How to Respond to Being Rejected for a Job

If you received a job rejection lately, you are not alone. Unfortunately, rejection is part of the process. It’s easy to beat yourself up over missing an opportunity; however, it’s important to learn from the experience and move on to finding more opportunities. Keeping the rejection in perspective and staying positive can help you stay focused on finding the right job.

Instructions

1. Learn from the experience. Thank the hiring manager for contacting you about her decision. Then, tell her you want to learn from the experience. Ask for tips for the next job interview. For example, perhaps you didn’t discuss the skills that most closely match the employer’s needs. In the future, you can study the job posting more closely before the interview to make sure you address the hiring manager’s needs.

2. Focus on your strengths. After you’ve determined areas of improvement, think about what you did well. Nobody is perfect, so it’s important to focus on your strengths. For example, perhaps the hiring manager complimented the professionalism of your resume and cover letter.

3. Plan a positive activity. Think about the activities you enjoy most. For example, if you feel peaceful when hiking, plan a day outdoors. Take a yoga class or meditate. This will help you relax and get past the rejection.

4. Get ready for the next interview. When searching for a job, most applicants get more rejections than job offers. It’s part of the job search process. Take a day off the job search to regroup. Then, put the rejection behind you and start applying for more jobs.

Tips & Warnings

• Don’t take rejection personally. Though it is a large hit to the ego, take a deep breath and try not to take it personally. Other jobs better suited for your talents.

• Avoid the urge to blame others. It might be easy to blame the hiring manager for not recognizing your value. However, it’s important to take responsibilities for weaknesses. Own your contributions to the job loss; however, do not berate yourself. Instead, learn from the experience.

References

• US News: How to Respond to a Job Rejection Email
• Quality Coaching: 10 Ways to Deal with Job Rejection