How to handle rejection

Job rejections can be disheartening but our editor, Amber Sunner, explores lessons that can be learnt from the process.

CVs, tailored cover letters and obscure interview questions. Hard graft that often culminates in an email with the dreaded words: “We regret to inform you…” Rejected. But there are some useful lessons we can extract from being rejected from that dream job. A sickeningly positive outlook on what may seem hopeless situation, but we can assure you hopeless should not be in the vernacular of job hunting.

The first is learning how to make your applications more attractive. Is your CV a plain word document with no character that showcases who you are? If so watch this nifty masterclass we hosted – it’ll help you determine what parts of your CV you may want to control, alt, delete. One of the best things about being rejected from a job is the ability to learn from it and adapt your future applications.  One part of this curve is possibly adapting your CV or cover letter to make it more appealing.

Being rejected can cause your confidence to dwindle. It’s completely normal but after the bout of this self-doubt try to keep up the momentum of your other job applications. I am guilty of receiving a job rejection and then not touching another application for a while. If you find yourself in the same situation I am so often in, try staggering your applications. Set a time each week dedicated to working on jobs.

Rejection gives us a chance to develop our resilience – an important and attractive trait to many employers. Try to translate this resilience into approaching every opportunity with a fresh perspective.

You can ask for feedback! If you got to the interviewing stage and was rejected asking for feedback is never a bad thing. It may be detailed or brief – either way, it shows the interviewer that you are keen to learn and improve yourself. This move may serve you in the future.

Look at everything you have achieved so far. Try not to let job rejections define you and don’t take it personally. You are so much more complex than a rejection email.

Finally, success and rejection are two sides of the same coin. Keep flipping and it’ll land on success sometime or another. Remember rejection is as much a part of the process as writing a cover letter. Try not to let it impact you too much – keep going and you’ll get there.

Credit: Canva Pro image collage by PressPad

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