You've just learned that you didn't get the job you were hoping for after an interview. Now what? Where do you go from here?
We all know how bad it feels to be rejected. When trying to find a job, it can be even more daunting. As unfortunate as it may be, rejections are an inevitable part of the job application process and trying to prevent yourself from experiencing them will probably cause you to lose out on potential future opportunities altogether. The reality is, everyone got rejected for a job at one point of their career, even your CEOs - how you respond to the rejection is what determines whether you will succeed or fail.
Taking this into account, what is the best approach for handling job rejection and determining your next steps?
Ask for feedback
You need to learn as much as you can about why you were rejected in order to progress in the future. It's always good to ask for feedback after a failed interview or application. If you understand where you're going wrong, you can reduce the chances of it happening again in the future. Gaining insight into other people's perspectives can help you determine how to achieve your goals in a more effective manner.
Reflect on the feedback you received
There's no denying that rejection hurts, so it's natural to want to move on and not think about it again. If you do that, you could miss out on some helpful insights and chances to improve yourself. Examine the application process in detail, paying particular attention to what went well and what didn’t.
Take the time to put together what you have learned and what you will do differently next time comes after you have accepted the rejection and asked for some feedback. As with everything in life, there is always room for improvement.
Improve your search
You can get started on your next steps once you've figured out how you feel about your rejection. You'll be able to do a much better job searching if you've taken everything you've learned from this process.
Consider how your experience can assist you in refining future job searches. Is it possible that the keywords you are looking at do not quite correspond with your career goals and aspirations? If so, is the role that is associated with the job title not what you expected? Are you thinking that this isn't quite the right kind of job for you after the interview? What other jobs are out there in your field?
Develop resilience
If you keep a positive mindset, you have nothing to lose, but if you keep a negative one, you lose everything. Some things in life are within your control while others are not. Avoid taking things personally. Embrace a positive attitude and believe that there is another job for you out there. Keep in mind that you are only seeking one position, and you have many other opportunities available to you.
Take each setback as an opportunity to grow both your self-knowledge and your ability to bounce back after disappointments. A successful career path is dependent on overcoming obstacles along the way. Therefore, make it a point to remain positive and to learn from this experience to help you prepare for future opportunities.
Everyone gets rejected from jobs at some point, what's important is what you learn from it.