Just like in expressing love, you can also experience being turned down in job applications. As with any type of rejection, it can hurt because of the disappointment. Imagine the work you’ve done putting your best foot forward in your resume and application form, trying hard to impress the interviewer, showing off to sell yourself just to receive “sorry” in an email. But there is nothing to cry about in job applications. You just have to know how to deal with it and turn things around. Here are some helpful tips to help you cope with job rejections:
1. Don’t take it personally
It’s not about you and it’s not the end of the world. It’s about the qualifications and criteria that did not land you the job. Just like in sportsmanship, accept the fact that there are winners and losers, and this time, you did not win. It’s normal. It’s part of the process. But remember that there is nothing wrong with you or your capabilities. Don’t take it against the company or the interviewer. It was also hard for them to decide on which candidate to hire. Do not burn bridges because you’ll never know when you will come across another job vacancy with this company or meet them at some point in the future.
2. Keep a positive attitude
Remain positive despite rejections. You should still thank the interviewer for the opportunity and say nice things. Stay away from negative thoughts and frustrations about the company or about you. You have to still be confident and show maturity as a person. Smile and take the rejection as a learning experience. Having a genuinely good attitude can leave a good impression on you. Whereas if you show a bad attitude, you are just giving the company another reason why they did not hire you.
3. Focus on your strengths
You’ve come this far in your application. It means there is something about you that caught the hiring manager’s attention. It’s just not enough to land you the job. So reflect on your application journey and find out what went wrong. Focusing on your abilities is one way to maintain confidence and self-esteem. Develop your strengths and improve on your weaknesses if there are any. In this way, you can level up and be ready for your next job application.
4. Don’t be afraid to try again
Speaking of next job applications, never let rejections bring you down. Do not be discouraged by one company saying “no” to you. There are many other companies that are hiring. All you have to do is keep applying and never surrender. Don’t lose hope if you have received several rejections already. Always remember that if you give up today, you might miss tomorrow’s opportunity.
5. Remember that what is truly yours will come to you
In the context of how the universe works, keep in mind that you will always get what is meant for you in life. If you have this mindset and you believe in the universal laws, you can easily turn rejections into something to your advantage. For example, if one company rejected you, there might be a reason why. You can look at it as a sign that it is not good for you. Just like in soulmates, you and your job should click, have chemistry, and be a perfect match. Rejections are just stepping stones toward something greater and there are so much more in store for you.
Bonus tip: Apply to as many job opportunities as you can.
Do not apply to just one company at a time. Send your application to all the job vacancies you can find, making sure that you are qualified. Having several active applications can lessen the impact of one rejection. You can look forward to the other companies you have applied for instead of thinking about being rejected.
These are just some of the many tips you can follow to cope with job rejections. To overcome a job rejection proves that you can overcome any challenge in your career. Knowing that you can properly handle this obstacle shows how you are as a professional dealing with rejections at work.