Rejection can occur at various stages in your job search:
- During the application process: Whether you receive a formal rejection letter or email, or you hear nothing at all, this phase is where job seekers often encounter rejection. Fortunately, you haven’t invested significant time, money, or effort in a specific job opportunity at this point.
- Post-interview rejection: If you go through job interviews and are not chosen, it’s common to feel a sense of rejection.
Given that the average job search can take up to five months, encountering rejection is par for the course. Here are some tips to help you navigate job search rejection effectively.
Don’t Take Rejection Personally
The sooner you realize that you’re not going to be a fit for every role, the sooner you can move on from rejection and move forward with your job search.
Learn From the Experience
- Was there anything you could have done better to prepare? Were there any questions you were asked that you weren’t prepared to answer?
- How well did your qualifications match up with the job opportunity? If you interviewed, there was a fit. But how close of a fit was it?
- Did the interview raise any opportunities for you to improve? Are there specific skills, courses, certifications, or other training that you can complete to be better prepared for your next role?
If you’re not offered the job, it’s fine to reach out to the interviewer and ask for feedback about why they selected another candidate. You might not get a response — but if you do, it can be very helpful to receive reassurance that you were a strong candidate, but there was another candidate who was just a better fit for that specific role. Maybe the company decided it needed a different skill set for the position after they started interviewing candidates. Or maybe you were missing a critical skill — but now you know what that is.
Also take a moment to reflect on your previous successes. How have you been successful in getting previous job opportunities? If you got your most recent job because one of your networking contacts put in a good word for you, think about how you can incorporate that into your current job search. If you were placed by a recruiter in your most recent role, but this time around you’re applying for positions directly, consider whether you should reach out to a few recruiters to explore opportunities. Also, consider that applicants who are referred to the position by a current employee receive an interview approximately half the time, with 20% of employee referrals resulting in a job offer. In short, do more of what worked for you before.
Don’t Set Yourself Up For Rejection
Actually, you’re trying to protect yourself from having to experience rejection. You may not end up applying at all if you talk yourself out of it. Looking at a job posting and thinking to yourself “I’m overqualified” or “I’m underqualified” is an example of this type of anticipatory rejection. If you don’t apply, they’ll never reject you, right? But you might also miss out on a great opportunity — or even the opportunity to get to practice your job interview skills.
Prepare For Your Next Interview
Although it seems counterintuitive, one of the best ways to overcome rejection is to apply for more positions. While it seems like you’re inviting even more rejection to come your way, the job search is a numbers game in many respects. Research from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that — on average — half of job candidates will receive at least one interview request after submitting at least 10 applications. So, while you are increasing the potential of rejection in the short term, you are increasing the chances of getting a job interview — and possible job offer — in the long term.
To increase your chances of being hired, apply to 10-15 positions per week while also following up on previous applications. Remind yourself that most job applicants receive more rejections than job offers. Rejection is part of the job search, but your ability to overcome it is critical to your eventual success in the job search.
5 Common Mistakes to Avoid When Job Hunting
https://www.market-connections.net/blog/5-common-mistakes-to-avoid-when-job-hunting
Network Your Way to Your Next Job
https://www.market-connections.net/blog/network-your-way-to-your-next-job
What Every Hiring Manager Looks for in Job Seekers
https://www.market-connections.net/blog/what-every-hiring-manager-looks-for-in-job-seekers
Job Security
https://www.market-connections.net/blog/job-security
Create a Self-Introduction Video for Your Job Search
https://www.market-connections.net/blog/create-a-self-introduction-video-for-your-job-search
Resume Follow Up Call
https://www.market-connections.net/blog/resume-follow-up-call
Job Hunting Without a College Degree
https://www.market-connections.net/blog/job-hunting-without-a-college-degree
About the Author
Mandy Fard is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW, CMRW) and Recruiter with decades of experience in assisting job seekers, working directly with employers in multiple industries, and writing proven-effective resumes.
Feel free to connect with Mandy Fard on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mandyfard/
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