What to Do When You Get Rejected from a Job

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]