding out for the perfect position, consider taking something else that will help you gather skills and experience in the interim.
• Rise Above – A job rejection can feel like a rejection of your total person. Remember that you are more than your job search.
• Contextualize – Lots of great men and women, and lots of great ideas took too long for their value to be realized. Remember that you are not alone in your frustration.
• Grow – Strength comes from adversity. Know that when you do finally get a great job, this frustrating experience will have contributed to your eventual success.
If your job search is not going as well as you had hoped, it may be time to take on a partner. Find resources and assistance to help you get where you want to be by working with Bayside Solutions.
