How to Deal With Rejection During a Job Search

The job search process can be lonely and full of rejection. And rejection can be difficult to take on a continued basis, regardless of how far you get in the interview process.

Yet, rejection comes with the territory of looking for a new job and many times job seekers do not even get an opportunity for an interview.

So, how do we deal with all this rejection? Here are five ways to deal with rejection during the job search.

Understand what it means that you didn’t get the job and what it doesn’t mean. There are many reasons an applicant might not get a call for an interview or might not get the job after the interview. The company could have been looking for someone with a specific skill or experience managing a particular kind of team. Just because you didn’t have the desired skill set for one position does not mean you were not a good candidate for the job, despite how discouraging the rejection can be. It’s important to avoid reading too much into things when you do not get that job offer.

Build a network of support. Surround yourself with people who encourage you and believe in your skills and strengths. This is not the time to deal with negative people. Find your team of supporters and consult with them during your job search.

Use the experience to build resilience. This is primarily about your mindset. Of course, many times in life we have to face rejection and hardship and we can use difficult times to develop the skills and resources necessary to build resilience in our lives.

Focus on what you can control. Consider the aspects of your job search that you can control: the jobs you apply to, the presentation of your resume, your cover letter, and improving your interviewing skills. Let go of the things you have no control of, such as if the company chooses to interview you for the job or offers you the position.

Keep at it (and perhaps take a risk). Don’t give up. Stay after it and the right fit between your skills and what the company needs will come along. Or perhaps this is the time to take a risk and start your own company. Maybe the boss you need to offer you a job is you!

How to Handle Rejection

“Thank you for your interest in the VIP position at ABC corporation. I want to thank you for applying for the position and let you know that we are moving forward with another candidate. Other positions open regularly and we invite you to keep an eye open for future job postings.”

You might have received a similar message by email or over the phone sometime and even if the position didn’t seem right to you or you had concluded that you weren’t a good fit, it can hurt to experience rejection.

So, how best to manage the disappointment that comes from rejection and move forward?

First of all, accept how you feel. It’s perfectly normal to feel down or disappointed by the rejection. If you’ve received multiple messages like this you might be feeling very discouraged and wonder if you’ll ever find the right job. Allow yourself to experience these emotions, acknowledge that it’s okay and normal to feel them but decide on a time (say 48 hours) for you to move on.

Then reevaluate your strategy. Perhaps you need to be more targeted in your job search, or maybe you can gain more support and leads from your network. Don’t be afraid to ask for feedback, both from those close to you and from a prospective employer that you interviewed with. Take some time to gather feedback, revise your job search strategy, and refocus your energy.

Reenergize by gaining a new perspective. Look at each rejection as an opportunity to learn something new about your field, to develop strength and grit, and to work on taking a more positive and optimistic approach to your career. Every door that shuts makes possible another door to open, leading to a position that will best utilize your strengths and skills. Or perhaps it’s even time to consider taking the path of an entrepreneur. 

Finally, continue to apply for jobs, experience rejection, and get back up. You’ll learn a lot about yourself, other companies, and gain valuable experience and knowledge about your industry by interviewing for many positions.

The resilience you develop will eventually lead to the right position in the best company for you.

High 5 Weekly Career Transitions Roundup: Personality Testing Video Games

This is our weekly roundup of some of the best career-related articles, interviews, blogs, etc., we've read during the week. We share them so you have some great resources to prepare you for the coming week. Enjoy!

© Bellemedia | Stock Free Images & Dreamstime Stock Photos

• Will Video Games Replace Job Interviews?: "Personality testing video games are becoming the new hot high-tech tool in recruiting. But discrimination and diversity concerns could chill the hype."


• How to Move on When You Didn’t Land the Job: "If you’re stuck in a rejection rut, here are four ways to feel better—and kick your job search back into gear."


• Finding the Right Kind of Sports Internships: "Use social media tools to help ensure you choose the right sports internships—for that matter, any internship—while in college."


• The Power of a Referral: "Nothing comes close to making for a better hiring experience for a job seeker as a referral from a trusted colleague, employee, friend, or acquaintance."


• Career Direction: Managing Your Online Presence: "Keeping a keen eye on your social media presence is an important part of searching for a job."

Top 5 Ways to Deal with Job Rejection.

Many of us have heard the phrase “It’s not you, it’s me” in a breakup in our lives. In that context, it may not always be true. However in the job search, this statement often rings true. The reason we did not get the job will most likely never be known to us. Often, the cause was something out of our control, and no matter how well we prepared or how much we aced the interview we had no chance to get hired.

I was talking to a client over the weekend during an intensive interview counseling session and we discussed this very matter. I let her in on a secret a career sales professional once taught me. His philosophy was SWSWSWN. That stands for “some will, some won’t, so what, next!” The combination of this positive outlook on the outcome of the job search and the top 5 coping strategies should help you return to a positive frame of mind the next time you don’t land the job.

Don’t take it personal.
There are so many factors that go into a company’s decision whether or not to hire. Don’t see it as a personal affront to you if you are rejected. Instead, realize that you have talents, skills, and attributes that you can offer the right company in the right position. When you view job interviews as the end-all measure of your professional worth, you will very quickly damage your view of self-worth.

Learn something from every experience.
I believe there is no such thing as a wasted interview. Every time you interview for a job, whether it is the right fit for you or not, you get more comfortable talking about your skills and the benefits you offer a company. After every interview, ask yourself several questions such as, what questions did I feel unprepared to answer? What can I do differently in the next interview to achieve better results? Did I know enough about the job and the company going into the interview to be successful? Focus on the opportunity for growth and move forward to the next challenge.

Accept responsibility, don’t blame other people.
Accepting responsibility is very different than berating yourself. Take account of your interview performance, accept where you went wrong, and take steps to overcome these same barriers the next time you get a chance. Don’t be critical of the interviewer or the company when talking to family members or colleagues, you never want to burn a potential bridge for your career.

Seek positive support.
You are not alone in the job search. Countless other job seekers are going through some of the same challenges that you face. Seek networking groups where you can gain new information, bounce ideas off one another, and positively discuss the process. Surround yourself with positive people who support you and believe in you and try to avoid those people who are critical and negative.

Network your way to success.
View every encounter as a networking opportunity. Even when you get a rejection from an interview, contact the hiring authority, thank them for taking their time to consider you as an applicant, and ask them to keep you and your qualifications in mind for any future positions or with any industry colleagues who may be hiring for similar positions.