HOW TO MOVE ON FROM JOB REJECTIONS AND LEARN FROM MISTAKES

Job hunting can be a soul-destroying process, especially if you start receiving rejections. Your self-esteem can take a real battering. We want to help you survive those difficult career moments so you’re ready to take advantage when an opportunity comes your way.

THE JOB MARKET IS COMPETITIVE AND REJECTION ISN’T PERSONAL

There are more qualified people that ever before and more new grads entering the workforce every year. Finding the right job requires perseverance and a thick skin. Use our guide to survive your job hunt.

BE KIND TO YOURSELF

Work is central to many people’s identity, not to mention their social lives. Without a job life can feel empty and lonely, add to that the rejection that inevitably comes with job hunting and your mental health can quickly deteriorate. In many ways the internet has exacerbated the situation. Although it has made finding and applying for jobs easier it has opened them up to a much bigger market. Applicants per role have dramatically increased which means there’s more competition and recruiters have less time to devote to each candidate.

In fact, most employers predict they’ll hire more people in year ahead but recruitment departments will stay the same size, or shrink. To cope with the extra workload recruiters are turning to technology. Your resume is likely to be analyzed by an applicant tracking systems (ATS) when it’s submitted online. That means you’re unlikely to get personal feedback on your application and more likely to receive an automated response.

Inadequate feedback or a complete absence of feedback is dispiriting and, unfortunately, pretty common. It’s also easier for recruiters if they don’t have to deliver bad news – they’re human too and dislike difficult conversations as much as anyone else. It’s never nice telling a candidate who is emotionally invested in the process that they haven’t made the cut. If you’re receiving rejection after rejection, it’s not surprising your sense of self-worth may dip, and potentially spiral into gloominess and despair, which makes it harder for you to perform at your best during the recruitment process. So, it’s vital you take care of your mental wellbeing:

• Don’t take rejection personally. Easier said than done, but there are lots of factors – luck being a big one – that go into landing a job and it’s not necessarily a reflection on your talent.
• Exercise It produces stress fighting endorphins and elevates your mood. So get out of the house and get active. Use a period of unemployment as an opportunity to focus on activities that’ll benefit you mentally and physically, during your search.
• Consider taking a voluntary role, a temporary job or a side gig. Lots of successful business people have started out this way, with their side gig becoming their permanent career. Not only will this give you something to focus on outside your job search, you’ll develop new skills, new contacts and, possibly, new opportunities.
• Do something positive every day to move your job search forward, even if it’s only small. Set daily and weekly goals for reaching out to your networks, applying for jobs and researching opportunities.
• Take a structured approach to your search. A study by the University of Minnesota found the mental wellbeing of candidates who engaged in a structured job search was better than those who were laid back. So make a plan, set targets and stick to them.

Having said that we don’t believe your should treat your search as a full-time job. Instead allow a few hours a day for networking, research, interviewing and applications and then give yourself a break. Make sure those hours are productive and focus on activities that are likely to have the greatest return.

FOCUSSING YOUR JOB SEARCH AND REDUCING REJECTION

As we’ve mentioned you’ll boost your chances if you use your time wisely and target your search, so:

• Write a detailed list of what you want in an employer. Consider what you have and haven’t enjoyed in previous roles and try to describe your perfect employer and workplace. Decide what your essential requirements are and what you’re prepared to be flexible on.
• Work out your strengths and weaknesses and what motivates you. If you are good at something you’re more likely to enjoy it and be more engaged at work. Read guide Understanding, owning and talking about your strengths and weaknesses to learn more.
• Consider your career goals and how you can achieve them. You may want a role with ongoing learning opportunities and career advancement, or you might want one that gives you a secure environment to focus on something you are exceptional at. Is there a sector or company size that appeals to you more than others? How does this fit in with your goals?
• Keep networking whether you’re in or out of work.You’re more likely to find a new job through a referral so don’t to lose touch with your professional network when you have a job. Keep in regular contact with people who will be able to help you when you start job hunting.
  Networking is tough when you are out of work and, possibly, in an emotional slump. But it’s vital you keep it up. Limiting time online, targeting who to network with and meeting them face to face, is more effective than sending out lots of resumes.
• Ask for a leads. Rather than jumping in and asking people for a job, send personalized emails to your primary contacts – former colleagues and managers and contacts at specific companies you want to target – telling them exactly what you are looking for and asking if they can help or introduce you to someone who can. Send a generic email to your secondary contacts outlining your circumstances, what you are looking for and requesting leads.
• Register with recruiters. Although networking is your best bet, sign up with reputable recruiters. Read guide How to create a relationship with recruiters that really works to learn more.
• Control your applications. The more applications you make the more rejections you will get. Think about each role and whether you have what is needed before you apply. If somebody in your network works at a company you want to apply to, ask them about the role and its requirements. They can give you a true picture of the job and, possibly, connect you with the hiring decision maker.
• Don’t try too hard to be the right candidate. When reviewing roles, speaking with recruiters, or attending interviews, don’t try too hard to be the ‘right’ candidate. Understand your skills, attributes and limitations and how they fit with a role. If there are clear pre-requisites for the job you don’t have, there needs to be a good reason for recruiters and hiring managers to consider you. Work out what that might be and if it doesn’t exist remove yourself from the process and invest your time elsewhere.
• Ask for feedback if you’ve got to an interview stage but been rejected. It may not be very detailed but understanding how the decision was made could help you improve your resume or interview technique, so don’t shield yourself from feedback.
• Talk regularly to a friend or partner. Discussing your progress, or having a good old moan about it, is good for your mental health. They might not be able to give you all the answers, but they will be able to boost your confidence and help you keep knockbacks in perspective.
• Move on from rejection in a professional manner. Don’t take it personally, it happens to everyone. Thank the manager for their time and ask them to keep you in mind for future opportunities. If you haven’t heard back from a company (sadly very common) send a follow up email, it might just be that the recruitment process has stalled. If you don’t hear back after that, it’s probably best to move on rather than waste any more time on it.
• Balance desperation with playing hard to get. Waiting for a decision can be tough, especially if it’s the perfect job with your dream company and you’ve spent your savings. But appearing too interested can be counterproductive. Being too eager will not help you and if it causes you to badger the hiring manager for updates or forget to negotiate properly it could damage your prospects.
• Don’t forget work-life balance. Although it can be tempting to take any role you are offered when you are feeing desperate, consider the longer-term implications if the company doesn’t meet your requirements.

Although rejection is hard, and unemployment dispiriting, do your best to remain upbeat. Treat every application and interview as an opportunity to hone your job search skills and make new contacts. If you are unsuccessful, the experience you gain could make the difference next time.

FIVE THINGS TO REMEMBER:

1. Stay busy, active and healthy.
2. Don’t spend too many hours job hunting. It’s counterproductive.
3. Target your job search and network with people face to face.
4. Control your applications. Spray and pray is not a solution. It’s part of the problem.
5. Reach out to friends and family for support.