Rejected for a Job: What to do After Getting Rejected?

Here are some useful tips and ideas on what one can do after being Rejected for a Job!

Yes, it has happened. Though nobody likes them, rejections do happen. Sure, this is a bitter pill to swallow!

It is a very frustrating, disappointing, emotionally taxing period and very hard to handle, especially if it has been your dream job.

It is right to go through all the feelings you are justified. You can take your time to cool off. After the cooling period is over, the next best thing is to introspect yourself. Yes, you have to find out the reason for the job rejection.

There are many reasons for a person to be Rejected for a Job. Some persons get selected instead of others based on their qualifications, experience, and specific skill sets.

Don’t worry if you are rejected, and it doesn’t mean that you should stop taking risks. You have to identify the reasons and find opportunities to improve your experiences.

In this article, we will learn some important things to handle job rejection.

1. Can I Ask Why I was Rejected For a Job?

It is a dilemma that all of us face when rejection happens. We were so confident that we were the best candidate when we sent the application.

Rejection from a job happens due to many reasons. To understand why they rejected a person for a job, we can do some rewinding process.

Go back to the interview day. Think over and double-check if you have the necessary qualifications and the required experience for the given role.

Ask yourself how you did in the interview. If it is a ‘Yes’, then you can send a polite mail or make a phone call to find out the reason behind your rejection.

Not all the companies may respond, but some will surely do. Getting this answer will help you understand the required skills and realistic expectations of the company.

It will help you to find out what went wrong. Besides, you will come to know whether to improve your skill sets, learn some new technology, or whatever your shortcomings and you can correct them.

2. Few Common Reasons for Being Rejected

Let us see the scenario of what happens after a Rejection.

There may be many reasons behind why you were Rejected for a job – some of which may be due to our faults and shortcomings and some which may not be due to us.

The following are some of the few, that we will discuss:

2.1. Someone else is better than me

It is very hard to accept, but it does happen sometimes. We may be 100 % sure that we are bound to get the offer, but at last, we get rejected.

If the number of vacancies is limited and the number of applicants is exceedingly high (as it usually is!), then surely, the best ones alone will get the job.

In such cases, we have to understand the reality and accept the situation.

So the best thing to do will be to take it as one more addition to your interviewing experience and polish it further.

2.2. Poor Resume

You may not believe it, but sometimes a poor resume may be the reason for rejection.

There are hundreds of job applications, and people do not have the energy or patience to look into or scrutinize all the applications.

Invariably, a better-formatted resume highlighting the job requirements will get attention.

Hence, if you have the habit of sending the same generic resume to all the companies, you may please change it.

Try to prepare a specific resume for each category of the companies, that you may be trying.

In that, highlight your plus points, which are essential for that company, and surely your application will catch the recruiter’s eye.

In case, you are unable to prepare your resume then you can take professional help like resume writing services.

There are plenty of tips available in online resources on how to build a resume? Some companies do it for a charge on a professional basis.

2.3. When it isn’t something beyond your control

At times, you keep wondering what went wrong. You may never know. There are some reasons which are beyond our control and comprehension.

It may be like you have applied after a delayed period. Because of this, some early birds may have gotten the opportunity.

Sometimes, existing officials in the company get a promotion to a particular post without giving others a chance.

Or even they may have received a strong recommendation for a particular candidate from their board of Directors.

Some other times, It may also be very simple. Just that the HR person did not feel that you are the right person for the job without any obvious reason.

2.4. It could be something else, too!

You were so sure you had all the necessary qualifications. And, you even felt that you were the perfect candidate who excellently did the interview. But very shockingly, they reject you!

It may be due to the background check. Some companies a few checks on their potential employees.

They try to find out the person’s real interests and general discipline by checking the candidate’s social media accounts.

If they do not like some of your hard opinions or preferences, they may feel you will not be able to function smoothly in their organization.

So they may reject you in such places.

3. Things to do After Getting Rejected

Now, this is the time to do an honest self-reflection and get some answers to questions nagging in our minds.

3.1. Do I need that job?

You can slow down and rethink why you applied for the job in the first place. Try to find out whether it was for the company’s brand name or because of your friend’s suggestion that it will be cool to get a job there.

Please ascertain if you wanted that job and what you expected out of that job offer. This analysis will help you to determine whether you can try similar jobs.

If you conclude this job was not meant for you, please change your course altogether and try for a different job opening, which may very well suit your interests.

3.2. What could be the reason for my rejection?

Take enough time to find out the reason for your rejection. It is okay to talk to the employees or friends in that organization and to know the reason for your rejection.

If it is something beyond our control, we can do nothing to change it. But, if it is due to a lack of some skills in your profile, then you can update yourself.

Try to do some research and analyze the patterns of employable skills. Devote your efforts and time and you can see the results in a short time. It will surprise you!

3.3. Am I Prepared?

Did you prepare yourself for the job? Most of the time, during job hunting, we tire out easily.

We fall into the ‘automation mode’ of blindly selecting our resume, forwarding it to the company, and forgetting it.

Actually, it is not the best method. We have to devote time to learning about the company we are applying for.

It will be an extra advantage to read their website, to know about their services and products, and to have a fair idea of their business.

Then you can tailor-make your resume to fit that company for the role you are applying for.

3.4. Am I Qualified?

Try reading your resume from a third person’s point of view. Check out if you are really qualified for the job.

Visualize and try to guess some other skills which may not find mentioned in the requisites.

Even otherwise, they may be an added asset to that job profile.

Improve your social skills and interpersonal relationships. Keep updating your resume often.

Know the market trends and expectations of the employers, and you are sure to succeed.

3.5. What one is the thing I can do better?

Do a SWOT analysis of yourself. All of us will have unique strengths and weaknesses.

There may be areas that you may need to improve. Please try to bring them to the level of adequacy for your job requirements.

Practice your interviewing skills. You may have answered a question in a better fashion.

Try to find out good answers to common questions asked in interviews.

Always be open to learning new ideas. Talk to people who are currently in your area of job.

Learn from them and adapt them to your style. This will show your interest and willingness.

4. How to Recover from Job Rejection?

4.1. Avoid Negativity

A job rejection will plunge us into self-doubt. It will question our self-esteem, and sure, we may end up feeling bad with negative opinions of ourselves.

Answering everyone’s query about the interview result and handling their feedback is quite tiring. It is very very essential to avoid negativity.

Try to remind yourself that negativity breeds negativity. This you will reflect in your attitude or body language in your next interview.

You may be unintentionally spoiling your chances in the next interview. So, pat yourself, read some motivating books, and get ready for the game again.

4.2. Don’t Take It Personally

There is cut-throat competition in today’s employment scenario. Accept the fact, and you will feel much better.

Never take a job rejection on a personal basis. It is not a review of you as a human being or of your capabilities.

It is an assessment of whether you will be suitable for that particular job role.

The HR Manager does not have any hatred against you. He did not Reject you for the job just like that! (Though very rare, it happens).

The reason is that he may have felt that some other candidate with a better qualification or experience is more suitable.

Ensure you do not have any negative feelings and keep the communication channel open. Thus having a good rapport will make you a potential candidate for the future vacancy.

The fact that you did not succeed in the interview does not mean the end of the world.

4.3. Focus On Your Strengths

To reassure yourself, prepare a list of your special skills. Improve on them with focus and determination.

It will boost your self-confidence and prevent you from succumbing to depression and negativity. Every one of us has some special talent and ability.

Focus on yours and polish it. It may be excellent verbal communication skills, language skills, coordinating with clients, etc. Make it the highlight of your resume.

Have a detailed write-up in your resume on how your strength benefited your company with real examples.

Keep practicing your skills to stay updated. Always be ready.

4.4. Stay Positive

It is extremely difficult to maintain a good spirit after you are rejected for a job. But, we also know that a positive mindset is highly essential for success.

As the saying goes “Failure is the Key to Success.” So we should learn from our failures and not allow them to spoil our mental well-being.

Keep yourself positive and in good company. If you feel depressed, you can uplift your mood by listening to motivational talks or by reading self-help books.

Relax by indulging in your favorite pastimes – like listening to music, going for a short walk, talking to friends, etc.

4.5. Use the Opportunity

Handling a situation after you are Rejected for a job is very tough, Yes, we sure do understand and agree with this!

But, at the same time, we must also remember that this is an eye-opener to understanding ourselves.

After such rejection, we pause and take time to observe, analyze and find out the reason.

We rediscover ourselves, our goals and desires, and the best method to attain them.

Further, we get the courage and determination to continue our efforts and not to quit until we succeed.

Then, we use the chance to update our abilities and pursue our interests. This will, on the whole, make you a better person.

4.6. Practice Self Awareness

After you are Rejected for a job take time to think about how you presented yourself in the interview. Look back at your performance, your attitude, and your body language in the interview session.

Sometimes, though we know the answers, we may not be able to coherently present them. This may be due to nervousness or anxiety or tension.

To overcome this problem, rehearse yourself with oft-repeated questions in the interview. Practice yourself by answering these types of questions.

Visualize yourself answering in the interview with a good disposition and a cheerful smile.

Added to this, being confident and smart in the interview will boost your score on the recruiter’s mark sheet.

Conclusion

Sometimes one may be rejected for a job due to salary constraints. Hence the candidate must have a basic idea of the salary package and the benefits offered by the company.

To address this problem, the employer and the candidate can have an open discussion about the job duties and responsibilities.

After agreeing with each other they can then start the salary negotiations. It will rule out any misunderstanding later on.

Further, it will be appropriate for the employer and the candidate to discuss the time commitment and deliverance of the work schedule.

Also, only such an open talk will facilitate a mutual understanding.

If the company can view you as a potential asset, they will not hesitate to give you a better offer.

Hence, it is up to you to project your skills and grab the opportunity and prove yourself.