subject: Battling Job Rejection [print this page] Logically, you know that most adults have experienced job rejection, and you know its just part of the process whether or not the economy is weak or strong. And you know deep down that its nothing to take personally. But none of this stops that little voice in your head, sizzling with anger and irritation, feeding your stress, and generally beating you up about the latest rejection.
So this is a pep talk. Take that rejection by the horns, give it a good shake, and then breath and read on.
The Vicious Cycle
If job rejections are getting you down, chances are youre stuck in a vicious cycle. When you take that depressed and negative attitude to a job interview, your interview performance will suffer and youll be facing another rejection. Which makes you more depressed and negative, just in time for the next interview. And so on.
A negative attitude really does affect your interviewing skills, drain your energy and passion, and lower your confidence, which are all things interviewers are looking for. The longer you hold onto the depression, anger, and frustration of job rejections, the harder it will be and the longer it will take to break out of the cycle. Read more about tackling the job search blues in our previous post here.
Not a Science
The easiest way to convince yourself not to take rejection personally is to fully realize that the rejecters are human and that hiring is not an exact science. The factors behind their decision are beyond your control, maybe even beyond their control, or maybe they even made a mistake. Theyre probably reading hundreds of resumes a day and conducting tens of interviews a week, and its easy to lose some candidates in the masses or accidentally confuse you with someone who has the same last name. Or there could be too many cooks in the kitchen and someone carelessly misplaced your resume.
There could be any number of reasons why the fallible process of hiring failed you. Instead of chasing the culprits down with a stick and pouring your heart out, let it go and move on. Its the healthiest option for everyone.
Bigger, Better Fish
A job rejection is a blessing in disguise. What if they didnt think youd be a good fit but had chosen you anyway? Chances are, they were right in the first place and you would have been miserable, trying to fit in somewhere it turns out you hate. Ultimately, if they dont want you, then you shouldnt want them. End of story. Take solace in the fact that this job rejection just saved you a ton of future unhappiness. Plus, youve now successfully narrowed down your search for the job that will bring you the most happiness.
Dont Be a Stalker
But do try to get feedback from your interviewer. Shoot them an email or give them a call, and politely ask if they could give you some feedback about your interview and candidacy. Some companies and hiring managers wont be willing to provide feedback, but some will, and what they say can be valuable.
Thank them for their time, and learn what you can from what they said. Maybe you just werent what they were looking for, but maybe its because your body language appeared disinterested. Or maybe your answers seemed too rehearsed or too desperate, over enthusiastic or unprofessional. Their perspective could give you brand new insight about the way you act in interviews. So learn from their comments and apply your lessons in future interviews.
The Bottom Line
Rejection is inevitable, so take it in stride. Dont let it get you down, and dont take it personally. Thank rejection for leading you to better opportunities, and learn from your mistakes. Focus on your strengths, and youll bounce back in no time. End of pep talk.
