What
To Do After You’re Rejected In A Job Interview
The important thing to remember is that missing out on a job can have a
silver lining. While you
might not get the job you wanted, you could learn some important things which
will improve your chances of getting the right role.
Here’s what you can do after
a rejection to improve your shot at long-term success.
Ask for Feedback
One way to get something
positive out of a job interview rejection is to ask for feedback. While not all
interviewers will be willing to
share their insights with you, some may give you basic information about where
you went wrong, or what you could have done better.
You might even learn the job rejection wasn’t down to something you did
“wrong”, but instead is owed to the fact someone else had a better resume than
you.
Asking for feedback will not
only help you improve your interview skills, it will also ensure you don’t
start making assumptions about what you should have done differently. If the
feedback you get doesn’t help much at first, don’t be afraid to ask the
interviewer to expand.
Reflect and Review
Once you’ve come to terms with the fact that you’re not going to
get the job, it’s time for self-reflection. Ask yourself what you would do differently if you were going to take
the interview again.
Consider how you planned, how
much time you put into researching the company, and how prepared you were for
the questions. If you cut some corners
when getting ready, this could be a sign you need to be more committed in the
future.
During the reflection stage,
the focus shouldn’t be on beating yourself up. Instead, look for opportunities
to learn and improve in the long-term. Make notes so you can look back on them
the next time you land an interview.
Look At Personal
Development
Aside from working on your
interview skills, you might need to construct a plan for personal development.
For instance, if a lot of the
feedback is that you don’t have enough leadership experience, you could
volunteer for more leadership opportunities in your current role.
Based on your self-reflection and the information you gather from your
interviewer, make notes of the weaknesses and issues you can change.
Focusing on ways you can
become a more hireable person will ensure you don’t get bogged down in things
you can’t control, like wondering if you’re “likeable” enough.
Build Resilience
You need to have a thick skin when applying for jobs. You’re
probably going to experience some rejection before you get the role of your
dreams. Most people won’t get every opportunity they apply for.
If you get down in the dumps every time you experience rejection, it can
cause you to sulk and worry about your job search. You can spend so much time getting over each
rejection that you waste time you could be devoting to your job search.
Learn how to build a sense of
resilience and let the sense of rejection go. Focus on the things you’ve
learned from the experience, not on the rejection itself.
Refine Your Job
Search
Finally, one of the best
things you can do to boost your chances of success is to refine your job
search. Think about whether you’re
applying for the jobs you’re most suited to. Perhaps it’s time to narrow
your focus a little, at least until you’ve collected more accreditations and
certifications.
If you’re applying for roles
that are out of your league, you may need to work on improving your education
and skill set before you can expect to get the job you want. Applying for jobs
you’re simply not cut out for means you’re setting yourself up to fail.
While it’s great to have
ambition, make sure you’re being realistic.
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