There’s no getting around it—job rejection sucks. When you’re rejected from an interview, whether by phone or in person, it can be hard to hold your head high and keep moving forward with your job search. Don’t let that negative feeling get the best of you, though! Use these techniques to turn your last rejection into something positive so you can land the next job you interview for.
Acknowledge your feelings
You’re not alone. It’s hard to hear that you didn’t get the job. You may be feeling devastated, sad, or angry. But what you do after you get rejected can make a huge difference on how you feel and how confident you are for the next interview process. Your first step is to pick yourself up!
After taking some time for yourself to calm down, think about why you were turned down. Why might the hiring manager not have been interested? What could you have done better? Was there something they wanted but you weren’t able to provide? What questions did they ask you during the interview process that were tough and caused an awkward silence? Asking these questions will help make sure it doesn’t happen again!
Don’t take it personally
A better candidate may have been a better fit for the job. The skills you were looking for may not match the skills that the hiring manager was looking for. The job scope may have changed, or even a culture mismatch. Regardless of why you didn’t get the job offer, remember that it’s a part of life and it’s not always personal. Use these experiences to make yourself a better applicant and give yourself an edge during your next job interview. Know what job requirements you can meet, what ones you’re close to meeting, and what ones are out of reach. It will be easier for employers to see how well you’ll match with their position if they can see how much work is needed on your behalf versus the work that would need to be done by the new hire.
Use it as motivation
Job rejection is hard. I know it sucks when you get turned down for a job. However, this can be an opportunity for you to learn about how you can improve yourself and make sure that the next time you apply. The more information you have about the company and its needs, the better chance of getting hired. When you’re applying for a new position, always do your research about the employer to ensure that their skill set matches yours. If not, now would be the time to work on improving those skills, so they match what’s needed. It doesn’t hurt to create a list of skills you want to add or strengthen before you go back out into the workforce. You should also take some time out of your day each week to look for opportunities that might fit your skill sets. A good resource is LinkedIn which has been updated with recommendations tailored specifically for freelancers and entrepreneurs who want to find jobs outside traditional channels.
Learn from your mistakes
The key is to take the hiring manager’s feedback and try not to make the same mistakes again. Make a list of what you are going to do differently, as well as a list of things that you need for success. Implement these changes before going out for more interviews.
If you still get rejected in subsequent interviews, review your hiring manager’s feedback carefully and consider talking with someone who has hired people before. Try to separate yourself from negative emotions when looking at why you were rejected.
Be prepared for the next interview!