The truth is–no one likes getting rejected from a job.
I mean, if you’ve prepared the best you can for a role you want, you won’t be happy seeing an “Unfortunately…” email, right?
However, it’s not every time you apply for a job that you’ll get a “Yes.” Some jobs might slip past you for one reason or the other.
Don’t be sad, though. It happens to the best of us.
So, what do you do when your job application gets rejected? Do you give up? Do you move on to the next company right away?
Rejected? Give Up? No!
See, with the right mindset, you can use that rejection as a way to improve on yourself. This way, you can do better in your next interview.
How do you do this? That’s what we’ll look at in this post.
1. Ask for Feedback
One major thing you want to do after getting rejected is to think about what might have happened. Don’t stop there. You should also think about how you can learn from it.
So, ask for and listen to feedback from your interviewers. Self-analysis alone might not give you a detailed picture of why you were not accepted for that role.
Gather feedback from the recruiter. And if the feedback feels generic or superficial, you can ask for a more detailed assessment. You put in time and effort for the interview, so it makes sense to get actionable insights after it.
2. Evaluate and Reflect
Once you’ve come to terms with the company’s decision, don’t just brush it aside. You need to learn from that rejection.
Evaluate the feedback you got. Then, reflect on everything you did while preparing for the interview and even during the interview.
You can ask questions like “What do I feel went well?” “What could I have done differently?” “Should I have prepared a presentation?” “Did you focus more on some areas than others?” “Should you have asked some questions?”
All of this helps you improve. So, use that rejection as a way to grow.
3. Create a Development Plan
Sit back and think about the feedback from former rejections and appraisals. If you see any recurring themes, think about areas you should prioritise for development.
Identify any weaknesses that you can turn into strengths. Then, improve on them while preparing for your next interview.
Think about how you can fix the gaps in your performance. Then, take the necessary training to close those gaps.
4. Refine Your Job Search
What if you realise that, after analysing feedback and reflecting, the job probably wasn’t the right fit for you? This is a typical “it’s not me, it’s you” situation.
So, go back to the job specifications and see if that’s what you want to be doing on a day-to-day basis. Are there parts of the role the interviewer thought didn’t excite you enough? Think about that too.
Then, use that to return to your search next time. Use better keywords that match your interests and goals.
5. Be Resilient
We live in a fast-paced environment. So you can’t let the fact that you are rejected bring you down.
Instead, use each setback as a way to grow and bounce back. This increases your chances of landing the right role. I mean, what if the next job is the right one?
So, always stay constructive and learn from every good or bad experience. Anyone can get rejected. The important thing is to learn from it and grow.
Wrapping It Up
You could feel well-prepared and end up getting rejected from a job. True; it can be sad. But the truth is that it can happen to anyone.
What you need to do is to ask for feedback, review and reflect on the reason why you are rejected, and create a development plan based on the areas you think you need improvement.
You can also refine your job search to get better job opportunities. On top of that, be resilient. Learn from the experience so you can ace that next interview.
Click here to learn how to pass a Job Screening.
