Research has revealed that 61% of respondents cried when being rejected by a potential employer, whilst 57% had drunk alcohol and 14% had even gone back to a previous employer.
A study conducted by the team at Jobmagnet found that a third of job seekers are more upset by rejections from potential employers than they are from love interests. It got them thinking about the similarities between job seeking and relationships. Both require a great deal of searching and effort to find the right one, and both come with their setbacks. Job seeking can be a tricky process and it can be very disheartening to receive rejections, so in this article they look at ways in which to handle disappointment when it comes to job applications.
There are a few stages at which you can receive a rejection in the job search: not hearing back after an application, rejection at the application stage, and rejection after the interview stage.
If you don’t hear back after applying for a job, first and foremost don’t take it to heart, and certainly don’t let it discourage you from continuing to apply elsewhere. Employers can receive hundreds of applications for a role, and frankly it would be a waste of their time to respond to each individual application. Don’t let it put you off and keep getting those applications out there.
If you’re finding that you’re sending out a lot of applications and months are passing by without any response, consider looking over your CV and cover letters, or even get someone else to go over them with you.
If you do receive a response from an application letting you know that you’ve been unsuccessful, then respond with your thanks and ask the employer for any feedback they can give you on your CV and cover letter. They may include it in the email anyway if, for example, you did not have enough experience. Use the feedback to tailor your next application and you should find that your applications will improve and you will have better success. Furthermore, if you keep receiving rebuttals from your applications it might be worth considering narrowing your search parameters, and being more realistic about your applications. For example, avoid applying for a role that requires years of managerial experience if you have none.
If you make it to the interview process – congratulate yourself. If an employer has invited you to an interview then you must have done something right, and it likely means they liked what they read on your CV or cover letter. Take heart in the fact that you’ve made it to that point but, and this is important, don’t put all your eggs in one basket. If you were going on a first date, you wouldn’t start planning your wedding, mortgage and future children, and it should be the same when you go for an interview. Make sure you do all the preparation and research for the interview, but keep your other options open and don’t stop applying to other roles. Don’t be afraid to attend multiple interviews, as you might not receive a job offer from each one.
So how do you cope with rejection after an interview? First of all, take all the positives from the situation. Bear in mind that they must have liked your initial application, because they invited you for an interview, so use the cover letter from the application for future reference. Any interview is great experience in job seeking and each one will see your confidence and ability to answer interview questions improve. If you receive a job offer from your very first interview then you are very lucky, or very talented!
Asking for feedback is vital if you have been rejected after an interview, and something that employers might not immediately disclose to you. If you receive a phone call or email telling you that you didn’t get the job, ask them for feedback on how you interviewed, and the reason that they didn’t go for you. If possible, ask for it via email as well, so you can use it when attending future interviews. Don’t take it as a negative review of yourself but as constructive criticism on how you can do better next time.
Remember that you are not alone in receiving a rejection from a job application and that many will be going through the same experience. Try not to get too disheartened by it all, and keep sending out your applications and attending interviews, because your time will come.