By Tony Morrison
Dear Applicant,
We at Super Awesome Dream Company Inc. regret to inform you that you have not been accepted for whatever position it was that you applied ….
Rejection. Nobody likes it, but it’s the cold hard reality that the job search brings. This reality is made
all the more cold by the standard, vague, indiscriminate language that does not explain why they rejected you -- after all, the unknown "they" have never even met you -- but the language in the form letter is sanctioned by legal, so that is what every rejected candidate gets. Today, more and more people are applying for fewer and fewer publicly advertised job openings. As a job seeker, the best thing you can do after a rejection is to pick yourself up and try again.
Unfortunately, that’s easier said than done. Getting rejected can do a number on the typical job seeker psyche.
Check out the following four steps to take after a job rejection:
Breathe
OK, it happened. You just got rejected by a company that you hoped would recognize what you had to offer. Remember that a rejection says nothing about who you are as a person, so don’t take it personally.
There are a slew of reasons why you got a rejection. The company could have hired someone else, promoted someone internally, or erased the position altogether (which happens a lot more than you’d think). You are not likely to get an answer, so put it behind you.
If you’re angry or sad, let those emotions pass before you do anything else.
Follow-up
This might sound a little counter-intuitive, but try following up with the rejection. If you want to keep the connection going with a specific company, simply writing a note thanking the company for their time and consideration can affirm that you are a thoughtful and invested candidate.
If you want to know what more you could have done to get the job or what you could have done differently, feel free to ask in your follow-up. You might not get a response, but many employers are glad to help rejected candidates improve.
Develop
Regardless of whether or not you got feedback from the company, look at yourself as a job seeker and employee. What do you think kept you from getting hired? Did you feel like your interview was rushed? Maybe you didn’t share all the great things you learned from your last job. Whatever the case may be, try developing yourself for next time.
Try again
Now that you’ve finished this chapter with a company, jump back into the job search. Many job seekers will take a break from applying while they are interviewing, so if you’re one of those, it’s time to fire up the resume and start applying again.
You might have gotten rejected, but don’t let your past keep you from scoring an amazing job. Stay positive. You never know what opportunities could be just around the corner!
What do you think? What other advice would you share with job seekers who are recovering from a rejection? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Tony Morrison is the Vice President of Business Development at Cachinko, a unique professional community where social networking and job opportunities come together. His roles include sales, marketing, and business development. He brings passion to Cachinko where he focuses on helping job seekers to find their ideal job and employers to find, attract, and engage their next rock star candidates.
