Being rejected for a job is never easy. It can make you feel disappointed, sad and angry – and even make you want to give up on your search.
But it is important to remember that everyone gets a rejection. And although it is not a nice experience, there are steps you can take to cope with it – and even learn from it.
Coping with disappointment
You will feel disappointed if you are rejected for a job – especially if it was a role that you really wanted.
The most important thing to remember is it was not personal. It just means that your skills and experience did not match what the employer wanted. There are many reasons why this could be, including:
- You did not include relevant details on your CV
- You missed out important information in your interview
- Your current skillset does not match the role.
But there are simple ways you can fix these things in your next application.
See it as a learning opportunity
Learn from each rejection and think about what you could do differently.
Have another look at your CV, revise your cover letter and practice some interview questions. Make sure you have a thorough read of each job advert and make sure you mention the relevant skills and qualities in your applications.
And if you simply do not have the skills needed for a certain role, think about how you can develop your skillset. Volunteering, qualifications or starting a new hobby are great ways to learn new things – and can make your CV stand out.
Look for feedback
Sometimes it might not be obvious why you got a job rejection. But a simple way you can understand what happened is to ask for feedback.
Many employers will offer feedback after an interview to let you know why you were not chosen. It can be harder to get comments earlier in the application process, but you can still ask.
Once you understand what happened, you will know what to focus on moving forward. Maybe you need to practice your interview skills with a friend or rehearse your answers to common questions.
It is okay to get rejected for a job
Keep reminding yourself that job rejections are just part of the job search. We have all experienced them – and all learnt from them.
