Reframing Job Rejections

No one is immune to job rejection, and it is easy to become overly self-critical because you often don't know why you were not hired and are frequently not even interviewed. There are my factors at play, and it is best to take a breath, stay mindfully positive, and use it as a learning and growth opportunity.

Don't Take it Personally

Job rejection often triggers feelings of inadequacy, frustration, failure, and other awful self-esteem deflators. The excellent news is that rejection is not about you as a person and is not the same as failure. Many reasons need to be made apparent, so you often write a story that could be more kind. Here's the truth-the job could already be filled internally, recruiters are flooded with applicants and yours was never viewed, hiring managers need to be trained to evaluate job performance well, and the recruiters know the company cannot meet your needs or is not aligned with your values. Decisions are not based solely on your resume or interview performance, so don't start over-correcting your approach right away.

Don't Burn Bridges

Even when you logically know it's not personal, rejection in life sucks, and negative emotions take over the initial narrative. I think it would be a good idea to take a break and not respond to the rejection until you can take perspective. You do not want to regret burning a bridge by making it personal. How you handle rejection is part of your future interview with the company. Remain professional and respectful.

Zoom Out

If you are having a hard time staying positive, try zooming out. You are not the only job seeker going through rejection. Your mentors, friends, and families have faced situations just like this, but you won't find posts about the jobs they didn't get land. What would your advice be to be if they turned to you? Try and treat yourself with that same compassion and empathy.

Respond with Kindness

Always write a thank you email. Yep, you read that right. Leave the door open and leave a positive last impression that could lead to a referral or a second look. If you'd like to be considered for the future, you want them to remember how you handled yourself professionally. If you work in a niche field, you could even ask for them to pass along your resume to any of their connections for a role you may be better suited.

Ask for Feedback

Silence your inner critique and look for blind spots by seeking feedback. Not all recruiters or hiring managers are comfortable giving candid feedback, but it can't hurt to let them know you are humble and always looking to improve. Interviewing feedback is rare, and an interview coach may be worth an investment.

Check Yourself

You may be applying for jobs you are not well suited for and could miss out on opportunities you would crush. Seek a trusted mentor or hire a career coach to map out a career and job-seeking plan. This could help you focus on what you want rather than being liked. Take each rejection as an opportunity to learn and fine-tune what you are looking for and what you need to find the best position for your career journey.