The Best Ways to Turn Rejection into Opportunity
Posted July 30th, 2019
At some point during your job search, you are going to encounter rejection. Maybe you never hear back after submitting a resume or don’t get a call after your interview. You might even receive a formal notification that you weren’t selected, which can sting more than not hearing anything at all.
Rejection is simply part of the job search process. After all, not every candidate is going to land a position, as only one person can be hired.
However, by learning how to view a rejection as an opportunity, you can make the most of one of the most challenging parts of finding a new role. If you want to make the most of your job search rejections, here are some tips to get you started.
Reflect, But Don’t Overanalyze
After a job rejection, a bit of reflection can be beneficial. Examining your performance during the interview or reviewing your resume and cover letter can help you spot areas where you can improve. Then, when you apply the next time, you can avoid those missteps.
However, if you begin dissecting every moment of the process, you are likely doing more harm than good. Not only are you focusing a substantial amount of energy on the matter, overanalyzing is typically unproductive.
Give yourself a little time to consider what went right and what went wrong. Then, create a plan to correct any errors the next time around. Once that is done, stop analyzing the situation and start focusing on the next opportunity.
Get Feedback from the Hiring Manager
In some cases, a hiring manager will give candidates feedback about their performance. However, you typically have to ask for this input if you want to hear their perspective on you as a candidate.
If you are formally told that you weren’t selected, consider asking the hiring manager if they would discuss your performance with you. Let them know that you want to become a stronger candidate in the future and that their insight would be appreciated. Some hiring managers will then share details with you that can be quite enlightening.
Make sure that you approach any feedback with an open mind. The goal is to use the information to improve, so try to have a thick skin if you ask for their input as some of what they say may be negative, and you don’t want to take it too personally. Then, take their feedback and use it to take steps that will help you improve.
At times, you might find out that you did incredibly well and were only just beaten by another candidate. If this occurs, let the hiring manager know that you would like to hear from them if another opportunity becomes available. That way, you can create a new professional connection that might help you land a position in the future, which can be valuable as well.
Find Your Next Great Job with the Help of Bayside Solutions!
By following the tips above, you can turn rejection into an opportunity. If you’d like to find out more, the experienced staff at Bayside Solutions can help. Contact us to speak with a skilled member of our recruitment team today and see how our job search expertise can benefit you.
