It’s disheartening to receive rejection letters after sending out resume after resume.
However, dealing with rejection is an inevitable part of job hunting. Don’t lose hope and treat each rejection as a learning opportunity.
Here are some strategies and tips to help you cope with rejection.
1) Don’t take things personally
Don’t take the rejections personally. There are many reasons why an employer reject your job application. Maybe they can’t afford the salary you are asking for, or maybe another candidate has a better skill set than you do. There’s another job opportunity out there, so move on.
2) Share your disappointment privately
It’s frustrating to be rejected, and one of the best ways to let out your frustration is through venting and sharing. This helps you get over it much quickly. It’s ok to share your feeling with close friends and family, but do not vent on social media. You’ll come off as unprofessional, and you never know who’s reading your tweets or posts.
3) Ask for constructive feedback
Some employers may not offer you any feedback when you don’t get the job, but there is no harm in asking. Their feedback will let you know what you did wrong and allow you to improve in your future interviews.
4) Review your job search process
Whether you receive any feedback from an employer or not, you should reflect on your experience. Review your process to see what you can do better. Take a look at the job description again. Are you missing some necessary skills? If you were the hiring manager, would you hire someone with your skill set?
5) Network with the interviewer
Despite being rejected, thank the interviewer for giving you an opportunity. You may impress them by handling the rejection with maturity and class. Connect with them on social media such as LinkedIn. If they are impressed with you, they may recommend you to other people in their network.
6) Take a break
If you’ve been looking for a job for quite some time without success, it may be a good idea to take a break to regroup. You don’t have to go on a vacation. It could be as simple as going offline for a day and head to the beach. This will clear your mind and give you the rejuvenation you need.
7) Move on
Job hunting requires resilience and persistence. There are still many opportunities out there. Pick yourself back up and look for the next best opportunity. There more resumes you send out, the greater your chances of finding your dream job.
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