5 Things To Do When You Don’t Get the Job

© Laurin Rinder - Dreamstime.com

You carefully prepared for the job interview and it went well. You were called back for a second interview and had been excited to make a job change when you get the disappointing news: You were the runner-up for the position. Thank you for your time.

What to do you now? Manage your disappointment, of course, along with continuing to crush it at your current job.

In addition to maintaining your strong performance at work, take the following steps to turn your disappointment into something positive and beneficial for your career.

Be gracious. When you get that call letting you know that you did not get the job be sure to be kind and courteous. Thank the interviewer for taking the time to consider you for the position. You want to continue to make a good impression by demonstrating how you manage disappointment when a situation doesn’t go as hoped. You never know, you just might get a call back for a future opportunity. Or your interviewer might remember you when they’ve moved on to another job.

Seek feedback. While you have the person on the phone, make the most of the opportunity by asking for feedback on your interview and the areas you seem to be lacking in knowledge or experience. This is simply for information gathering. Do not get defensive or attempt to persuade the interviewer that he or she is making a mistake. Your job here is to listen, take notes, and say thank you.

Fill in the gaps. Take that information you just received and put it to use. Sign up for a class or a training session to master the skills you’re lacking or seek out a mentor who can provide some counsel. Develop a plan to improve your skill set and get after it.

Widen your net. Use this experience to widen your network of contacts and deepen your relationships. Perhaps seek to develop a professional relationship with someone at the company you interviewed with. Find a connection through LinkedIn or inquire among your friends. Go to conferences or events where the speakers or attendees will likely be individuals from companies you’ve targeted.  

Be grateful. Flip the switch and turn your disappointment into gratitude. The grass is not always greener and many of us have made career moves we’ve regretted. You might have been spared a difficult situation. Turn your attention to what is good about your current situation and focus on that. There will be other opportunities that come up and for now you can master your current work and develop skills that will help land that next 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.