4 Ways To Handle Job Rejection
“Thank you for your time however, we went with another candidate for the job position.”
Rejection. The emotion that can be felt all the way in our bones. Sometimes we knew it was coming, other times we are completely blind-sided. Either way, it hurts. It hurts like hell. You spent hours, days, months preparing for that job interview only to get denied. You may want to hide under the covers for the rest of your life and file for unemployment but I have a sneaking suspicion that you have more fire left in you. Rejection can take a toll on us, mentally, which is why it’s important to fight it before it takes over. Here are a few ways to recover from having a door slammed in your face.
4 Ways To Handle Job Rejection
Have Plan B
I hate to drop a bomb but when job searching it isn’t the smartest idea in the world to put all your eggs in one basket. You may have the utmost confidence that you will nail that interview but until the job opportunity is in stone it’s a solid idea to have a plan B (possibly a C and D) in place as well. That way if option A doesn’t come through you will have other things to focus on besides sitting in your sorrows. Keeping your momentum moving forward is key. You will be happy that you have something to keep you distracted other than focusing on the rejection
Ask Why
So, you didn’t get the job. Instead of pointing fingers take this opportunity to learn something about yourself and your interviewing skills. Take the time to ask the interviewer if they could provide constructive feedback on why you were not hired for the position. The answer may simply be that another candidate had more experience than you or it could be because the interviewer was unimpressed by the way you carried yourself. Whatever the case may be, take the feedback for what it’s worth and work on the areas that may require tweaking.
Move On
It’s time to brush off the rejection and put one foot in front of the other. Do not let the rejection define you or hinder you from kicking butt at the next interview. To be honest, most companies make it difficult to gauge what type of candidate they are on the search for so even though it may sound entirely cliché – don’t take it personally. Use the rejection as a source of motivation and not as a weight tying you down.
The Bigger Picture
Want to know the secret to life? Well, you’ll have to ask someone else because I don’t know it but what I do know is that you should not let a job interview define your worth. Take a moment to sit back and remind yourself what a talented, powerful and capable human being you are. Once you have your confidence back you will begin to trust the process and see the bigger picture.
