How To Deal With Rejection

Rejection. 

We’ve all been there, right? Sadly, these things happen and it’s totally normal to feel disappointed when a job opportunity slips through the net. 

That said, try not let it get you down for too long. There are a few steps you can take to stay positive while you continue looking for a role that’s right for you.

Keep going, you’ve got this!

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Try journalling

Journalling is a great way to reduce stress. Writing our thoughts down on paper helps us channel negative emotions and identify our problems so we can work through them easily. 

Don’t worry about getting the wording right. Just write down everything that comes to mind, as if you were the only person reading it. The good thing about journalling is you don’t need a specific format or structure. This is your space to express your deepest, darkest feelings. 

So express yourself freely. You’ll be surprised how much lighter you’ll feel when you do. 

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Ask for feedback

Asking for feedback can be daunting. However, it is the greatest gift you could receive as it shifts your focus and points you to those areas that need improvement.

If you’ve been turned down from a role, send an email to the hiring manager asking for feedback. Whether it’s your CV, experience or interview technique that needs a little tinkering, one simple reply lets you know which areas you can improve.

You could reach out to family and friends and get them to have a look at your application too. All it takes is a fresh pair of eyes to point you in the right direction and – BAM – you’re one step closer to landing your dream role.

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Tailor your application

When a recruiter scans your CV, they’re not looking to find out what you ate for dinner last night. Nor what your theory behind Zayn Malik’s split from One Direction is.

They want to know if you’ve got the right skills for their job and can do the role better than anyone else. Each role you apply for will need a specific set of skills.

And as cool as it would be to send the same CV to every single employer out there, you’d be doing yourself a huge disservice if you did. Recruiters can smell a generic application from a mile off. Don’t let yours be one of those.

So how do you go about tailoring your CV? Here are some tips to follow to make sure your application meets the job requirements and stands out from the crowd: 

• Go through the job description and highlight any key words or phrases. Next, write these down on a separate sheet of paper and group them into soft skills, hard skills and work experience. From there, you can transfer them onto your CV 
• Tweak your personal statement. Let the recruiter know why you want to work in this particular industry and company. Passion speaks volumes. So if you’re able to convey that in your application, you’re more likely to get called in for an interview
• Look back over your employment history and make sure your responsibilities match the duties listed in the job description. The closer a fit your application is to the role, the greater your chance of making the shortlist.

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Keep your options open

When applying for roles, make sure you’re sending your application to lots of employers. As tempting as it is to put all your crumpets in one basket, sending multiple applications, all of which are tailored, increases your chance of bagging the position.

Remember, there could be 20, 40 or 350 applicants up for the same job. Competition is tough so don’t take it personally if you don’t hear back. Everything happens for a reason. 

Maybe things didn’t work out ‘cause you were destined for something better. Keep calm and apply on. You’ll get there eventually.

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Focus on the positives

It’s totally understandable to feel sad when a job falls through. Especially if you’ve tried your hardest and put everything into your application. But you mustn’t let one setback knock you down. Life’s all about challenges and overcoming them. It’s the bouncing back that counts.

If your spirits need lifting, why not pick up the phone and chat to a friend? Or pop outside and go for a walk in the park? Nature is healing by default and spending time there can really boost your mood. 

Remember, we can’t look after our careers if we don’t look after ourselves first. So do what you need to do. Book that gym class, cinema ticket or weekend away. You’ll come back feeling fresher and more energised than ever. Ready to smash the next set of applications.

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