How to bounce back from a job rejection

No one enjoys getting turned down for a job. Especially if you’ve put in a lot of effort into preparing your resume and getting ready for the interview.   

But, it happens to everyone at some point in their career. The key is to turn this rejection into a learning experience and not let it hold you back in your career journey. 

Here are eight ways to bounce back from a job rejection:

1. Do not take it personally

   First and foremost, never take a job rejection as personal. .Recruiters make decisions based on a number of factors including relevant qualifications, quality of resume and interview style. 

   So, rest assured, that you are a capable professional in your own way. You just did not meet the qualifications of the role that you are applying for or maybe you just need to polish your resume of interview skills.

2. Ask for a detailed feedback

   Being rejected from a job interview can be a very daunting experience. The thought of the rejection itself just wants you to forget that whole experience and move on. However, looking back can be an advantage for you. Because that would be another way for you to learn and grow from the experience.

   Think about the feedback you received from the recruiter, try and go back through everything that happened and channel your inner thoughts. In this process you can assess everything from the way you prepared for the interview to the way you answered and handled yourself throughout  your interview. 

   Remember, no one is perfect and there is always room for improvement, so use this experience as an opportunity to learn and bounce back.

3. Look back and reflect

   Being rejected from a job interview can be a very daunting experience. The thought of the rejection itself just wants you to forget that whole experience and move on. However, looking back can be an advantage for you. Because that would be another way for you to learn and grow from the experience.

   Think about the feedback you received from the recruiter, try and go back through everything that happened and channel your inner thoughts. In this process you can assess everything from the way you prepared for the interview to the way you answered and handled yourself throughout  your interview. 

   Remember, no one is perfect and there is always room for improvement, so use this experience as an opportunity to learn and bounce back.

4. Practice self-awareness

   Consider how you want to present yourself to your interviewer. Take this chance to re-read your resume and know by heart your cover letter. 

   This will help you answer the interviewers “key interview questions” as if you know them by heart and not just as if you just scanned your cover letter and resume quickly before the interview. Also, whether you highlight your experiences in the most favourable way. 

   Put your experience to work by setting a goal to do better next time around.

5. Stay positive

   Keeping yourself excited and maintaining a positive mental attitude is an important part when dealing with a job rejection. One way to keep the fire burning is to surround yourself with the right people and accept that many professionals have been rejected when it comes to job opportunities and many have bounced back and got their dream jobs.

6. Maintain your momentum

   It can be very tempting to put your job search on hold most especially if you’re waiting on a confirmation text from the previous company you applied for.

   However, it can be way more beneficial on your part if you keep your job search in motion up until you have accepted a job position. This will give you a good grasp of what you really want to pursue as a career and also widen your network of professional contacts and maintain contact with recruitment professionals. This kind of approach will nurture your confidence and also helps to prevent you banking on a role that doesn’t land in your lap.

7. Refine your job search

   With every rejection comes a reflection. When looking back try to counterfeit the qualifications that you did not meet v.s. The qualifications you did meet. From there you will have self realisation that maybe the role you applied for does not really match your set of skills. 

   Therefore, it is your duty to use past experiences that will help you refine future job searches. Then ask yourself if perhaps you are looking at keywords that don’t quite match your ambitions, skills, and aspirations? Did your expectations from the job interview match with what really happened? Did the job interview you last had gave you a wake-up call and made you realise that the position you applied for isn’t really for you?

8. Be resilient

   In these forever changing times it is becoming harder and harder to find the right job for you. Developing a mindset of grit and resilience is essential for you to have a long term success

   Take each setback as a challenge to push harder and become stronger. Remember your journey does not end until you say so it is.Take this chance to overcome obstacles on your career path. It will help you increase your chances of finding the right job positions just for you.

   Take this chance to absorb every feedback and turn it into lessons and do all you can to help you get ready for the next opportunity that knocks your door.

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