Applying for a job takes us up a staircase of emotions. The initial excitement of finding a vacancy that feels like a fit. The hard work that goes into a CV and application form, the vulnerability of trying to put yourself down on paper, and the eventual satisfaction of submission.
Then comes the heart-dropping moment when you see the employer’s name in your inbox. Maybe it’s an invitation to interview. Maybe you’ve already had that interview, and they politely inform you that you’re not what they’re looking for. Maybe they don’t tell you why at all, simply saying that you’ve been unsuccessful this time.
So, you didn’t get the job. It happens – to the best of us. Sometimes, it happens a lot, and it is a deeply demoralising place to be. Whatever the circumstance, rejection can be painful and frustrating. However, that doesn’t mean that it needs to be an entirely negative experience. We spoke to some of our Recruitment Managers, to get their advice about what to do when you don’t get the job:
1. Ask for feedback. Maybe it feels a little cliché, but it really is good advice. Email Recruitment after you’ve found out the job isn’t yours – and ask for specific, honest, feedback. Be prepared to act on it. If they’ve said your answers lacked detail, look up some classic interview questions, or think back to your interview, and prepare some answers that are well-developed with real-world examples. It’s easy to get nervous on the spot, so make sure that you are prepared. Practice interviews with trusted friends, mentors and colleagues, and ask them to be honest about how you did. Being open minded and receptive will help you to learn.
2. Reflect on how it went from your perspective. Sometimes, we are just unlucky, and it is difficult to gage what went wrong. Other times, there are clear areas that we know we could improve. Were you late? Did you rush your answers, or did you listen to the question properly and make sure your answers were specific and all-encompassing? There is always room to improve somewhere, so figure out what that area is for you, process it, read about it and come back stronger.
3. Keep positive. This can be incredibly difficult, particularly after rejections from a series of jobs that you really wanted. Try to see interviews where you didn’t get the job as practice and learning experiences. After a few rejections, you might want to give up, or feel frustrated and upset because it doesn’t feel fair. However, the lessons you learn from one interview where you don’t get the job might be the difference between you getting the job the next time. Keep focused and embrace a positive mindset.
4. Practice and learn! Talk to yourself in the mirror, search for interview tips on YouTube, read widely and develop your skills. It’s never too late to take on something that might be useful to put on your CV. If you’ve been searching for a job for longer period, perhaps you could undertake a course or further study, to allow you to access different jobs.
Keep confident in yourself and believe that you can do it. Being rejected from a job, whether it’s once or several times, can be incredibly demotivating and leave you lacking confidence. Don’t let it define you – not being the best fit for one company might mean that you are the perfect fit for another.
We wish you the best of luck with your search!
