{"id":26231,"date":"2021-02-03T14:59:03","date_gmt":"2021-02-03T14:59:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stonebridge-blog.positive-dedicated.net\/?p=26231"},"modified":"2021-02-03T14:59:05","modified_gmt":"2021-02-03T14:59:05","slug":"how-to-handle-job-rejection","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.stonebridge.uk.com\/blog\/apply-for-jobs\/how-to-handle-job-rejection\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Handle Job Rejection"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

It doesn\u2019t matter how experienced you are or what sector you work in, job rejection can be crushing news. Especially if the role was one that would have been a great fit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It can be difficult not to take the rejection personally \u2013 especially if you\u2019ve gone through the interview process and you felt you had a good rapport with your interviewer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Similarly, it\u2019s easy to over analyse your every answer \u2013 exercising the problem-solving skills you mentioned in your interview, in an effort to figure out what went wrong.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rejection is never easy, and many rejected applicants fall into the \u2018I never wanted the job anyway\u2019 trap and move on without really learning anything from the experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s understandable, it can be difficult to separate our feelings from what is a business decision. Knowing to handle a job rejection is an important part of the recruitment process. By reflecting on the outcome, you have the opportunity to learn from it and do better next time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re currently looking for a new role and you\u2019re getting turned down, here\u2019s a method to help you move forward constructively.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Think Positively<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"SAC<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A job rejection can be bruising to the ego. It\u2019s easy to take that rejection as a sign that you\u2019re not good enough or in some way not up to the role.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The reality can be quite different. You may not have been on top form that day, or you weren\u2019t the right fit for the team already in place. Or someone else was better qualified.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The hiring manager has to go with the person they believe is right for the business, which is the responsible thing to do. Unfortunately, that sometimes means choosing someone else.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But do your best to think positively about the experience. At the very least you learned something from that interview experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If nothing else, you got the opportunity to make yourself known to individuals within the business. It\u2019s perfectly acceptable to connect with them on LinkedIn<\/a> and keep in touch in case of future opportunities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Request Feedback<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A job rejection allows you to reflect on the interview. This may seem arbitrary, but you learn more from failure than from success. With an objective hat on you can probably determine what went well and what could have done better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Where possible, get feedback after you\u2019ve had a job rejection as it may help clarify why you weren\u2019t suitable. Not all businesses provide feedback but do your best to find out. However, hiring managers and recruiters will often sugar coat the feedback so be prepared to press for clarification if it\u2019s not clear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although occasionally the feedback can be as simple as they liked someone else better. Again, don\u2019t take it personally. The hiring manager has a responsibility to the business to hire the best possible fit to preserve the company culture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In fact, the interviewer has done you a favour. Imagine how miserable you would be working with people you don\u2019t get on with.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s also important not to dwell on the rejection. Frame it as learning experience and move on. And remember \u2013 just because it\u2019s a no now, doesn\u2019t mean it will be a no in the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you are being rejected a lot then you may need to do some deeper reflection to make sure that your communication skills and body language aren\u2019t selling you short.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Review your Job Search<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"SAC<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re getting a lot of rejections \u2013 before or after the interview stage, it may be worth revisiting the kind of jobs you\u2019re applying for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Use the feedback you\u2019re getting to help refine the kind of role you should be focusing on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Consider the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n