In spin class the other day, the teacher said something that resonated with me: “There are a lot of things in life you can’t control, but do your very best at what you can.” He’s right. I try to remember that when I’m job searching. We all want to land a job we love. Unfortunately, you may have been rejected from a job because of factors that are out of your control such as the number of years of experience you have, how far along a company may be in the hiring process, or if the team decided to hire an internal candidate.
I once applied for a job I thought was my “dream” job. I researched the company, wrote down answers to the most commonly asked interview questions, and prepared stories to show I had the skills and requirements listed in the job description. I even went above and beyond by recommending strategies they should implement, like a sorority and college ambassador program. I left the interview knowing I did a great job. I got along with the interviewer and she even got her notebook to write down the strategies I had mentioned. I wrote the thank you note. I followed up. I did everything right…and found out that I didn’t get the job. She explained that she was really impressed by me, but they had already been far along in the interview process with someone else. They had already essentially made their decision before I showed up.
I was sad, but I still sent her a nice email, thanked her for meeting with me, and said I’d continue to check back for new openings. She said she’d love that and connected with me on LinkedIn. I kept the relationship open and showed my continued interest in the company.
I’ve been on the other side of the equation, too! I’ve sent rejection emails to applicants without receiving replies, but one person did and it stood out to me. It showed her professionalism. When there was another opening a few months later, I reached out to her and offered her the internship. When I switched companies, I contacted her with another opening. We work together again now.
In many states, hiring managers are required to keep all the resumes they receive on file for a year. Hopefully, they’ll remember you and reference yours again for future openings! Here are some recommendations moving forward when you’ve been rejected for a job.
Ask for feedback:
If you’ve gotten through multiple interviews, the team has gotten a chance to know you. There is no harm in asking for feedback. There is a chance that they won’t provide feedback because it might be against their company policy. If they can provide feedback, you could learn something that would be helpful as you move forward with your job search.
Reflect on the hiring process:
Maybe you were thrown off by an unexpected interview question, Maybe you didn’t research the company and role enough to answer why you want to work there and why you’d be a good fit. Mistakes happen. Reflect on your experience and think about ways you can improve. Think of it as a learning opportunity that will make you an even better candidate the next time around.
Recognize when it’s not the right fit:
There is often nothing you could have done differently. There are so many reasons you may have been rejected from a job. They could have implemented a company-wide hiring freeze, decided to postpone hiring for this role, filled the position internally, or hired someone who had a connection at the company. If you reflect on your experience and can’t find anything that went wrong, it’s possible that nothing did.
Let it go:
Rejection is hard. It’s hard not to let it impact your self-esteem but you need to be confident and positive as you continue your job search. Make sure you take time to do things that make you happy, whether it’s going for a run or watching a rom-com. Confide in someone who can support you and remind you of your talent and work ethic. Remember: There are a lot of things in life you can’t control, but do your very best at what you can.
P.S. Here’s a template you can use to respond to a job rejection email:
Hi [Name],
Thank you for letting me know and considering me for the role. If possible, I would appreciate any feedback you can share that will help me be a better candidate moving forward.
I enjoyed learning more about the department and working at [company name]. I will continue to look for openings that would be a good fit for my skills and experience.
Thank you again for interviewing me for the role.
Best,
[Name]
These are great tips to keep in mind! I think following-up even when you don’t get the job is a great strategy and shows your interest in the company.
http://www.livinginsteil.com
Thank you, Vanessa! Your comments always make me so happy.
What a great idea for a post! This was very encouraging and I am sure many people struggle with this! Thank you!
-Morgan
How 2 Wear It [] http://how2wearit.com
Thank you! I’m so glad that you thought it was useful!
This is such a great post. As a recent grad going through the job hunting process it feels great to know I’m not alone feeling a bit disheartened. I may not have my dream job but I can stay positive and keep working towards a job I find rewarding!
Thank you so much! Congratulations on your graduation. Believe me, I was in your shoes once and know how disheartening the job search process can be. You may find some of my job search articles to be useful!
This is fantastic and extremely timely for all of those who are newly graduated! I am so thankful that I didn’t get some jobs that I thought I wanted at the time and was able to accept my current position- which I love. Sometimes you just have to remind yourself that there are bigger and better things out there for you!
Thanks for sharing.
Wow! I absolutely agree! I’m so glad that you love the position you’re in now. Ironically, I also feel the same about the role I didn’t get now and the one I’m in currently!
As someone who has been rejected from my dream job more that once, this post was so on point! I always try to remember that what’s meant to be will be. It sounds so simple, but sometimes a little positivity goes a long way. Xx
So true! Always stay positive. Thanks for sharing your story!
This post definitely sits with me as I am actively hunting for a job.
It can definitely be a little frustrating but I always keep in mind that maybe that wasn’t the job for me, no matter how much I thought it was.
Thanks for sharing.
xoxo, Jenny || Breakfast at Lillys
Absolutely! Good luck on your job search. Some of my job search articles may be helpful. I also recommend The Prepary!
This is such great advice! I’m nearing the end of my degree so am looking around for graduate jobs at the moment, and will definitely keep this in mind.
– Obiter Darling
I absolutely love this post. I’ve been sort of stuck in a dead end project and I’ve opened up my own business, but it’s also been going pretty slow. This was a great read for me, give me a bit of inspiration 🙂 Thank you!
xx | Steph @ The Lovely Essentials & Jenssen’s Designs
I absolutely love this post. I love how you mentioned that it’s smart to respond, even when you don’t get the job. So many people don’t even respond and I find it rude (I’m on the hiring end) because I took the time to meet with them and they could at least say thank you! I think it’s just a matter of manners and being polite. Plus, it opens the doors for future opportunities with that company! Thanks so much for sharing!
xoxo
Lauren Ashley
http://www.thefashionistasdiary.com
These are such great pointers! I never thought to ask for feedback in my follow up emails while I was on the job hunt. I recognized that a few of the positions that I did apply for weren’t a good fit /after/ the interview and I’m glad that I waited it out for (more or less) a month until I found the right job for me. I’ve been at my current position for almost a year and I can’t imagine a better place to work for.
Excellent post! I graduate college in December 2016 so the job search will soon be around the corner for me!!
xoxo A
http://www.southernbelleintraining.com
Oh I simply love this post more and more every time I read it 🙂 As always, wonderful advice!!!
xoxo!!!