How to Handle a First Job Rejection

Dealing with rejection is not easy no matter who is rejecting you and why. However, perhaps the hardest rejection we all have to face in life is our first job rejection. Here you are hot on the path ready to land that all time perfect first job when the phone call comes in but not with the good news you were hoping for.

Instructions

1. Try not to take it personal. This is not an easy thing to do, but you have to remember that most of the time the job rejection has nothing to do with you. Filling a job involves finding the best match between the candidate and the company. The person who was given the job was a better match for the company doing the hiring.

2. Understand that the person delivering the news to you is most likely doing something that he does not want to do. Making the phone call to those candidates that did not get the job is difficult; he does not want to deliver the bad news any more than you want to hear it.

3. Keep your cool. Never respond with anger when told you did not get the job. You will be remembered by the company and you want them to remember you favorably. Burning your bridges is never a good idea. You might want to apply for a job with them again in the future.

4. Thank the person making the call for their time and consideration in the interview process. Tell them you would be interested in being notified of future job openings with the company.

5. Go easy on yourself. Life is full of rejection on both a business and personal level. Reflect on the application process to see if there is anything you did that you might want to do differently next time, but do not assume that you did anything wrong just because you didn't get the job.

6. Fill out the next application right away. Do not let the rejection stop you from trying again.