READ TIME – 5 MINUTES
Have you ever spent hours crafting the perfect CV, tirelessly scrolling through job boards, and attending interviews only to receive a rejection email? It can feel like the ultimate letdown. Suddenly, thoughts like “Am I not good enough?” or “Did I not answer the questions accurately?” or even “Maybe they didn’t like my personality” can start to invade your mind. These thoughts can torment you for days, and they can even hold you back from making progress in your job search!
Job rejection can lead to a variety of emotions, such as anxiety, frustration, self-doubt, and sadness. It is crucial to understand how to recognise and acknowledge these emotions, allowing yourself the chance to process them in a healthy manner. By doing so, you can recover quickly from the setback, adopt a refreshed mindset, and regain motivation to move forward.
Review & Reflect
Rejections are tough and can leave you feeling down, especially when you’ve put your heart and soul into an application. But here’s the thing – it’s not a reflection of who you are as a person or a professional. Every application you submit comes with the risk of rejection, it’s just part of the process. Even the most experienced and qualified candidates face rejections every now and then. So, don’t let it get you down! Hiring decisions are based on various factors such as job requirements, the company’s needs, and the experience and qualifications of other candidates. It’s possible that another candidate simply had more experience, better qualifications, or was a stronger fit for the job. Remember, job rejection doesn’t define you, so keep at it and keep pushing forward!
Once you’ve been rejected for a job, why not reach out and ask for some feedback? Maybe there’s some constructive criticism they can provide that will help you in the future. Knowing where you fell short can help you modify your approach, improve your answers, and showcase your strengths more effectively. Think of it as a chance to become an even better candidate for the next opportunity that comes your way! The top reason for rejection after an interview is a lack of understanding of the role.
It’s natural to wonder if there was a better candidate than you. After spending hours perfecting your application it may look brilliant on paper. However, it may come down to another candidate being a better cultural fit. Employers often look for candidates who will smoothly integrate into the existing team and contribute to a positive workplace environment. Remember that a different candidate does not necessarily mean a better candidate than you! Their responses, communication style and overall presentation may just have resonated more effectively with the interviewers.
Reflecting on job rejection can help you identify your strengths and weaknesses as a candidate. Analysing multiple rejections is great for identifying patterns or trends that may be hindering your success. Recognising your strengths allows you to highlight them in future applications and interviews. Similarly, understanding your weaknesses can help you focus on skill development or areas that need improvements, making you a stronger candidate for future opportunities.
Progressing Your Job Hunt
You may not be super motivated right after a job rejection to continue your job hunt with the same determination you started with. Instead, use the time to invest in self-improvement. Enhancing your skills through online courses, certification or workshops if you think it could be beneficial for the role you desire. You should begin applying again when you can ensure you have the time, energy and motivation to dedicate to the application process and potential interviews.
Before jumping back into applying, you should review your strategy and application materials. Is your CV already the best it can be or is there something you could do to improve it? Consider creating a cover letter if you haven’t already and sharpen your interview techniques. Lucky for you everything you need to enhance your interview skills is available online!
When you’re looking for a job, a good strategy is to create a list of your strengths and accomplishments. Once you’ve made this list, try to come up with three key stories about times when you overcame an obstacle in the past. For example, you could talk about how you brought in new business or the skills you used to resolve a difficult office situation. By recognising your strengths and ability to solve problems, you can shift from feeling low and useless to feeling motivated and ready to secure your dream job. Not only will you feel more motivated, but you’ll also have a great tool for preparing interview answers. Referring to your strengths and accomplishments during an interview can help you give more detailed and impressive answers.
After reading this blog you should now hopefully be more prepared for job rejection than ever. It’s always crucial to remember that you’re not alone and that many other people will have also been rejected for the same position. On average, 118 people apply for a single position and 20% will get invited to an interview. If there’s only one vacancy then that means roughly 22 people would be rejected! No one likes job rejection however, it’s something you must learn to overcome and the faster you can do it the more successful your job hunt could be. So what are you waiting waiting for? Time to go get that dream job…