Team

How To Survive Rejection?

Alexi Haines

Hiring Manager

There are 2 groups of people that are exposed to rejections at work or a career: people who are actively looking for a job, people who are looking for a way out in career or promotion. If you were rejected, you are not alone, it is normal and this is just part of the process.

Just do what you normally do when you feel better and lift yourself up again. Talk to people who support you. Challenge yourself and ask what have you done well. What did you do well in that previous incident?

Here are 3 things you can do to survive rejection.

1. Why are you being rejected?

There are a lot of reasons why you are being rejected in your application and some reasons of the employers are slightly hidden to you as a job seeker.

These are things like…

You have a career gap that is not explained in the resume;
The previous title does not match what you are applying for.

Do not feel bad and turn the rejection into an opportunity. Review the possible reasons, ask feedback from your interviewer if possible or assess yourself.

2. It’s about them not about you

When you make a decision to reject someone it’s all about what you want to do the next step. It’s never about them.

When a company rejects you it’s not about you, it’s about what they want. If they see that it is not a match for them. Then you just need to focus on what’s important for you. Do not give up.

Keep on applying. Focus on your career goal and roles that suit your strength. Focus on yourself. Do not take it personally.

3. Trust and thank their judgment

Narrow or redirect your job search. If they make a judgment that you are not a good fit, thank them for not loving you because it gives you an opportunity to reality check, if you are really not a fit, if you are not stating why you are good fit, or do something that suits you even better.

If you think it is a misjudgment, ask their feedback and show pieces of evidence or samples that you can do it. If they are not convinced, consider narrowing your research and reconsider jobs who needs people who have your unique blend of skills.