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Lets face it, with the current state of affairs, the competition for good jobs has gone up more than a few notches. Chances are there will be many more bright people out there looking for work. To you that means that it’s possible that you’ll have to interview for several jobs before you land one.
Lets face it, with the current state of affairs, the competition for good jobs has gone up more than a few notches. Chances are there will be many more bright people out there looking for work. To you that means that it’s possible that you’ll have to interview for several jobs before you land one.
But is getting rejected from a job the end of the world? Being that throughout my work life I’ve been turned down from jobs (notice the plural) even after I’ve gone to several interviews, I personally don’t think so.
To begin with, nothing is the end of the world.
More than that, there’s opportunity in everything. The key is knowing how to find it.
Here are a few of the things that have helped me say (and really mean) ‘So what?!’ whenever I’ve been rejected:
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It's simple. Move on to the next one. Don't slow down till you do get the offer. Even if you get several interviews, there's no reason to stop your search until you do get the offer letter.
Accept that while there may be ways to improve your candidacy for other positions, the rejection isn't personal. They don't know you well enough for it to be personal.
Yes, great post! I especially agree with the ability to bounce back. Just keep on going, don't take the rejection personally. One of my mentors says that hiring a person based on an interview is no better than flipping a coin. They do not actually know your abilities or how you will perform on a job. The rejection is not a reflection of your professional worth. The ability to not take it personally is going to help you out a lot in life.
This is a very constructive way to look at this. It really helps to remember that there are a lot of different things at work in any situation that you can't always see. Sometimes, not getting one job is a blessing because it would otherwise have been a disaster!
When my husband was looking for a job, and he didn't get one that he interviewed for, I told him that when you don't have a job offer your job search seems endless. All it takes is one job offer to make your job search a dim, painful memory.
The week after I told him that, he got a job offer and loves his new job.
If you look at doing your absolute best throughout the entire process, you can finish proud regardless of whether there was an offer or not. It's definitely difficult, but having the tenacity to keep going is the hallmark of a winner. I like the idea of continuous improvement.
When I first graduated with my undergrad, the economy was similar to now (1993). There were no jobs and I made $5/hour for three years (and it was a crappy wage then, too.) My parents (an elementary school teacher and a homemaker) gave me two pieces of excellent advice that I will share with you:
Mom said, "You have to take your sh*t sometime, you might as well get it over with."
Dad said, "Your career is like a toilet, you never know when someone is going to come along and flush and you'll end up back on top."
Not sure why the obsession from my folks with "number 2," however, 15 years later I can tell you they were right. If you don't give up on yourself, you will make it. I have gotten turned down for A LOT of jobs (seriously, A LOT), and now I have the most awesome job ever and everyone wants to know how I landed this gig (not sure, to tell you the truth). Each rejection is one step closer to your dream job.
@ Suzanne - Your comment just put a smile on my face. No, it's not your parent's obsession with #2...
It because I love knowing that I'm not the only over-optimist out there. Like you, I've also been turned down many times and as an entrepreneur, I've also fallen on my face a few times. But it has been from learning from those experiences that I am where I am today - and loving every minute of it.
@Silvana - first off, LOVE your name. I have two daughters (Isabela & Lily), and if I had it third she would have been named Silvi (pretty close to yours).
I wouldn't say I'm an over optimist (although I know what you meant in your post). I can just honestly say that there were times in my career that I thought, "I'm never going to get over this one." And now I know in my core that had the crap not happened, I wouldn't be where I am now. Had I not gotten rejected for that job in '06 (seriously, that knocked me on my butt. I gained 30 pounds I was so upset!), I NEVER would have gotten the job in '07 (which is unbelieveably cool - a million times better than what I thought my dream job was).
The thing that sucks, is the people reading this right now who are going through the bad times will have an extremely difficult time believing that things could work out for them, too. Hind sight is 20-20, I guess.
I think there's yet another way to look at this. "Getting the offer" or "not getting the offer" are only two of many possible steps in an ongoing relationship. I like to recommend that folks stay in touch with the people/companies from which they didn't get the offer. Forward articles of interest,compliments on positive press, etc. - you'd be amazed at how often those companies will admire your follow through and be back in touch down the road (sometimes with even a BETTER offer!).
Its gud to read ur comments but what shud one do when u loose ur dream job i workd realy hard to boost up my career in the bank i landed a perfect job with bettr salary and designation i luvd every bit of it when after one year they downsizd people due to economic crisis i am suicidal and i m rejectd at two interviews they just dnt need my skil set
Hey Fauziah - I understand how tough it is to lose a job, especially when it's one you loved and felt it would really move you forward. I've experienced it too. It's helped me when I thought there was nowhere to go with my skills to look at how they would play out in new scenarios. My writing, for example, has taken me from being a retail buyer and writing ad copy to a career in PR and business writing. A loan officer could move a bank to a collections agency or perhaps the mortgage mitigation business unit. Happy to tell you more at no charge if you want to contact me.
@ Fauziah - Although I have never lost a job, I have experienced disappointment and financial loss (more than once) in my career - so I know it can be tough. I agree 100% with Marsha. Right now it may seem that it's the end of the line for you. Trust us both -it is not. Nothing really is.
If you feel the need to speak with someone, I'm also here for you (at no cost). I'd be happy to walk you through what I've done during those times when I was going for gold and things changed. Speaking with someone may help you shed light where you're seeing pitch darkness. Be in touch,
Silvana
Thank you so very much both of you i knw no phase stays on forever bad times will go away and give way for good one The challenge is actualy to live through them
i knw some day i l have a job but frm the looks of it no employer seem to have a job that matchd mine shud i settle for less attractive offers or wait for the right one?
Hi Fauziah...I'd have to know more about your skills, education, etc. In my experience, it's really more about morphing your abilities to what is available. Communicate your value to employers. I'd like to help you and would be happy to email back and forth with you. If that will help, just go to my site and under pages click contact and you'll see my email address. I believe you can work on this and get to a better place.
Thank you Marsha.
@Fauziah - I agree with Marsha. For any decision to stand the test of time, it needs to be based on the right information. Like Marsha, I don't feel I have it at this point in time to help you achieve that. It sounds like Marsha will be able to help you. Just in case you'd like to continue this conversation offline, or run by any other matter by me, my email is silvana.avinami@gmail.com All the best, Silvana
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