You’ve probably heard the expression that looking for work is a full-time job. Job seekers put their heart and soul into looking for work and it can be stressful. There’s the work that goes into answering all the items on the application, making sure you attach an updated resume and cover letter that is targeted to each position/employer, and the grueling interview process where you must do your best to show why you are a good fit for the job. It is understandable why it is so hard to receive a job rejection, especially from a job interview you aced. But, you can’t let job rejections define you as a job seeker or get to you personally. Here are some ways you turn those rejections to your favor:
- Let job rejections re-invigorate you – Use the interview as a learning experience. Don’t beat yourself up, rejections are part of applying for multiple job opportunities so don’t let it stall your search. Instead, let that job rejection letter or email motivate you into thinking “what could I have done differently?” This self-reflection will help you get better and better during the job search and interview process.
- Get advice – At some point, job seekers get to a point where they are just down in the dumps after yet another job rejection letter. Talk to an Employment Specialist or an Employment Coach who can help you ramp up your job search game and give you the tools you may be missing to be more successful in front of employers. Your local Workforce Center or Goodwill Job Resource Center can, in most cases, help you free of charge and be the support you may need to help you land the right job for you.
- Ask the employer why – After many job rejections, you may begin to wonder, “am I doing something wrong?” Before rejections begin to affect your confidence, there is nothing wrong with reaching out to an employer via email or phone to ask for some feedback regarding your recent job interview. Hopefully, the employer will be honest with you about why they didn’t pick you for the position. You could learn that you were in the top two, but the deciding factor was that another candidate did a better job at explaining how their previous skills translated to this new position. It may also be they decided not to fill the position after all. Getting the why answered can fill in some gaps, so that you don’t fill them with your own speculation, and more importantly, help you make useful improvements for your next interview.
- Express gratitude – If you receive a rejection, send a thank you letter to the employer. It’s probably the last thing on your mind, but sending a thank you letter after the employer has already picked another candidate can plant a good seed. Use the letter to express your gratitude for their time and consideration of you as a candidate. In this format, it is perfectly fine to express your disappointment in not getting the job, in a professional way. Use the letter to talk about how much you learned about the company and then end the letter by expressing your continued interest to work for this employer and to keep you in mind for future available positions.
Let’s recap what we learned:
- Job rejections mean you are back in the job search game.
- Getting another perspective on your job search journey can help you shore up some areas that could use improvement and make you more marketable.
- Don’t wonder why. Be brave, yet professional and ask the employer for some feedback on your interview. Use this information to learn from and tweak your job search plan.
- A thank you letter sent after the final interview or after another candidate has been picked for the position can set you apart from the rest. It also shows strong professionalism.
– Jessie Hendrickson, Director – Workforce Development, Denton