How to Deal With Job Rejection: Five Tips for Building Resilience and Confidence
We have all had or will have, the unfortunate experience of receiving the dreaded rejection letter beginning with, “We regret to inform you that…” or “We have decided to move forward with other candidates.” Rejection letters are hard to process and can stir feelings of anxiety when job hunting, but changing your response can positively help you deal with rejection. Sometimes our judgment is so clouded by fear, anxiety, and pressure when we are rejected from a position that we are not able to cope and move forward with a plan that will set us up for success in the future. These tips aim to see rejection as an opportunity for growth, and whether you are applying for an internship, your first job, or your tenth job, they can help you update your application process.
Learn to cope
Job hunting can be an extremely stressful process, but you can find solidarity in that you’re not in this alone. After you are rejected from a job, you can talk to colleagues, friends, and family members who can offer advice or be there to listen. Taking the time to cope with the rejection and manage your emotions is an important step in moving forward in your career, and can help you evaluate your strengths and weaknesses with a clear mind.
Self-reflection
After each interview, evaluate your performance during the interview. This step is crucial in understanding how you felt about the person interviewing you, how you think you would fit in with the company, and the areas you could improve. Consider how you exhibited your communication skills, and then make a plan for how to improve them. This will help you identify your mistakes and understand why you were not chosen for the role.
Ask for feedback
There is nothing wrong with asking for feedback from the company you are interviewing with, in fact, it may make you stand out from the crowd as someone who appreciates constructive criticism and wants to improve. You can also ask mentors, friends, or family members to listen to your presentation style or role-play an interview with them to rehearse your responses. Listen to their feedback and ask questions if you have them.
Revise your approach
Depending on your feedback this could mean a variety of things for your approach such as more networking, online reputation, interview skills, updating your resume, or gaining more experience in your field. You can also talk to colleagues in your industry to see what works for them and implement this in your strategy. This step is crucial and can be repeated as many times as needed until you get it right.
Try again
The more jobs you apply to, the better chance you will have of getting accepted to at least one. This often helps me stay positive in the job-hunting process because my mantra is: you will either end up where you want to be, or where you were meant to be. The road to either one can be long and difficult, but you can find peace in knowing that it will work out in the end if you keep trying.
About Amelia:
Amelia Wampler is a senior studying Advertising and Public Relations with minors in Marketing and Spanish. She is currently the Programming Director of GrandPR and has been a GV PRSSA member for the past three years. This summer she plans on interning with American Family Insurance’s Media Relations team and spending as much time outside as she can.