If you’re a regular visitor you’ll know that my blogs are generally upbeat, positive and all about supporting you through the interview process.  So, in this blog I’ll be sharing some tips on how to deal with rejection.

However, for most of us being rejected is an inevitable part of the job search and interview process.

In fact, rejection will feature in our lives generally if we are growing, learning and developing and it’s good to have some tools to manage that rejection positively.  It’s an opportunity to learn.

It’s a fact that most (if not all!) successful people will have had to deal with rejection at some point in their career and how they manage this will impact their future success, well-being and happiness.

Whether it’s your first job, the second job or a significant promotional opportunity – you are going to have to face the fact that it’s likely at some point you’ll have to deal with that “thanks but no thanks.”

Even if you feel you are the best candidate, tick all the boxes and have qualifications coming out of your ears!!

Here are a couple of tips on How to Deal with Rejection After Interview:

Self-reflection and evaluation is a very powerful process and can be highly effective if applied properly.

I’m an advocate of the benefits of a little reflection and objective self-evaluation. This isn’t a licence to beat yourself up or be overly critical – this just isn’t helpful. It’s a time to think consciously, rationally and as much as possible objectively.

Having a strong self-belief will have a huge impact on your chances of success. Change the words and the voice in your head to a positive and supportive one. Easily said!!

Most thoughts start with a question that we ask ourselves and within a nanosecond we answer.

Therefore, if we tend to ask ourselves negative questions it’s very likely we’ll give ourselves a negative response.
Becoming more aware of your thoughts and how they can affect your behaviour and actions is the key to handling situations in the best possible way.

HERE’S AN EXCERPT FROM MY GOOD FRIEND AND BUSINESS ASSOCIATE PETER KELLEHER’S BOOK “THINKING OF LEAVING YOUR JOB?”

“Our belief in our ability to succeed at something new is limited not by necessarily external forces, but by our own internal fear of failure. Consider, for a moment if Thomas Edison had given up at attempt 98, how dark it would be without the light bulb – or if Marie Curie had not persevered in her pioneering research on radioactivity (which incidentally made her the first woman to win the Nobel prize) or if James Dyson had not revolutionised vacuum cleaning with the invention of the ‘cyclone’. Imagine if they had thought, “I can’t do it” after failing countless times. The world would be a much poorer place (and dirtier!).”

Ask for feedback

In an ideal world every candidate would get quality feedback – it’s only fair if you have spent time preparing for the interview, researching the company and spent time and money attending interviews. At the very least it’s good manners to make sure you as the candidate receive closure for your application.

Unfortunately, getting that closure or quality feedback is rare these days. Whether this is due to the age of technology and the absence of the human touch or the high volume of applications and lack of resources. Or a lack of understanding that ignoring unsuccessful candidates has a negative impact.

Be realistic that it’s definitely not a reflection on you if you don’t receive feedback – it’s out of your control and something you’ll need to accept and move on.

Do you want to work for a company that doesn’t value its people, clients, or suppliers…you could be any one of these in the future and that company has missed a big public relations opportunity?

Don’t take the news personally

It’s very likely that you have not been the only candidate shortlisted to attend an interview and again it’s likely there is only one position. So you’re not going to be the only disappointed candidate if you don’t get this particular job on this occasion.

There could be so many different factors that are taken into consideration when making a decision about the right candidate for the job.

Some or even most of the factors won’t even appear in the job description – things like team fit (what skills, experiences, knowledge can you bring to the existing team that they don’t already have?), corporate cultural fit (Understanding if your values match the principles of the organisation and the working environment matches your preferences etc.)

The company may be recruiting a particular set of skills for the current environment and role but also looking for skills and knowledge to meet changes and needs of the organisation in the future.

Focus Back on your job search

What do they say when you fall off a horse – get straight back on!!

Don’t waste any more time thinking about the last application – start applying for other jobs.

You have the ability and permission to start again and leave all other applications in the past.

What a great feeling knowing you can apply for the next job without anyone knowing you didn’t get the last job!!

For a little more information on How to Deal with Rejection After Interview visit my YouTube Channel: